Dramatix New Zealand Ltd was formed in 2000 by experienced local theatre people wanting to build a team to produce quality, locally written original theatre at a professional level while still having fun!
Dramatix NZ has since toured and performed original plays, consistently winning awards for the Performance, Technical Prowess and Writing of these original productions. This is a wonderful acknowledgement of Dramatix’ success in achieving what was set out to do, as well as giving credence to, and acknowledging the success of TJ Ramsay as a playwright.
Dramatix NZ Ltd now offers you the opportunity to perform these and other original, award winning plays through the Dramatix Nz Ltd Agency.
Choose from locally written plays by TJ Ramsay and other playwrights – not only hire scripts for perusal, but because we want to ensure it’s as easy as possible for you to perform these play, we also have available further material and support;
Sound FX tapes and CDs,
Perusal tapes or CDs of our musicals,
Instrumental tapes or CDs for use in performances.
We enjoy a strong core of talented and experienced people within Dramatix NZ and are able to offer assistance/mentor support to other playwrights, whether it be advice on how to get started, to work-shopping a play to gauge its potential.
Please review the list below set out in the following order;
When you have made your selection click on the blue link and enter the play name in the subject line of the email message that appears.
Include your contact details, name, phone, email, and Theatre affiliations, we'll reply with the details.
‘YOUNG WILL’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
1 male - late teens to early 20’s
2 females - 1 late teen; 1 20’s
SYNOPSIS:
William Shakespeare is 18, in lust with Kate and about to discover love when he meets Anne Hathaway.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Young Will
Scene: 1 set. Can be played simply set against blacks or perfect outdoor theatre.
(Note: though written for adult performers, this play works well for teenager performers, too)
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‘MR AND MISTRESS SHAKESPEARE’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
1 man
1 woman
SYNOPSIS:
Will arrives home to Stratford Upon Avon, summoned urgently by Anne – their only son is critically ill. Will arrives too late. Hamnet is already dead.
Scene: I set. Interior 1590’s cottage. Can be played simply against blacks.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Mistress Shakespeare
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‘SEBASTIAN’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
2 men - 60’s, 40’s.
SYNOPSIS:
Harris lives a miserable existence on the very edges of a once vibrant life in the world of theatre. And then someone he would rather forget knocks at his door.
Scene: 1 set. Interior grotty bedsit
SLICE OF LIFE. YES ! I want a perusal copy of Sebastian
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‘BITTERSWEET LOVE’ Author T J Ramsay 2000 Winner Olga Harding National Playwright’s Award
Cast Requirements:
2 women - 1 60’s-70’s, 1 20’s-30’s
2 men - 20’s-40’s
SYNOPSIS:
Daisy has dementia. She lives in a present she has no control over and a past she can never forget.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Bittersweet love
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‘CUSTA’S LAST STAND’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
1 woman
1 man
SYNOPSIS:
Franklyn Custa comes to the bridge one evening with the idea of suicide. He finds out that sometimes, when the only possible solution is death, you meet an unexpected friend.
Scene: 1 set. Exterior, under a bridge.
SLICE OF LIFE/COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Custa's Last Stand
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‘LILY’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
2 women - 60’s-70’s
1 woman - 20’s-40’s
1 man - 60’s-70’s
1 man - 30’s-40’s
SYNOPSIS:
Lily is forced to live in a care home. She begins to come to terms with her new life with difficulty and humour.
Scene: 1 set. Interior lounge room in a rest home.
SLICE OF LIFE/COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Lily
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‘CHILD’S PLAY’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
2 men
2 women
SYNOPSIS:
Room 13 is for seven to eight year olds. Harry is the coolest kid in class. He is Camilla’s best friend – until the new girl arrives.
SLICE OF LIFE/COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Child's Play
(NOTE: ‘Child’s Play’, though written for adults, works well with teenage performers as well.)
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‘TWILIGHT’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
2 men – 20’s-30’s and 60’s-70’s
2 women – 20’s-30’s and 60’s-70’s
SYNOPSIS:
A family struggles to come to terms with the fate and future of their chronically ill father.
Scene: Composite set. Hospital bedroom and interior family home the latter which can be set simply using pools of light.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Twilight
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‘MY MOTHER SAID’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
1 man - 30’s-40’s
2 women – 50’s-60’s and 20’s-30’s
2 boys - 9-11
1 girl voice – young teen
SYNOPSIS:
The power of a mother and the lengths she will go to retain her control and dominance over her son.
Scene: 1 set. Interior lounge.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of My Mother Said
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‘A FAIRLY HAIRY FAIRY STORY’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
4 women
5 men
SYNOPSIS:
Enchantra the Wizard and his servant Codpiece the Gnome have a feeling that something is rotten in Storyland!
Scene:
Composite set. Aunt Jane’s place, interior Wizard’s home, Cinder’s Bar and Grill and various outdoor settings.
