Tiddler: The Storytelling Fish.
Cast List:
Tiddler X 2
Diver
Little Johnny Dory
School Fish
Red Fin
Star Fish
Miss Skate
Sun Fish
Story Fish
Seahorse
Dolphin
Sting Ray
Turtle
Mermaid
Squid
Granny Dory
Plaice
Fishermen x 3
Scary Fish
Shark
Spider Fish
Dragon Fish
Leopard Fish
Anchovies X 3
Voice overs X2
(Curtains closed and the theatre is in darkness. Out comes a fish – Little Johnny Dory. He is looking for someone and he starts looking for them).
Little Johnny Dory: Hi Boys and Girls and welcome to under the sea. I’m looking for someone. He is very strange looking. He has a funny mask and he is breathing through a hose and he is carrying a note pad. Have you seen him anywhere?
(Wait for children’s reaction).
Diver: Psst, Psst I’m over here. (Diver comes through the audience from the back with a flashlight. He is finding it difficult to move as he is wearing flippers. The little fish comes and helps him up to the steps on the stage).
Little Johnny Dory: Are you okay? You don’t look very comfortable.
Diver: Of course I’m not comfortable. I have travelled 50 metres under the sea to talk to you. Let’s hope your story is worth it. (He gets out his note pad).
Little Johnny Dory: Never fear. I have a great story for you. It is about a fish called little Tiddler. He is an adventurous and amazing fish with a wonderful imagination.
Diver: You have got me interested. Keep going!
(Curtains open and Little Tiddler is swimming around the stage. Both the diver and Little Johnny Dory walk up to the stage and move to the side while they are looking at little Tiddler).
Little Johnny Dory: There once was a fish called Tiddler. He was very little. Now the other fish in the ocean said he wasn’t much to look at because he had plain grey scales. But I found him fascinating as he had a huge imagination. He was always blew small bubbles but he also told tall tales. He was always late for school.
(Under the Sea school room all the fish students are swimming around. Enter Miss Skate and the bell rings).
Miss Skate: Everyone pay attention. It is 9 o clock Monday. Is every fish here?
All fish: Yes, Miss Skate.
Miss Skate: Okay, I will take the registered. Little Johnny Dory.
Little Johnny Dory: Yes, Miss skate.
Miss Skate: Sun fish.
Sun Fish: Yes, Miss Skate.
Miss Skate: Red Fin.
Red Fin: Yes, Miss Skate.
Miss Skate: Tiddler. Tiddler.
Little Johnny Dory: He isn’t here, Miss Skate.
Star fish: He is late.
Everyone: Again
(Tiddler runs into to the school room, he is out of breath).
Miss Skate: (looks at him sternly) you are late again, Tiddler.
Tiddler: Oh I’m so sorry, Miss Skate but I was on my way to school and you will never guess what happened ………….
Little Johnny Dory: Oh please tell us, your tales are always so amazing.
Sun Fish: and made up. You always have a story Tiddler.
Little Johnny Dory: Boys and Girls do you want to hear Tiddler’s story?
(Interaction with the audience)
Tiddler: Ok, I was on my way to school and I met the most beautiful seahorse. You have never seen a seahorse like it. She told me hop on her back and we went on the most fantastic adventure.
(On the other side of the stage and a seahorse and Tiddler comes in. They mime and dance to the music, all the school fish look on in amazement).
Star fish: (Being sarcastic) that is a great story and it tells us why you were late today.
Sun Fish: But then tell us why you were late yesterday?
Tiddler: Mmmmm, well yesterday that is was a whole different kettle of fish. I don’t think you will believe them if I told you.
Little Johnny Dory: Oh please tell us, Tiddler. We want to know don’t we boys and Girls?
Tiddler: Ok, I was on my way to school and I met the most beautiful sting ray. You have never seen a Sting Ray like it. She told me hop on her back and we went on the most fantastic adventure.
(On the other side of the stage and a sting ray and Tiddler come in. They mime and dance to the music, all the school fish look on in amazement).
(When the music stops, all the fish look at him in a disbelieving manner).
Red Fin: (to the others) Here, we go again, you do know this is all in his head.
Sun Fish: Yet, another lie.
Star fish: Does he ever stop making things up?
Little Johnny Dory: I like Tiddler’s stories they are fun. What do you think Boys and Girls? Do you think that they are fun? Tiddler, please tell us what happened to you the day before yesterday?
Tiddler: Well, Little Johnny Dory that was the most exciting day of all. That was the day I met the dolphin. He brought me up to the surface of the water and he showed me how to dive.
(On the other side of the stage and a dolphin and Tiddler comes in. They mime and dance to the music, all the school fish look on in amazement).
All: You went to the surface of the water.
Red Fin: But we are not allowed go there by ourselves it could be very dangerous.
Star Fish: The seagulls could catch us
Sunfish: And takes us away for our families.
Miss Skate: Tiddler, stop telling stories you are upsetting the other school fish. Besides Tiddler, we are having an end of term party next week to celebrate the summer holidays and you can’t be late for that. We won’t be able to start without. Remember, everyone you can invite all your friends.
(Everyone freezes or leaves the stage and Little Johnny Dory and Diver go to the centre of the stage).
Diver: Well, I understand that these are wonderful stories but he seems to be making them up and no one seems to believe him but you.
Little Johnny Dory: Well, Diver, be patient the story has only just begun and this isn’t the whole story.
Diver: Well I’m glad I didn’t come 200ft under the sea for some made up fantasy.
Little Johnny Dory: The story continues the next day Miss Skate called the register.
Miss Skate: Okay, I will take the registered. Little Johnny Dory.
Little Johnny Dory: Yes, Miss skate.
Miss Skate: Sun Fish.
Sun Fish: Yes, Miss Skate.
Miss Skate: Red Fin.
Red Fin: Yes, Miss Skate.
Miss Skate: Tiddler. Tiddler.
LJD: He isn’t here, Miss Skate.
Star fish: He is late.
Everyone: Again
(Tiddler runs into to the school room, he is out of breath)
Miss Skate: (looks at him sternly) you are late again, Tiddler.
Tiddler: Oh I’m so sorry, Miss Skate but I was on my way to school and you will never guess what happened ………….
Tiddler: I was on my way to school but for once I was early. I saw a shipwreck and I started to swim around it. I swam into a treasure chest and some closed the lid. I bashed and I thrashed and I bashed and I thrashed and I bashed and I thrashed
Miss Skate: We get it, you bashed and you thrashed can we get on with it.
Tiddler: Till a beautiful mermaid let me out.
(On the other side of the stage and a Mermaid and Tiddler come in. They mime Tiddler getting stuck in the treasure chest).
Red Fin: Oh no she didn’t.
Tiddler: Oh yes, she did.
(Get the audience involved).
Sun Fish: It is only a story
Spider Fish: Just a silly story
Little Johnny Dory: The story continues the next day Miss Skate called the register.
Miss Skate: Okay, I will take the registered. Little Johnny Dory.
Little Johnny Dory: Yes, Miss skate.
Miss Skate: Sun Fish.
Sun Fish: Yes, Miss Skate.
Miss Skate: Red Fin.
Red Fin: Yes, Miss Skate.
Miss Skate: Tiddler. Tiddler.
LJD: He isn’t here, Miss Skate.
Spider fish: He is late.
Everyone: TIDDLER’S LATE AGAIN
(Tiddler runs into to the school room, he is out of breath)
Miss Skate: (looks at him sternly) you are late again, Tiddler.
Tiddler: Oh I’m so sorry, Miss Skate but I was on my way to school and you will never guess what happened ………….
Tiddler: I set off really early but on the way to school. I was captured by the squid. I wriggled and I struggled, and I wriggled and I struggled and I wiggled and I struggled.
Miss Skate: We get it. You wriggled and you struggled get on with the story.
Tiddler: Then a turtle came to rescue me.
All school fish: Oh no, he didn’t.
Tiddler and the Audience: Oh, yes he did. (Audience reaction).
(On the other side of the stage and an Octopus and Tiddler come in. They mime the story as Tiddler is speaking and then turtle comes to the rescue.
Miss Skate: Tiddler, stop telling stories. Besides Tiddler, we are having an end of term party tomorrow to celebrate the summer holidays and you can’t be late for that. We won’t be able to start without. Remember, everyone you can invite all your friends.
(Everyone leaves the stage and the curtains close and little Johnny Dory comes out from the curtain and Granny Dory come in from the back of the auditorium)
Little Johnny Dory: Hi Granny.
Granny Dory: Hi Johnny. How was school?
LJD: It was great. Tiddler arrived late, again.
Granny: What stories did he tell today?
(Mermaid, sting ray, dolphin, squid, turtle and seahorse come in from the back of the auditorium and interact with the children while LJD tells Granny all about Tiddler’s stories. They all can improvise here)
(They all leave except for little Johnny Dory and the Diver)
Diver: I still don’t get it. He is so obviously making up these stories. I won’t be able to publish any of these stories.
Little Johnny Dory: Be patient. I told my granny the stories. She is a bit of a gossip. Well, anyway she went shopping one day and she met the plaice and told him the whole story and the plaice told it to the starfish who told it to a seal who told it to a lobster who told it to an eel.
Diver: Ok so what happened then?
Little Johnny Dory: At 9 o clock the next day Tiddler was dawdling. Dreaming up a story. It was his tallest story yet. Lost inside his story, he didn’t hear a fishing boat.
Tiddler: I wonder what I could make up. Perhaps I could say that I was attacked by some penguins who put me in a bottle and decide to spin it around and around. What do you think boys and girls? Do you think Miss Skate would believe that? (Improvise with audience and then freeze)
Fisherman 1: It should be a good day for Fishing.
Fisherman 2: Look at all the seagulls
Fisherman 3: That’s always a good sign.
Fisherman 1: Boys and Girls have you seen any fish, today?
Fisherman 2: Boys and Girls, we have been struggling to find fish for the last week or so. Do you think you can help us?
Fisherman 3: If you see any fish. Just shout FISH.
(The turtle, squid, mermaid, dolphin, seahorse and sting ray come in and start moving around the stage, they see the fisherman)
Mermaid: Does someone hear something?
Turtle: I think it is a fisherman boat.
Seahorse: I heard that noise before.
Dolphin: I know I will go to the surface and see what it is to be sure. (Dolphin swims to the surface and sees the boat)
Dolphin: Turtle you are right, it is a fisherman’s boat
Seahorse: And you know what that means?
Squid: Yes. It means we could get stuck in their net. My beautiful tentacles could get twisted up in it. We better get out of here.
Sting Ray: Do you think we better warn the fish?
Turtle: We better go but we could ask the boys and girls to shout out “Net” if they see a fish.
Squid: Will you please do that boys and girls we don’t want any of our sea friends to get hurt.
Dolphin: It is coming nearer and nearer. We have to leave.
All: Thanks boys and girls (they all leave the stage.)
(Tiddler enters in a day dream and suddenly he gets caught in the net).
(Fishermen enter the stage on their boat)
Fisherman 1: We got something.
Fisherman 2: Pull, Pull!
Fisherman 3: I am pulling.
(They pull and pull and then they fall over because their net only contains Tiddler).
Fisherman 1: Is this all we caught?
Fisherman 2: This one is a Tiddler.
Fisherman 3: Just throw him back and we will try again.
(Tiddler is thrown back in the ocean and the fisherman exit the stage)
(Stage lights go dark as the Tiddler is thrown into the deepest part of the ocean).
Tiddler: I am lost in the deepest part of the ocean and there is a strange light glimmering.
(Shark, spider fish, shark, leopard fish start to swim around him in a menacing way)
Shark: What are you doing here?
