Ballot box drama for kids brings democracy to life on stage 

Cheekily named theatre company ‘Gone to the Dogs Productions’ is bringing a kids’ show about democracy to the Exeter Fringe on 1 stAugust.

Performing at The Barnfield Theatre, the hour-long play called ‘Rox, Paper and The Scissors’ is aimed at 9+years and aims to get children to think about democracy, and why or how we vote.

In the play, three characters – autocratic school bully Rox, head girl (rule of law) Paper, and disruptive class clown The Scissors – battle to become school president, but find out the hard way that not all elections are fought fairly.  

At the climax of the show, which has as its tagline “Want to change the world? You have one vote. Use it wisely”, audience members are asked to vote in a process that echoes a general election. The result will be declared on social media after the show.

Written and directed by Miranda Duffy, she stresses that the play is non-partisan, and looks instead at a fun and creative way of engaging young people with current affairs in an era when, for many, politics has become a dirty word. 

“Many adults are flummoxed by politics and what’s going on in the world, so how or where do you start explaining it to kids? That’s I came up with a story that will make children laugh, but get them to think at the same time.”

 “It’s all about giving children access to big ideas and the confidence to ask questions. If we have a mantra to follow, it is: don't be frightened (to ask questions), be fascinated.”

Miranda Duffy, from Harrogate, who has Masters degrees in both British Politics and Theatre and is studying for a Doctorate, went on to explain: 

“The inspiration for the play came from watching my own kids play a particularly fraught game of rock-paper-scissors. A lot was evidently at stake – perhaps the front seat of the car, or first iPad turn – but it was striking that they played this game as a fair way to make a decision: they all knew and respected the rules. Most importantly, they knew that if they broke the rules or did not observe the outcome it would lead to a squabble. That’s not so different to global politics!”

After the Fringe, ‘Rox, Paper and The Scissors’ will tour to schools nationwide in October 2019.

The cast includes Miranda’s niece, London-based Hannah Duffy, former National Youth Theatre member, Ed Lee, and playwright-actor Joe Kerry. The Stage Manager is Aly Howe.