1 Intense Expressionism Play for Students
Here’s an original, eight-scene Expressionism play that will help students understand the main conventions of this wonderful, but short-lived theatrical form.
Expressionism in theatre is a complex and multifaceted movement that emerged in Europe during the early 20th century. This artistic and cultural phenomenon is marked by its emphasis on the representation of raw emotion, the distortion of reality, and the exploration of the inner psychological state of characters.
The tensions of industrialisation, urbanisation, and the anxieties leading up to World War I created a sense of disillusionment which became fertile ground for the development of this new theatrical style.
The Expressionist movement began in the visual arts, particularly painting, with artists such as Edvard Munch. It sought to reject traditional bourgeois values and to explore the subconscious, the irrational, and the role of the individual in a rapidly changing society.
In the theatre, Expressionism was centred in Germany, with some historians arguing it only survived a mere nine years between 1912 and 1921.
Expressionism Plays
The most influential expressionist plays were Georg Kaiser’s From Morning to Midnight (1912) and Elmer Rice’s The Adding Machine (1923). Other American playwrights dabbled in the form, such as Eugene O’Neill with his 1922 work, The Hairy Ape. But it was often movies that conveyed the form best, including The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), The Golem (1920), From Morn to Midnight (1920), Nosferatu (1922), and Metropolis (1927).
This original play, below, highlights the following conventions of Expressionism in the theatre: generic character names (The Guide, The Worker, etc.), distorted reality, fragmented structure, symbolism, heightened acting, a focus on the individual (the protagonist Emily), monologues and soliloquies, stark lighting and sound, and social commentary. Enjoy! PDF download of the script is at the bottom of the post.
This Play is Expressionism
A Nightmarish Glimpse Inside The Mind
Scene 1: Distorted Reality
Characters
- THE GUIDE
- EMILY
The stage is set with an intensified, exaggerated design. Walls lean and curve at unnatural angles, forming unsettling shapes. Furniture is distorted, some pieces dwarfed and others towering, with unsettling non-realistic colours. The lighting is sharp, casting grotesque and contorted shadows that seem to writhe. EMILY is dressed in a costume that appears to change form, a tangible manifestation of her conflicted emotional state. THE GUIDE, dressed in sharp, black attire, conveys an air of wisdom and control.
The stage is set with an intensified, exaggerated design. Walls lean and curve at unnatural angles, forming unsettling shapes. Furniture is distorted, some pieces dwarfed and others towering, with unsettling non-realistic colours. The lighting is sharp, casting grotesque and contorted shadows that seem to writhe. EMILY is dressed in a costume that appears to change form, a tangible manifestation of her conflicted emotional state. THE GUIDE, dressed in sharp, black attire, conveys an air of wisdom and control.
THE GUIDE: (addressing the audience, pacing slowly) Welcome, curious minds, to a realm beyond ordinary comprehension. Here, we probe the soul’s hidden corners, and reality bends to emotion’s whims. Behold Emily’s world, where inner turmoil shapes all.
(EMILY enters, her movements distorted and unnaturally elongated. She looks around in panic, disoriented by the unnatural surroundings.)
EMILY: (voice trembling) This can’t be real. My own house, so grotesque and unfamiliar. What’s happening to me?
THE GUIDE: (interacting with the audience, motioning towards the set) Observe the walls, the floor, the ceiling. They defy logic. This is Emily’s perception—a visual metaphor for her emotional chaos. Look closer, and you shall see her fear, confusion, and despair.
EMILY: (touching a strangely shaped chair, recoiling) No, no, this isn’t right. Everything’s twisted and wrong. My very soul aches.
THE GUIDE: (pointing to her costume) Even Emily’s attire participates in this dance of distortion. What you see is not a mere garment but an extension of her emotional self. It shifts, it quivers; it resonates with her essence.
EMILY: (growing more frantic) These shadows, they’re alive! (Pausing, with realization) It’s my mind playing tricks on me. These are my fears taking shape.
THE GUIDE: (intense, focused) Emily’s mind paints her reality. The lighting, those haunting shadows, are not mere effects but tangible manifestations of her nightmares. In Expressionism, light and shadow are not indifferent but imbued with meaning.
