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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
- Book
- Malorie Blackman , Dominic Cooke
- 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
Noughts & Crosses was adapted and directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company by British theatre director and writer, Dominic Cooke in 2007. It starred Richard Madden and Ony Uhiara in the lead roles of Callum and Sephy. The play received critical acclaim and Malorie Blackman stated that she "knew it was in really safe hands". Noughts & Crosses toured the UK from February to April 2008. The play features on GCSE English and Drama syllabuses in the UK.
to read the context for Noughts & Crosses and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Sephy, a Cross, and Callum, a Nought, gather at their private meeting point on the beach. Sephy has been helping Callum study for the entrance place to Heathcroft High School (which will now take a couple of Noughts each year) and the pair have been good friends for several years, despite their racial differences. Callum asks to kiss Sephy for the first time and both enjoy the experience. However, their private moment is interrupted by the sound of Sephy’s mother, Jasmine, who
to read the plot for Noughts & Crosses and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
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Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
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|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Spoken |
Songs
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
Scenes
Key Terms
The belief that the social benefits and privileges of a society ought to be divided fairly.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher