Beowulf and Grendel

Plays for Young Audiences

By: Fred D. White
Cast: 4 M, 3 F, 7 flexible, opt. extras
Performance Time: Approximately 30 minutes, 28 pgs.

COMIC DRAMA. In this retelling of “Beowulf” (700-1000 A.D.) Grendel and his mother are portrayed as misunderstood outcasts instead of beasts bent on wreaking havoc. As fear and panic spread, Beowulf, a young warrior, travels to Denmark to slay Grendel and rescue the Danes from his terror. However, when Beowulf encounters Grendel and his mother in their sea cave home, Beowulf discovers that they are anything but the evil creatures they have been rumored to be. Rather than beheading them, Beowulf devises a plan to convince King Hrothgar that Grendel and his mother pose no threat to the kingdom and are merely victims of fear and prejudice. But Beowulf must first overcome the flirtatious advances of King Hrothgar’s vain daughter and save Grendel before the arrogant warrior Unferth slays him.

Freeviews: To read play excerpts click here.

About the Story: To read more about the story click here.

Fred D. White has had plays showcased in New York’s East Village, on college campuses, and most recently at Edward Albee’s Last Frontier Theatre Conference. Mr. White received his Ph.D. in English from the University of Iowa and teaches writing and literature at Santa Clara University. He lives in San Mateo, CA.