The Ugly Duckling – A Play
Scene 1
Narrator 1: Mummy duck has seven eggs in the nest.
Narrator 2: She is very happy.
Mummy duck: One, two, three, four, five, six little yellow ducklings. But one egg is different. It’s
big! It’s grey!
Duckling 1: Mummy! He’s big!
Duckling 2: Mummy! He’s grey!
Duckling 3: Mummy! He’s ugly!
Mummy duck: Yes, he’s different. But he’s your brother!
Scene 2
Narrator 1: It’s a sunny day.
Narrator 2: Mummy duck is taking the ducklings for their first swim.
Duckling 1: Quack, quack. The water’s lovely!
Duckling 2: Quack, quack. The water’s lovely!
Duckling 3: Quack, quack. The water’s lovely!
Duckling 4: Quack, quack. The water’s lovely!
Duckling 5: Quack, quack. The water’s lovely!
Duckling 6: Quack, quack. The water’s lovely!
Ugly Duckling: Quack, quack. The water’s lovely!
Scene 3
Narrator 1: It’s summer.
Narrator 2: Today mummy duck is taking the ducklings to the farm.
Mummy duck: Hello! Here are my seven little ducklings.
Old Chicken: No, NOT seven little ducklings! Six little yellow ducklings ... and one big, grey, ugly
duckling!
Narrator 1: All the animals look at mother duck.
Narrator 2: All the animals walk towards the Ugly Duckling.
Narrator 1: The Ugly Duckling walks away…
Narrator 2: But all the other animals follow him.
Cow: You’re a big duckling!
Dog: You’re a grey duckling!
Horse: You’re an ugly duckling!
Cat: You’re a big, grey ugly duckling!
Rabbit: Ha! Ha! Ha! Look at the Ugly Duckling!
All the animals: Ugly Duckling, go away! Ugly Duckling, go away!
Scene 4
Narrator 1: The Ugly Duckling goes away from the farm.
Narrator 2. He is sad. He meets some frogs.
All the frogs: Hello. Who are you?
Ugly Duckling: Hello frogs. I’m the Ugly Duckling.
Frog 1 Oh! You’re big…
Frog 2: … and grey…
Frog 3: …and ugly!
All the frogs: Ugly Duckling, go away! Ugly Duckling, go away!
Scene 5
Narrator 1: It’s autumn.
Narrator 2: The Ugly Duckling is sad and tired. He goes into a house.
Ugly Duckling: Hello, old lady. Hello, dog. Hello, cat.
Old Lady: Who are you?
Ugly Duckling: I’m the Ugly Duckling.
Old Lady: Oh! You’re big!
Dog: Oh! You’re grey!
Cat: Oh! You’re ugly!
Old Lady, Cat and Dog: Ugly Duckling, go away! Ugly Duckling, go away!
Scene 6
Narrator 1: It’s winter.
Narrator 2. The Ugly Duckling is cold and tired. He goes into a farmhouse.
Children: He’s ugly!
Farmer: Yes, he’s ugly. But he’s cold and tired. Let’s give him some milk.
Children: Let’s play with the Ugly Duckling.
Ugly Duckling: No! Let me go!
Scene 7
Narrator 1: The Ugly Duckling is very sad. He goes to a river.
Narrator 2. It’s winter and it’s very cold.
Narrator 1: He hides all winter.
Narrator 2: It’s spring now.
Swan 1: What a beautiful swan!
Ugly Duckling: A beautiful swan? Where?
Swan 2: You’re the beautiful swan!
Ugly Duckling: No, I’m not a swan! I’m an ugly duckling!
Swan 1: No, you’re not an ugly duckling!
Swan 2: You’re a swan!
Swan 1: You’re a beautiful swan!
Swans 1 and 2: Look in the water!
Ugly Duckling: Oh, yes! I’m a swan! I’m a beautiful white swan!
Narrator 1: The Ugly Duckling isn’t sad. He’s happy!
Narrator 2. The Ugly Duckling isn’t different. He isn’t grey.
Narrator 1: And he isn’t an ugly duckling!
Narrators 1 and 2: He’s a beautiful white swan!