EMILY: (crying out) Someone, help me escape this horror!
THE GUIDE: (softly, to the audience) You see, there is no escape. For Emily’s world is not external but within her. The exaggerated set, the abstract costume, the stark lighting—these are not mere theatrics but the language of her soul.
EMILY: (collapsing, sobbing) It’s all too much. This reality, this agony, I can’t endure it.
(THE GUIDE moves slowly towards her, a figure of understanding.)
THE GUIDE: (gently) This is but a glimpse into the world of Expressionism, where the soul’s raw, unfiltered essence shapes all. In understanding Emily’s torment, you have taken the first step into a profound theatrical tradition.
(Lights dim, leaving the audience with the unsettling echo of EMILY’s cries and the distorted reality of the set. THE GUIDE exits with a knowing glance at the audience.)
Scene 2: Fragmented Structure
Characters
- THE GUIDE
- EMILY
The set is a maze of broken pieces, doors hanging in mid-air, windows scattered across the floor, fragmented memories represented by scattered props. The lighting is erratic and unpredictable, contributing to a sense of disarray. THE GUIDE stands with a commanding presence, while EMILY stumbles through this disjointed landscape, lost and afraid.
THE GUIDE: (addressing the audience, motioning to the set) We now traverse the labyrinth of the mind, where time and space are mere illusions. Bear witness to Emily’s world, fragmented and splintered, a maze without beginning or end.
EMILY: (stumbling, disoriented) How did I get here? Everything’s disjointed, out of place. One moment I’m here, and the next I’m…
(Suddenly, EMILY is in another part of the stage, reliving a memory of childhood. The shift is abrupt, emphasising the fragmented structure.)
EMILY: (child-like, joyous) Look, it’s my old swing! I used to play here for hours.
THE GUIDE: (analysing, to the audience) Emily’s memories are not sequential but scattered. Like fragments of glass, they reflect different facets of her life, all disconnected yet part of a whole.
(Light shifts. EMILY is now in her late teens, arguing with an unseen figure.)
EMILY: (angry, reliving a past argument) You said you’d never leave! Why are you doing this to me?
THE GUIDE: (explaining) Emotions transcend time. Emily’s anger, her fear, her joy—they are not bound by linear progression but surface at will, revealing her fractured psyche.
(Light shifts again. EMILY is now in a different memory, facing a traumatic event.)
EMILY: (terrified, pleading with an unseen presence) Please, no, stay away from me! Don’t hurt me!
THE GUIDE: (calmly, to the audience) Note the absence of logic, the lack of continuity. This is the very essence of Expressionism’s fragmented structure, a narrative that defies convention to expose raw emotion.
(EMILY transitions through more memories, each one shedding light on different aspects of her life. The shifts are abrupt, disorienting, mirroring her mental state. The scene becomes a montage of human emotion.)
EMILY: (experiencing different emotions) My first love… (switches) My greatest failure… (switches) My deepest fear… (switches) My happiest day…
THE GUIDE: (intense) Emily’s mind is not a linear pathway but a tangled web. We see her joys, her sorrows, her triumphs, and her failures—all existing simultaneously, each fragment a key to understanding her complex soul.
(The lights flicker and change, and EMILY is now in a state of complete breakdown, surrounded by the chaos of her fragmented memories.)
EMILY: (sobbing, broken) I’m lost. These memories, these fragments—they’re tearing me apart. I don’t know who I am anymore!
THE GUIDE: (concluding, with empathy) In Emily’s shattered world, we see a reflection of our own inner chaos. The non-linear, fragmented manner of Expressionism allows us to delve deeper into the human psyche, to explore emotions without the constraints of conventional narrative.
(Lights fade to black as EMILY’s cries linger. THE GUIDE’s silhouette lingers, a stoic observer of human complexity.)
Scene 3: Symbolism
Characters
- THE GUIDE
- EMILY
- THE WEAVER
- THE WATCHER
- THE JESTER
- SYMBOLIC CHARACTERS
The stage is a rich tapestry of symbols, each carefully chosen to represent complex emotions and ideas. A broken clock, wilting flower, distorted mirrors, dark shadows, a closed door, a chained book, and other carefully crafted symbols fill the space. THE GUIDE, EMILY, and now a cast of SYMBOLIC CHARACTERS, including THE JESTER, THE WEAVER, and THE WATCHER, interact in this layered narrative.
