© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Swan and the Rubbish pg.

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 IMPORTANT NOTICE-Copyright 2020
Published in the United States by Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com a division of
Rumplestiltskin Press, Portland Oregon USA
Copyright owned by Corrina Bryant. All rights reserved.

This script may be copied by teachers for use with their students. It may be shared via email
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© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Swan and the Rubbish pg. 2

 About the Author…
Corrina Bryant is a freelance writer living in London. She
has written for radio, magazines, local and national press
and media websites. Corrina has written plays for the
Director’s Cut Theatre Company showcase at the
Southwark Playhouse in London, as well as written for
professional actors performing at fringe theatres in the
city. She is currently writing a novel for teenagers/young
adults and is delighted to be writing for Drama
Notebook. She wishes all the students and teachers
every success in their work and would love to hear from
them.

Thank the Author…

If your group performs this piece, be sure to credit Corrina Bryant and Drama Notebook
in your program and advertising. If you have downloaded and read this play, even if you
will not be performing it, we ask that you ALSO make her day by sending her your
feedback, adoration, gratitude, and any pictures of your production. After all, she wrote
this play for you and your students!!!!

Contact Corrina Bryant at: corriebryant@hotmail.co.uk

About the play…

This simple play is perfect for early readers and imparts a
lesson about littering. The play is mostly told through
narration, with the other children acting out the action. The
narrations can be split allowing any number of children to
take part.

Discussion questions:

Have you ever seen someone litter or leave their garbage behind?
Have you ever littered?
What would happen if everyone threw their garbage on the ground?
Why do you think the swan picked up the garbage?
Would you ever pick up someone else’s garbage?
Why is it important to not leave garbage out in nature?

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Swan and the Rubbish pg. 3

 The Swan and the Rubbish
By Corrina Bryant

CHARACTERS:

Narrators (1-10)
Boy 1
Boy 2
Swan
Girl

Setting: A park.

Narrator: One beautiful summer’s day a boy went for a picnic in the park.

Narrator: He came across a very big pond.

Narrator: The sun was shining down, and the water glistened like diamonds.

Boy: I wish I could go for a swim.

Narrator: He looked longingly at the water.

Narrator: He stood and stared at the magical lake, listening to the birds tweeting.

Children tweet like birds.

Narrator: And the leaves rustling in the wind.

Children sway like trees.

Boy: I’m getting very hungry. I think I’ll have my picnic now.

Narrator: The boy rubbed his tummy.

Boy rubs his tummy.

Narrator: So he laid out his picnic rug and unpacked his picnic and started to eat.

Boy lays out rug and starts to eat.

Narrator: It was delicious.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Swan and the Rubbish pg. 4

Narrator: When he got up, he folded up his rug and put it back in his bag.

Narrator: But he didn’t pick up his rubbish.

Boy folds rug, but leaves his rubbish.

Narrator: He walked away, leaving his rubbish behind him.

Boy walks away.

Narrator: The next day a beautiful white swan arrived at the lake.

Swan appears.

Narrator: It was big and beautiful and had wings that were wider than a car.

Swan opens arms wide.

Narrator: And it had a beak that shone like the sun.

Swan shows off its gold beak.

Narrator: Its feathers were the colour of snow.

Swan shows off its feathers.

Narrator: The swan saw the rubbish on the ground.

Narrator: And piece by piece, it picked it up and took it to the bin and dropped it in.

Swan picks up the rubbish and takes it to the bin.

Narrator: A few days later a girl arrived at the lake.

Narrator: She was eating some crisps.

Girl eats some crisps.

Narrator: She sat down to rest and when she had finished…

Girl leaves rubbish.

Narrator: She left, leaving her rubbish behind.

Girl leaves.

Narrator: But as soon as she had gone…

Narrator: The swan appeared.

Narrator: And piece by piece.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Swan and the Rubbish pg. 5

Narrator: It picked up the rubbish.

Narrator: Took it to the bin and dropped it in.

Swan picks up the rubbish and takes it to the bin.

Narrator: A few days later, another boy came along.

Narrator: He was eating some sweets.

Narrator: He sat down to rest and when he had finished

Narrator: He left his rubbish behind him.

Boy 2 leaves, leaving his rubbish behind him.

Narrator: But as soon as he had gone…

Narrator: The swan appeared.

Narrator: And piece by piece

Narrator: It picked up the rubbish.

Narrator: Took it to the bin and dropped it in.

Narrator: A few days later, the girl and the first boy returned together.

Narrator: They were eating some chocolate.

Narrator: They sat down to finish their chocolate.

Narrator: And as it was such a lovely day…

Narrator: They slipped off their shoes and socks and closed their eyes to rest.

Narrator: The large white swan appeared.

Narrator: And took their shoes in its gold beak.

Narrator: And dropped them in the bin.

Swan takes shoes and socks and puts them in the bin.

Narrator: The boy and the girl woke up.

Girl: Hey, that’s my shoe.

Boy: Hey, that’s my sock.

Everyone: And, this is everyone’s planet.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Swan and the Rubbish pg. 6

Narrator: A few days later…

Narrator: The second boy appeared at the lake.

Narrator: He laid down his rug.

Narrator: And he got out his picnic.

Narrator: And he ate it all up.

Boy eats picnic food and rubs his tummy.

Narrator: It was delicious.

Narrator: But when he had finished.

Narrator: He picked up his rubbish.

Narrator: And put it in the bin.

Boy puts the rubbish in the bin.

Narrator: The next day, the girl went for a walk by the lake.

Narrator: She was eating some snacks.

Narrator: She sat down, but when she had finished.

Narrator: She put her rubbish in the bin.

Narrator: They boys and the girl never saw the swan again.

Narrator: But…

Narrator: There was another lake.

Narrator: Not far away.

Narrator: But this was no ordinary lake.

Narrator: This was the queen’s lake.

Narrator: It was the royal lake.

Narrator: And only swans who deserved to live there, were allowed to live on the royal lake.

Narrator: And this is where the swan with the golden beak lived out the rest of her years.

Swan puts on a crown.

CURTAIN

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com The Swan and the Rubbish pg. 7

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