The Alchemist by Ben Jonson (abridged play, improvisation, costume design, background information)

The Alchemist, by Shakespeare’s close friend Ben Jonson, is a lively choice for a school production. It runs for approximately 90 minutes and has parts for 20 students of varying abilities aged from 14 to 18. Accompanying the abridged version is a pack of 25 photocopiable activities.

The Alchemist takes place in a manageable setting of a sparsely furnished house in London, early 1600s. It is a madcap comedy led by three con artists who step into one disguise after another. Face, Dol and Subtle trick a variety of victims into believing that they can turn metal into gold, produce the philosopher’s stone and invent a fairy queen aunt who promises to bring luck to a young gambler.

Throughout the drama activities, students will develop performing skills and an understanding of this exciting period of drama. There are structured tasks on what is required to put on a play, from designing costumes using quotations from the play as stimuli to planning a functional and lively set. The exercise ‘What is Farce?’ highlights the essential ingredients of this genre and gives students the opportunity to create their own mini farces. Ben Jonson’s frantic and exhilarating style of drama is also explored through practical tasks. The exercises include relevant snippets of information about alchemy and the role of women in the 1600s. Other than occasional internet research, no additional resources are required for the exercises. Following the abridged version of the play is a glossary to enable students to make the most of the play and its era.