THE GUIDE: (addressing the audience) Welcome to the realm of symbolism. Here, every object tells a story, every character embodies an idea, every word resonates with deeper meaning. Observe Emily as she navigates this world, where nothing is as it seems.
EMILY: (examining the broken clock, touching it gently) Why is time broken? Why does it no longer follow a path?
THE GUIDE: (explaining) The broken clock, dear audience, represents Emily’s fragmented perception. In her mind, time is chaotic, not linear—a manifestation of her internal turmoil.
(THE WEAVER, symbolizing the interconnectedness of life, begins to weave threads around the stage, linking different symbols.)
THE WEAVER: (softly, weaving) All things are connected, Emily. Your joy, your sorrow, your past, your future.
EMILY: (drawn to the wilting flower) And this flower, once so beautiful, now withering away?
THE GUIDE: (to the audience) The wilting flower echoes Emily’s sense of decay. Her dreams, once full of life, are now fading. The flower is her hope, withering and frail.
(EMILY encounters THE WATCHER, symbolizing the scrutiny of society. THE WATCHER observes EMILY, making her uncomfortable.)
THE WATCHER: (intensely) We all watch you, Emily. Your every move, your every mistake.
EMILY: (defensively) Who are you? Why are you watching me?
THE GUIDE: (to the audience) THE WATCHER embodies society’s judgment. Emily feels observed, judged, confined by the eyes that never look away.
(EMILY stumbles upon the mirrors, her reflection distorted. THE JESTER approaches, laughing mysteriously.)
THE JESTER: (teasing) Many faces, one soul. Many mirrors, one truth. Who are you, Emily?
EMILY: (lost) I don’t know. I don’t know who I am anymore.
THE GUIDE: (explaining) The mirrors symbolize Emily’s fragmented identity. Each reflection is a part of her, yet none capture her entirety.
(EMILY encounters other symbols, like a locked door, symbolizing unexplored opportunities; a chained book, representing her suppressed thoughts; a flickering candle, signifying her wavering faith. THE GUIDE explains each symbol to the audience, deepening the narrative’s complexity.)
EMILY: (overwhelmed) These symbols, they are me. My fear, my hope, my dreams, my failures.
THE GUIDE: (concluding) Indeed, Emily. In the world of Expressionism, symbols are the language of the subconscious. They speak to us in whispers, revealing truths hidden beneath the surface.
(The scene ends with EMILY surrounded by the symbols and the SYMBOLIC CHARACTERS, all part of a complex tapestry that reflects her inner world. THE GUIDE exits, leaving the audience to ponder the intricate world of symbols.)
Scene 4: Heightened Acting
Characters
- THE GUIDE
- THE MASTER
- EMILY
- THE CHORUS
The stage is adorned with vibrant, exaggerated set pieces that create a surreal atmosphere. THE GUIDE, EMILY, THE MASTER, and the CHORUS are present, all dressed in striking, exaggerated costumes that reflect their heightened characters. The lighting is stark and dramatic, casting long shadows.
THE GUIDE: (with grandiosity, addressing the audience) Behold, dear audience, the realm of the actor’s craft, where emotions are not whispered but shouted, where feelings are not hidden but displayed in all their exaggerated glory.
THE MASTER: (imposing, powerful, to EMILY) Emily, you are a vessel for human emotion, a conduit for the soul’s expression. Your every gesture must be a testament to your inner world!
EMILY: (with exaggerated curiosity) Teach me, Master. Show me how to be more than myself. Show me how to become my emotions.
THE MASTER: (dramatically) Very well! We shall begin with joy! Show me joy, Emily! Let it flow from you like a river!
EMILY: (with exaggerated joy, twirling, laughing) Joy! Happiness! Delight!
THE CHORUS: (synchronized, dancing, chanting) Joy, joy, joy! A dance of delight, a song of happiness!
