Scenes for Four Actors
A strange monologue about a murdered teddy bear. The tense exchange between a faded rockstar and a super-fan. A screwball three-hander set at a bloody crime scene. Here at StageMilk, we’ve provided a wealth of original scenes for actors to tackle these last few years—and tackle you have, all over the world! Today, we’re releasing a new collection of characters and stories for you to tear into: scenes for four actors.
This article contains a collection of royalty-free, original scenes for four actors. There is a range of genres and styles, and some performance notes to aid in quick script analysis. These scenes would be perfect for scene study, acting classes or a student showcase.
Just like our other originals pages (monologues, scenes and three-handers), we will update this article regularly with new content. So feel free to give it a ‘bookmark’ and check in for fresh material each month!
Copyright-Free Scripts
Before we dive in, let’s talk copyright. These scripts are given without strings as resources for actors around the world: we want you to use them and enjoy them and have fun bringing them to life.
But we still encourage you to think about where your scenes and monologues come from: who writes them and how they pay their bills, especially when their work shows up online for free.
If you can, find ways to pay it forward to the artists who write your stuff. Did you use a great scene by a playwright for that audition you nailed? Consider buying the play online! Have a favourite book of monologues you swear by? Get it as a gift for an actor friend!
From The Writer:
Hello! My name is Alexander Lee-Rekers; I’m a professional playwright and screenwriter. I hereby give my permission for you to use the scenes on this page for personal practice. All I ask is that you credit my work and cite StageMilk as its source—especially if you’re teaching a class, or post it on social media. (If you’re feeling brave, you can tag me on Insta via @alexnobodyfamous so I can see what you do with it.) Other than that: have fun, make bold choices and give ’em a go!
Scenes for Four Actors
These scripts utilise the in-house formatting of our StageMilk Scene Club scenes, and may be filmed or staged as required. Get experimental with this: take the relative lack of stage directions as a chance to take the unexpected route.
As always, engage with script analysis and some character creation work: just because the words on the page are relatively few, doesn’t mean the writer hasn’t given you clues for interpretation and subtext.
Finally, in the context of an acting class, a scene study or a showcase, don’t feel bound to the names/genders/pronouns as prescribed by the text. Modify these to reflect the best possible casting, not the other way around.
An Unfortunate Thing
Genre: Drama
Length: 3 – 4 mins
Synopsis: A married couple confront their overbearing neighbours with a piece of damning evidence.
Performance Notes: This is a deceptively difficult scene to bring together; the motives of Greg and Kathy need to feel entirely justified, even though they do shatter the privacy of their (admittedly awful) neighbours. What the hell is on the video that they show them? That’s for you to decide. A small piece of advice: try to avoid playing this piece as straight comedy. There are laughs to be had, but it’s far more effective as an exercise in claustrophobic suburban drama…
Bronze Monkey Statue
Genre: Comedy
Length: 3 – 4 mins
Synopsis: Two spoilt siblings argue with their aunt and the family lawyer over the inheritance of a bronze monkey statue.
Performance Notes: This is a fairly ridiculous situation, with some over-the-top characters and dialogue the match. The secret to performing it effectively, as with all comedy, is to play it completely straight. How can you make these situations and interactions feel totally normal and real to the characters involved? Set the stakes of the scene: what do they stand to win or lose?
Going Negative
Genre: 3 – 4 mins
Length: Drama/Political
Synopsis: A mayoral candidate debates with her staff on whether or not to use a damning story about her opponent.
Performance Notes: Going Negative is a great opportunity to explore rhythm and pace in acting: get that dialogue crackling! It’s also worth spending some time on the backstory and distinction between each of these characters. Also status: who has the most standing in the room? And why might it be Tim?
Red Dot
Genre: Comedy
Length: 3 mins
Synopsis: Three art students commiserate over the sale of a peer’s grad show painting.
Performance Notes: Gosh, they’re awful people aren’t they… Sometimes, you have to play a character that is entirely unsympathetic (usually in comedy, where the audience can have a guilt-free laugh at their expense.) The trick is to build a defence case for them: as the actor playing said garbage human, you have to be their lawyer and argue their actions are good and correct.
Switch
Genre: Drama
Length: 3 – 4 mins
Synopsis: Two couples are interviewed about their experiences
Performance Notes: Owing a lot to the influence of Samuel Beckett, Switch contains minimal information about characters and setting. That’s not to say that there aren’t characters and a story world to be built—as an actor in this piece, you have important decisions to make. Note that punctuation is practically non-existent in this piece. When does it occur? And why?
Additional Resources
There you have it: custom-written, free, original scenes for four actors! Remember to check back with us regularly for new uploads across this page and our other originals pages.
Finally, be sure to look at our other pages for free material and acting resources.
Original content:
- Practice Scripts for Actors
- Practice Monologues for Actors
- Short Monologues for Actors
- Scenes for Three Actors
- Scenes for Young Actors
Resources for acting and script work:
- Script Analysis: How to get the Most out of a Scene
- How to Discover Character Relationships
- What is Subtext in Acting?
- Rhythm and Pace in Acting
- Given Circumstances
All things showcase and presentation:
- How to Nail your Drama School Showcase
- Should I Take an Acting Class?
- How to Survive your Drama School Showcase
- Benefits of Scene Study for Actors
- How to Cut Down a Monologue or Scene (we promise we won’t be offended)
One Final Note…
If you couldn’t find a scene on this page that really resonated with you, and you’re struggling to find material elsewhere … why not try writing one yourself? Here at StageMilk, we encourage all actors to experience writing and directing to get a more rounded understanding of how they fit into the on-set/stage dynamic. Consider coming up with a scene for your showreel, or even writing a monologue to get the ball rolling. You might discover an entirely new artistic passion!
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