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Overview

Synopsis

Noughts & Crosses follows the doomed love story of Sephy and Callum, two teenagers kept apart by bigotry, terrorism and injustice. Sephy is the Deputy Prime Minister's daughter from the powerful black ruling class, the Crosses, who falls for rebel Callum, a Nought, a white member of the underclass and the son of an undesirable agitator. The two have been friends since early childhood but their relationship grows ever more complicated as they come of age. Their desire to be together threatens family relationships and social expectations, as well as sparking a growing political crisis. Callum and Sephy are united by a shared sense of injustice as children, and separated by racial and political intolerance as they grow up. As Callum and his family become increasingly embroiled in the Liberation Movement rebellion, he and Sephy must weigh up what they truly mean to each other in a world that is determined to keep them apart. Set in a dystopian reality, Malorie Blackman and Dominic Cooke’s powerful play challenges our modern perceptions of power, race, and truth.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Noughts & Crosses (series) by Malorie Blackman
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2007
Genres
Drama, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
Settings
Contemporary, Simple/No Set
Time & Place
A dystopian England, Present Day
Cast Size
large
Licensor
Nick Hern Book
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Late Teen, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult Characters

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Callum McGregor

Lead

Male

Spoken

Sephy Hadley

Lead

Female

Spoken

Meggie McGregor

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Ryan McGregor

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Jude McGregor

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Lynette McGregor

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Kamal Hadley

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Jasmine Hadley

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Minerva Hadley

Featured

Female

Spoken

Joanne

Featured

Female

Spoken

Lola

Featured

Female

Spoken

Dionne

Featured

Female

Spoken

Leila

Featured

Female

Spoken

Sarah Pike

Featured

Female

Spoken

Mr. Corsa

Featured

Male

Spoken

Kelani Adams

Featured

Female

Spoken

Shania

Featured

Female

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Spoken

Songs

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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    An imagined state or society where there is great suffering or injustice.

    The belief that the social benefits and privileges of a society ought to be divided fairly.

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Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher