Synopsis
The Oxen A Play for Christmas
Walter J. Essex from Thomas Hardy's poem 'The Oxen'
Published by SchoolPlay Productions
Large Mixed Cast
On their nocturnal journey they meet an array of people who all end up at an isolated barn where the setting works its own 'magic'
A play for Christmas which contains the essence of the seasonal message, freely adapted from an idea in Thomas Hardy's poem The Oxen
Cast : 23 speaking parts (10 m, 13 f). Some doubling possible. Suggested Age Range : 8 to 14 or 16. Ideally there should be a contrast between the 'children' and the 'adults'. Running Time : 45 minutes
Music - There is a lullaby for one voice accompanied by a recorder
Set - Can be performed adequately with a basic 'unit' set, with changes of props and lighting to suggest the various locations. However, there should be some suggestion of the period, c.1900
An appropriate representation of the exterior of the barn in the final scene is desirable