Androcles and the Lion

Published by Lazy Bees Scripts

A traditional tale told in rhyming couplets.
Playing time: about ten minutes.

A shepherd helps an injured lion. Later he is arrested for being a Christian and taken to the arena to be eaten by lions. Lots of puns and a happy ending.

Lion.jpeg

Wildlife drawn by Simon Bond

Characters:

Androcles

Androcles's Mother

A (talking) Lion

Emperor Nero

Empress Poppaea

Two Soldiers

Narrator

Slaves, Soldiers, Christians (and possibly more Lions) may be added.

 

Extract from script:

Androcles: The sheep are fine. There is no danger.

Do you expect some treacherous stranger?

Mother:  I think your mind is quite besotted.

What if a lion or leopard is spotted?

Androcles:  A leopard is always spotted, mother dear.

Mother:  You fool! Stop drivelling! Get out of here!

This script has been performed in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Norway, Austria and Thailand, as well as in several locations in the U.K.