Production photos coming soon
Show Stopper
The curtain goes up in an hour. Nothing is ready.
£295
Complete Production Licence
One flat price for the title. No cast-size, audience-size or per-performance pricing.
- 12-month licence
- Unlimited performances
- Full script
- Production resources
- Instant digital access
Overview
About the show
One hour before curtain up, the set collapses, the lead loses their voice and the director disappears.
What follows is a chaotic, affectionate love letter to putting on a show.
Written for large groups, with dozens of short, playable roles and a company finale.
Please note: song suggestions onlyStage Library does not write or provide music. Where appropriate, we suggest existing songs that could complement the script.
Perfect for
- Schools & colleges
- Theatre schools
- Performing arts groups
- Youth theatres
Suggested Songs
Stage Library does not provide or license the music used in our productions. Where appropriate, we suggest existing songs that could complement the script. Organisations are responsible for obtaining any permissions or licences required to use music in their production.
Suggested opening company number
Act One — opening
Suggested backstage number
Act One — mid
Suggested finale
Finale
Placeholder entries shown during development. Songs are not supplied and are not part of the licence.
Read a Preview
Read an extract from the script in your browser. This is a read-only preview — the full script is supplied with the licence.
ACT ONE — SCENE ONE
Darkness. A single light finds the ENSEMBLE, scattered across the stage, still as photographs.
NARRATOR ONE
It began the way most days begin.
NARRATOR TWO
Badly.
The ENSEMBLE stirs. Morning sounds build — alarms, kettles, buses.
SAM
Nobody tells you that the biggest days look exactly like the small ones until they've already started.
ALEX
Sam. We are going to be late.
SAM
We are always late.
ALEX
Not like this.
A low rumble. The light shifts, gold and strange. The ENSEMBLE turns, as one, to look upstage.
— preview of Show Stopper continues in the full script —
Sample development text. Preview content is data-driven and will be replaced with real script extracts.
What's Included
Full Script
Director's script in PDF format, formatted for rehearsal use.
Character & Casting Guide
Role descriptions, casting flexibility and doubling suggestions.
Rehearsal Resources
Warm-ups, games and a suggested rehearsal schedule.
Production Notes
Staging notes for the backstage/onstage split.
Marketing Artwork
Poster and social artwork.
Suggested Songs Guide
Where songs could sit in the script. Music is not supplied or licensed.
Music is never included. Any songs used in your production must be licensed by your organisation.
Production
Staging notes
Plays with the idea of a theatre within a theatre. Works best on a stage with wings, but can be staged end-on.
Set complexity
Moderate to high — deliberately half-built scenery.
Costume guidance
Crew blacks, half-finished costumes and one gloriously overdone lead outfit.
Props
Flats, paint pots, clipboards, headsets and a great deal of gaffer tape.
Rehearsal considerations
10–12 weeks. The pace rewards rehearsal time.
Production flexibility
Best suited to larger, more experienced groups.
Running time
60–70 minutes
Difficulty
Ambitious
Cast
Minimum cast
25 performers
Ideal cast
25–60+ performers
Speaking roles
30+
Ensemble flexibility
Crew, cast and audience characters can all be expanded.
Sam
LeadSpeakingCurious, stubborn and quietly brave. The heart of the story.
- Casting
- Any gender
- Involvement
- On stage for most of the production
Can be split across two performers if useful.
Alex
LeadSpeakingPractical, loyal and the first to point out a bad idea.
- Casting
- Any gender
- Involvement
- Appears throughout
Narrators (x4)
FeaturedSpeakingGuide the audience through the story and set each scene.
- Casting
- Any gender, flexible number
- Involvement
- Regular short appearances
Expand or reduce the number to suit your cast size.
The Company
EnsembleEnsembleCrowds, chorus, movement sequences and scene transitions.
- Casting
- Any gender, any number
- Involvement
- Throughout
Lines can be shared out to give more performers a moment.
Development casting data — the full character breakdown is supplied with the licence.
Reviews
Reviews from licensed productions will appear here.
We only publish feedback from organisations that have staged the show.
FAQ
Do we need a full theatre to stage this?+
No, but the backstage comedy lands best where you can suggest an offstage area.
How long does the licence last?+
The Complete Production Licence covers a 12-month period from purchase.
How many performances can we give?+
Unlimited performances by your organisation during the 12-month licence period.
Are songs included?+
No. Stage Library does not write, supply or license music. Some productions include Suggested Songs — existing songs you may choose to use. Any permissions or licences required for music are the responsibility of your organisation.
Can we change the suggested songs?+
Yes. Suggested Songs are recommendations only, and you are free to choose alternatives that suit your group.
Can I preview the script first?+
Yes. Each show page includes a read-only preview of part of the script so you can judge tone, style and suitability before licensing.
What resources are included?+
Included resources are listed in the What's Included section on each show page and vary by title.