Spider Fish: Yes little fish you seem to be a long way from home.
Tiddler: Oh please, I got stuck in a fisherman’s net and now I am lost.
Leopard Fish: So little fish are you telling us no one know where you are
Tiddler: I was on my way to school and if I don’t turn up my teacher Miss Skate and all my friends will call the Police and they will be looking for me.
Dragon fish: I hardly think they will look for you here as this is the deepest part of the ocean.
Tiddler: Oh no, what will I do I will never get back to school and I am going to miss the party.
(The shark, dragon fish, leopard fish gather together and decide what to do, while Tiddler looks scared in the corner)
They asked the audience what they should do. Eventually they decide that they should take him back to school. This all improvised.
Leopard fish: He looks so frightened.
Shark: We should take him back.
Dragon Fish: But it is a long way.
Shark: He did mention a party,
Leopard fish: Maybe we can get an invitation.
Spider Fish: I love parties and we never get invited to them because other sea creatures are scared of us.
(They turn and Tiddler is gone, they run after him)
Tiddler: I got away from them. I will hide in the sea weed. Don’t tell them where I am.
(The others come on to the stage.).
Shark: Have you seen Tiddler boys and Girls?
Spider Fish: We only want to help him.
Dragon Fish: And get an invitation to the party.
Leopard Fish: I think we should go this way. (Points left)
Tiddler: thanks boys and girls. What’s that noise they are coming back?
Voice Overs: Tiddler rode a seahorse.
Tiddler met a mermaid
Tiddler met a turtle who saved him from a squid
Tiddler found a shipwreck
Tiddler found a treasure chest
Oh no he didn’t!
Oh yes he did.
(Tiddler peeps his head and he sees a shoal of anchovies.
Tiddler: Excuse me can you tell me where you heard that tale?
Anchovy 1: We heard from a shrimp.
Anchovy 2: but we don’t know where she heard it from?
Anchovy 3: I do. She heard it from a whale.
Anchovy 1: who heard from a herring.
Anchovy 2: who heard from an eels.
Anchovy 3: Who heard from a lobster.
Anchovy 1: Who heard from a seal.
Anchovy 2: Who heard it from a lobster.
Anchovy 3: Who heard from a seal.
Anchovy 1: Who heard from a star fish.
Anchovy 2: Who heard from a plaice.
(Plaice enters the stage.)
Plaice: Just a minute don’t I recognise your face?
Tiddler: I’m Tiddler; I’m tracking down my story so I can find my way to school.
Plaice: I heard it from Granny Dory.
(Granny Dory enters)
Granny Dory: Oh Tiddler, they are all waiting for you in the school for the party. Quick, you are going to be late.
(Tiddler enters the school room; everyone looks happy to see him and gives him a hug)
Tiddler; Sorry I am late but I swan into a fishing net and I managed to escape and then I met some scary fish but a story led me home again.
Star Fish: Oh no, it didn’t.
Little Johnny Dory and Audience: Oh yes it did
Red Fin: Just another story
Sun Fish: Just a silly storey
Little Johnny Dory: It isn’t just another story. Look there are the scary fish.(He points to the Scary Fish who enter from the back of the auditorium.
Shark: Tiddler, Tiddler you are safe. (Gives him a hug).
Dragon fish: We were looking for you everywhere.
Leopard fish: We didn’t mean to scare you we only wanted to come to your party.
Spider fish: We don’t get ask to these very often. Please say we can stay.
Tiddler: What you think boys and girls can they stay?
Tiddler: (turns to the scary fish) okay you can stay. Have a goodtime and enjoy yourself.
(Music comes on and they do a dance)
(Curtains close and the diver and little Johnny Dory come out to the step).
LJD: Well, that is the end of the story diver. What did you think?
Diver: What an amazing story. I’ve written it all down and I will put in a book just for all the boys and girls to read.
LJD: Was it worth come 200ft under the sea to hear such a story.
Diver: Definitely.
(Curtains open for the finale).