THE MASTER guides EMILY through a series of emotions, each more intense and exaggerated than the last. Fear, sorrow, anger, love—each emotion is explored through stylized movements, voices, and facial expressions. THE CHORUS mirrors and amplifies EMILY’s expressions in an orchestrated, choreographed manner.
THE MASTER: (to EMILY, with exaggerated approval) Excellent! Now sorrow! Drown us in your despair!
EMILY: (with exaggerated sorrow, weeping) Sorrow! Grief! Loss!
THE CHORUS: (synchronized, moving, chanting) Sorrow, sorrow, sorrow! A wave of grief, a storm of loss!
THE GUIDE: (to the audience, grandly) See how the actors abandon realism, how they transcend the mundane! In the world of Expressionism, acting becomes an art form unto itself, a symphony of exaggerated emotion.
(THE MASTER and EMILY continue their exploration, delving into anger, love, confusion, and other complex emotions. The stage becomes a dynamic canvas of movement, sound, and expression, each element crafted to heighten the emotional impact.)
THE MASTER: (triumphant, to EMILY) You have become a living artwork, Emily! Your body, your voice, your face—all instruments in a grand orchestra of emotion!
EMILY: (with exaggerated satisfaction) I feel it, Master. I feel the power of my emotions, the intensity of my soul’s expression.
THE GUIDE: (concluding, with grandiosity, to the audience) And thus, we witness the transformation of acting into a vivid display of the human condition. In the realm of Expressionism, actors become poets of movement, musicians of voice, painters of emotion. Their craft transcends the boundaries of realism, reaching into the very essence of our being.
(As the lights dim, THE GUIDE, EMILY, THE MASTER, and THE CHORUS strike exaggerated, stylised poses, frozen in time. The scene ends with a powerful tableau, leaving the audience with a lasting impression of the beauty, complexity, and intensity of heightened acting.)
Scene 5: Focus on the Individual
Characters
- EMILY
- THE CHORUS
- THE GUIDE
The stage is set to resemble an industrial cityscape, with towering, exaggerated skyscrapers, and a series of harsh, mechanical sounds. The lighting is dim, cold, and unsettling. EMILY is at centre stage, appearing small and vulnerable amidst her surroundings. THE CHORUS forms a barrier of society’s forces, dressed uniformly, their faces hidden. THE GUIDE stands apart, an observant narrator.
THE GUIDE: (sombre, reflective) In the labyrinth of the modern world, the individual wanders, lost and alone. We now bear witness to a journey, a struggle that echoes in the very depths of the human soul.
EMILY: (frightened, introspective) Where am I? What has become of my dreams, my hopes? I feel the weight of a thousand eyes, the judgment of a world I cannot understand.
THE CHORUS: (mechanical, distant) Work. Consume. Repeat.
EMILY: (defiant) I am not a machine! I am a human being, with thoughts and emotions!
THE GUIDE: (thoughtfully) Emily’s voice rings out, a cry of desperation in the wilderness of conformity. The city’s cold embrace tightens, its rigid structures suffocate.
(EMILY begins to move through the urban landscape, her movements erratic, her expressions exaggerated as she confronts the various aspects of societal oppression. THE CHORUS follows her, blocking, taunting, a relentless tide of pressure.)
THE CHORUS: (menacing, rhythmic) Join us. Become us.
EMILY: (anguished) No! I will not surrender my identity!
THE GUIDE: (analytically) Emily’s battle is an allegory, a symbolic representation of the conflict between the individual and the impersonal forces of society.
(The struggle continues, growing more intense and chaotic. EMILY confronts various societal elements, portrayed by THE CHORUS, such as the education system, government, family expectations, and corporate greed. Her emotions escalate from fear to anger, from sorrow to determination.)
EMILY: (to THE CHORUS, fighting back) I will not be shaped by you! I will find my path, my voice!
THE CHORUS: (cold, relentless) There is no escape. There is no voice.
THE GUIDE: (with empathy) Her struggle is our struggle. Her voice is a call to recognize our own torment, our own alienation.
(EMILY’s struggle reaches a climax, her emotions heightened to an almost unbearable pitch. She battles THE CHORUS, physically and emotionally, in a series of stylized confrontations. Her resistance wanes, her movements become more labored, her voice breaks.)
