The Prince and the Pauper - (Modern Plays) by Jemma Kennedy (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

You are a Prince, not a pauper. And before too long the whole of England will be in your hands...

Jemma Kennedy's stage adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper is a dynamic and fast-paced adaptation of Mark Twain's 1881 classic novel of confused identities. Set in a gritty, vibrant Tudor London, the poverty-stricken Tom Canty has a chance meeting with the young heir to the throne, Prince Edward, and - by pure coincidence - they find they look almost identical.

The Prince and the Pauper tells the story of what happens when one person is mistaken for the other and what happens to them in the long-term: Tom Canty is forced into the world of the court and power, while Edward is cast down into a world of poverty and thieves, from which he must fight his way back to the court.

First produced at the Unicorn Theatre, the UK's leading theatre for young audiences aged 2 - 21 from the 25th November 2012 to the 13 January 2013.

Review Quotes

"Perfectly timeless ... a postmodern morality tale" --Laura Thompson, Telegraph

"Remains as appealing for 21st-century children as it was for those who first read the novel on its publication in 1882 ... Kennedy's sturdy adaptation, which cleverly plays up the fun of the role-swapping scenario and offers a bit of Tudor-style cross-dressing, Horrible Histories-esque jokes, and even an unlikely little spoof of Les Misérables ... humour and intelligence prevail" --Lyn Gardner, Guardian

"The children in the audience whooped and laughed" --Libby Purves, The Times

"You can't fault this version of The Prince and the Pauper for originality ... it is both fast and funny." --Susan Elkin, Stage

About the Author