It is spring, and a group of pilgrims gather at an inn outside London, to prepare for their journey. The young and the old, the good and the bad, the wise and the foolish are all thrown together. The owner of the inn makes a proposal: on the way to Canterbury, a storytelling contest … See a sample page here.

OUR PLAY BEGINS WITH THESE WORDS …
Nearly a thousand years ago
in the church at Canterbury,
the tomb of a very holy man
drew pilgrims both somber and merry.

Chaucer’s 14th century poem comes alive as the Knight tells of the imprisoned Palamon and Arcite. Pilgrims continue with the Miller’s Tale, the Wife of Bath’s Tale, and the Nun’s Priest’s Tale. Twelve lines of Chaucer’s prologue form a chorus, providing an easy and comfortable exposure to Middle English. 

A detailed step-by-step guide with rehearsal instructions, tips from teachers, background information and resources is included to ensure success. Imaginative hands-on activities that satisfy the curiosity stirred by this medieval classic are also included. They range from making stick horses or reenacting a pilgrimage, to illustrating a Chanticleer storybook. 

• Recommended for ages 8-18

• Run time @ 40 minutes

• Adaptable casting accommodates 16-35 members (by doubling up or sharing parts)

• Suitable for the classroom, stage, homeschool, reader’s theater, theater camp

• Integrates with the study of English literature, Middle Ages, Chaucer

• Themes include storytelling, pilgrimages, moral lessons, social satire

• Stands alone as an enticing and experiential introduction to an important classic

• Purchase includes permission for one performance and performance copies