EMILY: (screaming, defeated) Why can’t I be free? Why must I be trapped in this nightmare?
THE CHORUS: (triumphant, unfeeling) You are one of us. You must be one of us.
THE GUIDE: (final, sorrowful) The tragedy unfolds. Emily’s defeat is a stark reminder of the crushing weight of conformity, the loss of identity in a world that demands submission.
(The scene concludes with EMILY lying defeated, a broken figure on the cold ground, surrounded by the towering buildings and the faceless wall of THE CHORUS. The lights fade, leaving a haunting silence.)
Scene 6: Monologues and Soliloquies
Characters
- EMILY
- THE GUIDE
Same setting as before with EMILY under the spotlight seated on a chair, centre stage. THE GUIDE observing from the shadows. Ethereal music plays softly. EMILY’s face is a canvas of emotion as she begins her soliloquy.
EMILY: (softly, building in intensity) Where am I? This world of shadows and echoes engulfs me, consumes me. I once knew joy, love, hope. Now, they elude me, ghosts of a forgotten time. What has become of me in this distorted reality? A maze of confusion surrounds me, a world devoid of soul, of meaning.
(Pauses, her voice filled with despair)
I am adrift, floating aimlessly in a sea of uncertainty. The faces around me are masks, concealing humanity’s true essence. Who are these people? Who am I? The once-familiar terrain of life now bewilders me, its clarity obscured by an ever-growing fog.
(Her voice gains strength, her body language more animated)
I am confined, trapped by invisible forces that dictate and control. A marionette with unseen hands pulling my strings. The relentless noise, the steel towers, the soulless eyes of a society consumed by greed, ambition, emptiness. Where is my agency, my power, my self?
(Pauses, the desperation in her voice growing)
I reach out, longing for connection, for understanding. But I grasp only air. The more I search for meaning, the more elusive it becomes. Friends, family, love – all seem distant, abstract, unattainable. A chasm has opened between me and the world, and I fear I may never bridge it.
(She looks directly at the audience, her voice pleading)
Help me, guide me. For I am lost in this storm, and I fear I may lose myself completely. Is there no escape from this nightmare? Must I forever be a prisoner to this fragmented reality, this shattered mirror reflecting a distorted image of who I once was?
(Her voice softens, a note of melancholy)
Remember the joy of a child’s laughter, the warmth of a lover’s embrace, the beauty of a sunrise? I remember, but they feel like dreams, distant and intangible. Will I ever feel them again? Can I ever find my way back to a world that makes sense, a world where I belong?
(Her voice breaks, her body wracked with sobs, she collapses back into the chair)
I am tired, so very tired. Tired of fighting, of seeking, of longing. I yearn for peace, for understanding, for a place where I can simply be. Is that too much to ask? Is that a dream forever beyond my reach?
THE GUIDE: (softly, as lights dim to darkness) In Emily’s soliloquy, we hear the universal cry of human longing, the torment of disconnection. Her voice resonates in the depths of our souls, a reminder of our shared struggle for meaning, for identity, for salvation.
(Lights go out completely, music fades to silence. Scene ends.)
Scene 7: Stark Lighting and Sound
Characters
- EMILY
- THE GUIDE
The stage is initially plunged into complete darkness. Abruptly, a harsh, glaring spotlight is focused on EMILY, who stands centre stage, her face twisted in distress. The sharp contrast creates dark, menacing shadows. A discordant sound, a mixture of industrial noise and a dissonant musical score, assaults the ears.
THE GUIDE: (voiceover, measured and foreboding) Here we stand on the precipice of despair, in a world unmade by anguish and conflict. Behold Emily, caught in a storm of sensation, where light and sound are weapons, tearing at the fabric of her being.
(The harsh light follows EMILY as she moves erratically around the stage, her movements chaotic, as if she’s trying to escape the light. Her voice is barely audible above the jarring noise.)
EMILY: (frantic, disoriented) It’s too much, too much! The noise, the light, it’s in my head, in my soul!
(Suddenly, the light shifts to a cold blue, and the sound changes to a low, throbbing pulse. EMILY freezes, her body tense.)
