Androcles and the Lion
by George Bernard Shaw · first published 1916
- Cast
- 17 (11M, 2F, 4 any)
- Sets
- Jungle Path, Gates of Rome, Coliseum
- Royalty
- None
17 scripted roles, with additional background characters as required, such as christians, soldiers, galdiators, menagerie keepers, slave and courtiers.
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The story
A gentle Christian tailor named Androcles (alongside his nagging wife Megaera) travels through a forest where he encounters a roaring lion suffering from a large thorn in its paw. Instead of running, Androcles compassionately removes the thorn. Later, when Androcles is captured for practicing Christianity in Rome and thrown into the Colosseum to be devoured, the same lion recognizes him and dances with him rather than eating him.
Cast
| Character | Who they are | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| ANDROCLES | a Greek tailor and a Christian | M |
| MEGAERA | his wife | F |
| THE LION | Any | |
| THE CENTURION | M | |
| THE CAPTAIN | a Roman patrician | M |
| LAVINIA | aa goodlooking resolute young woman | F |
| FERROVIUS | a powerful, choleric man in the prime of life. | M |
| SPINTHO | The wreck of a good-looking man gone hopelessly to the bad | M |
| LENTULUS | a young Roman courtier | M |
| METELLUS | a young Roman courtier | M |
| THE OX DRIVER | Any | |
| THE EMPEROR | Caesar | M |
| THE EDITOR | manager of the gladiators | M |
| THE MENAGERIE KEEPER | Any | |
| THE CALL BOY | Any | |
| RETIARIUS | a gladiator with a net | M |
| SECUTOR | a gladiator with a sword | M |
Rights check
- Performing
- Public domainFree to perform in the UK, with no licence or fee. Outside the UK, check your local rules.
- The script
- Public domainFree to download, copy and share.
Author: Shaw died in 1950, so his work has been free in the UK since 1 January 2021
Translation: None needed, written in English
Source: Shaw’s text as first published in 1916, checked and laid out by StageCommons. The list of characters is our own.
Checked 30 October 2026. Copyright rules differ between countries, so check your local rules if you are performing outside the UK.
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