Positive Stories for Negative Times Volume 2

Seven exciting new plays for young people written specifically in response to a world in the midst of a pandemic, accompanied by a handbook from Wonder Fools with guidance for staging the plays, and other creative responses, either online or live in the space

Commissioned as part of Wonder Fools' national participatory project Positive Stories for Negative Times: Season 2, these plays offer a variety of stories, styles and forms for ages between 6 and 25

These original and innovative plays are

Spyrates 2 (Spies vs Pirates): Journey to the Forbidden Island by Robbie Gordon & Jack Nuse
Featuring spies, pirates, robots, talking animals and everything in between, 'Spyrates' is an interactive, playful and imaginative adventure story, for ages 6+

At First I Was Afraid… (I Was Petrified!) by Douglas Maxwell
A feel-good comedy drama about a girl who keeps a diary of all her anxieties; but as she moves from Primary School to Secondary, from normal life to Lockdown, all of her worries appear to come true, for ages 11 +

The Raven by Hannah Lavery
A play full of adventure and an exploration of what shapes and what divides us, exploring issues of blended families, bullying, overeating, depression and isolation, for ages 11 +

Thanks For Nothing by The PappyShow
This not a play, but a process. It explores what it means to be thankful in this world we live in today. It's a mix of games, challenges and exercises for you to tell your own stories, in your own way, for ages 11 +

Revolting by Bryony Kimmings
A series of tasks and actions that make a narrative to be performed with props. We are agents of the revolution. How do we revolt? How do we not get into trouble? Where do we get power, and then how do we use it for good? For ages 13 +

The Skirt by Ellen Bannerman
An absurdist feminist fable for the next generation of feminists, for ages 16+

Write To Rave: Step Pon by Debris Stevenson
A play about the political power of a rave. Who has the right to rave, to dance and move freely? What is it to feel truly free in your own skin? It tells the story a queer group of humans trying their best to rave whilst the world tries it's best to stop them, for ages 18 +

The accompanying handbook includes an exploration of Wonder Fools' theatre-making process, step-by-step guidance in how to produce the plays either online or live in the space, and bespoke exercises and instructions in how to approach directing each play

Contents

About the Project
Editor's Note
About Wonder Fools
About the Traverse
Creative Team Biographies

The Handbook
Steps of the process
1. Pick your play
2. Prepare your process
3. Create an open, safe and inclusive space
4. Build a creative and environment to work in
5. Form positive relationships through active listening, storytelling and discussion
6. Explore the play
7. Make a response
8. Upload your work
9. Share and celebrate
10. Evaluation

The Plays
Spyrates (Spies vs Pirates) 2: Journey to the Forbidden Island by Robbie Gordon & Jack Nurse
At First I Was Afraid… (I Was Petrified!) by Douglas Maxwell
The Raven by Hannah Lavery
Thanks for Nothing by The PappyShow with Lewis Hetherington
Revolting by Bryony Kimmings
The Skirt by Ellen Bannerman
Write to Rave: Step Pon by Debris Stevenson