EMILY: (whispering, terrified) What is this place? What is happening to me?
THE GUIDE: (voiceover, maintaining the clinical tone) In the realm of Expressionism, light and sound are not mere embellishments; they are vital components, shaping reality, manipulating perception.
(A series of sharp, staccato lighting changes and sound shifts occur, creating a visual and aural assault. The effect is disorienting, reflecting EMILY’s internal chaos.)
EMILY: (crying out, lost) Stop! Please, stop! I can’t think, I can’t breathe!
THE GUIDE: (voiceover, almost cruel in its detachment) Emily’s torment is our window, a glimpse into the abyss where the soul is laid bare. The stark lighting, the discordant sound – they are her mind’s landscape, her heart’s cry.
(The lighting and sound suddenly cease, plunging the stage into darkness and silence. EMILY collapses to the floor, sobbing. A soft, sympathetic light illuminates her, and a gentle, haunting melody plays.)
EMILY: (broken, soft) Why? Why is this happening? What does it mean?
THE GUIDE: (voiceover, softer, more reflective) In the silence, in the shadow, we find meaning. The starkness is a mirror, reflecting our fears, our doubts. In Emily’s struggle, we see our own fragility, our own humanity.
(The soft light fades, and the gentle music diminishes, leaving a resonant silence. The stage is empty, the emptiness a palpable presence.)
Scene 8: Social Commentary
Characters
- EMILY
- THE GUIDE
- CITY DWELLERS
The stage is set with a large projection screen, displaying a seamless sequence of bleak urban landscapes that morph into more hopeful imagery as the scene progresses. Sounds of industrial noise, honking horns, and human turmoil are accompanied by dissonant music. EMILY, wearing clothes that reflect her dishevelled state, stands centre stage. THE GUIDE, in stark contrast, stands to one side, observing and narrating. A group of actors, portraying CITY DWELLERS, move robotically in the background.
THE GUIDE: (cold, analytical voice-over, synchronized with projected text on the screen) Witness the city, a labyrinth of iron and despair. Observe Emily, a human soul trapped within this mechanized inferno.
EMILY: (to the audience, pleading) Where is our humanity? Where is our compassion? (gesturing towards the images) These are not mere buildings; they are cages! We are trapped, lost, consumed by the machine.
(Images of factories, pollution, over-crowded streets shift to close-ups of expressionless faces, weary workers.)
THE GUIDE: (voice-over, projected images correspond with narration) Emily’s pain is universal, a reflection of our shared malaise. The machine grinds on, relentless, uncaring.
CITY DWELLERS: (monotone, synchronized) Work, consume, obey, repeat.
EMILY: (frantic, addressing the CITY DWELLERS) No! We are more than this! We must awaken from this numb existence. We must find our hearts again!
(Images shift to social unrest, protests, and chaos, mirroring EMILY’s agitation. Sounds become more discordant.)
THE GUIDE: (voice-over, images of potential solutions, community building, and human connection appear) Expressionism is a call to arms, a plea for empathy, understanding, action.
EMILY: (resolute, turning to the audience as images of hope, renewal, natural beauty take over the screen) There is a path forward. A path of compassion, unity, hope. We must walk it, hand in hand.
CITY DWELLERS: (slowly breaking from their mechanical state, showing signs of life) Hope? Compassion? Unity?
EMILY: (encouraging, reaching out) Yes! We must remember who we are, what we are. We are not cogs in a machine. We are human, capable of love, kindness, change.
(The mechanical noise fades, the harsh images give way to a sunrise, the music softens, the CITY DWELLERS begin to show emotion.)
THE GUIDE: (softly, as the lights begin to dim, leaving only the hopeful image on the screen) Emily’s voice is our voice. Her hope, our hope. Carry this message into the world. Let it be a beacon, a guide, a call to action.
EMILY: (looking towards the projected sunrise, whispering) We can change. We must change.
(The lights continue to fade, the projected image of the sunrise lingers, the music fades to a gentle melody, leaving an impression of hope, change, possibility.)
END
Resources on the Drama Teacher on Expressionism
PDF of the play script This Play is Expressionism