Can be played simply against blacks
ADULT PANTO/COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of A Fairly Hairy Fairy Story
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‘A MAN NAMED SMITH’ Author T J Ramsay
This is a series of six 15-20min comedy episodes centering around the life and times of one of life’s loser’s – Alexander Napoleon Smith. This was written for television but has been performed as a successful series of comedy short plays at café theatre and as short extras during one act play evenings.
The cast requirements vary throughout each episode but the basic mix is:
4 Men
2 Women
The Episodes are:
Scene: 1 set. Grotty bedsit.
COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of A Man Named Smith
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‘KICKBACK’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
2 men.
SYNOPSIS:
Rory is a man driven to an extreme action by the greed of another. He wants money – lots of it – or he will kill…..
This play carries a twist which you can use or not. Written for NZTF Festival, this was Dramatix’ own kickback against some of the attitudes found in NZ theatre competitions.
Scene: Interior warehouse.
DRAMA (or with twist) PLUS COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Kickback
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‘BIG TOP, SMALL PANTS’ by Scott Frater
Cast Requirements:
3 males 15-18yrs
8 females 15-18yrs
SYNOPSIS:
The tale of Wizzleteats, his children’s circus, a bearded lady and how it all went horribly wrong for everyone.
COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Big Top Small Pants
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‘ONE LUNCHTIME OUTSIDE THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE…..’ Author T J Ramsay/Dramatix Youth
Cast Requirements:
2 males – mid to late teens
4 females – mid to late teens
SYNOPSIS:
Six teenagers find themselves outside the Principal’s office. They don’t know each other as well as they think they do.
Scene:
1 set. Interior corridor.
SLICE OF LIFE YES ! I want a perusal copy of One Lunchtime
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‘LADY JANE GREY’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
2 males – mid to late teens
4 females – mid to late teens
SYNOPSIS:
Lady Jane Grey reigned as England’s Nine Day Queen. She was sent to her death at 16.
Scene:
Composite set. Interior Tudor and tower prison.
Can be played simply against blacks with pools of light
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Lady Jane Grey
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‘WHO CARES?’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
4 males – 11-18
5 females - 11-18
SYNOPSIS:
Inside an animal pound.
Scene:
I set. Interior. Animal cages with spaces for pools of light.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Who Cares
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“RONALD’S ROLLICKING CIRCUS’ Author Lindy Kelly
Cast Requirements:
Written for a full junior school class 8-10 years.
SYNOPSIS:
A class of 8-10 year olds were asked to choose a character and this funny, fun play was written for them. It begins with a funeral, ends with triumph and a great time is had by all.
COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Ronalds Rollicking Circus
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‘GALA AT ENNER GLYNN’ Author Lindy Kelly
Cast Requirements:
Written for a full junior school class, 8-10 years.
SYNOPSIS:
Written with children for children following the success of ‘Ronald’s Rollicking Circus’, this play uses melodrama and slapstick and allows the children to develop each character.
SLAPSTICK AND MELODRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Gala at Enner Glynn
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‘I THOUGHT I SAW A GHOST’ Author Sue Roughton
Cast Requirements:
Written for fourteen 10-15 year olds, though ages are flexible.
COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of I Thought I Saw A Ghost
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‘SNIZZLEMATIZZLE’ by Scott Frater
Cast Requirements:
3 males 15-18yrs
6 females 15-18yrs
Synopsis:
The arrogant cast of the childrens television show “Timmy Time and Friends in the Magical Jungle” are amazed when dead people suddenly start showing up on set. A story about children’s television shows in the modern world.
COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Snizzlematizzle
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‘YOUTHANASIA’ by Scott Frater 2009 Winner Book of Honour & Best Presentation of a New Zealand play at NZTF One Act Play Competition National Finals
Cast Requirements:
3 male 16-18yrs
2 female 16-18yrs
Synopsis:
Danny, a young boy with terminal leukemia, calls his friends to the park to make the biggest decision of his young life; the choice between life or death.
Scene:
I set. Exterior. Park at night.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Youthanasia
‘INSIDE OUT’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
4 men – 20’s-40’s
3 women – 20’s-40’s
Pub extras.
SYNOPSIS:
Friends and family are gathering at the local pub. Joe is out of prison today and hell-bent on revenge. He is forced to face the consequences of his actions, past and present, as his life and everything be believes to be true disintegrates around him and because of him.
Scene:
1 set. Seedy back street pub interior.
DRAMA YES ! I want a perusal copy of Inside Out
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‘BED AND BREAKFAST’ Author T J Ramsay
Cast Requirements:
6 Men – 20’s–60 plus
5 Women – 20’s-60 plus
Hotel Extras – not the least essential, but sometimes there are those in our theatre groups who ‘would like to go on stage but I don’t act’! and they do add to the atmosphere..!
SYNOPSIS:
Set in a hotel, this three act focuses on the relationships of three couples as they overnight at a Bed and Breakfast.
A young couple married that day; a middle aged couple who aren’t quite what they first seem and an elderly couple embarking on a not-quite blind date.
Scene:
2 sets. Foyer/dining room of a Hotel and 3 separate bedrooms in same.
SLICE OF LIFE COMEDY YES ! I want a perusal copy of Bed and Breakfast
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