Writing a play script

A script is a story told almost entirely through what characters say and do. It is written to be performed, so it has its own layout and rules.

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Script layout

Scene heading: where and when the scene takes place.
Character names on the left, often in capitals, followed by their lines.
No speech marks.
Stage directions in brackets (and often italics), written in the present tense: (She slams the door.)
SCENE 1. A school corridor, after the bell. Empty except for a lost-property box.

(MIA enters, out of breath, and starts searching the box.)

MIA: It has to be here. It has to be.

(JAY enters behind her, holding a blue scarf behind his back.)

JAY: Looking for something?

MIA: (without turning round) Go away, Jay.

(JAY grins and slowly holds up the scarf.)
Practice extract, written for GCSE-ready

Show character through dialogue

In a script there is no narrator to explain feelings, so:
Let characters reveal themselves through how they speak: short, snappy lines can show anger; long rambling lines can show nerves.
Use subtext: what a character means but does not say.
Keep stage directions short and useful: only what the actors and audience need.

Shape the scene

Start as late as possible, in the middle of something.
Give each character a want, and put something in the way.
Build to a turning point, then end on a moment that makes the audience want more.
Worked example

Rewrite this story sentence as a script line: "I'm not scared," whispered Leo, edging away from the door.

  1. Put the name first, in capitals, then a colon.
  2. Remove the speech marks.
  3. Turn 'whispered' and 'edging away' into a short present-tense stage direction.

Answer: LEO: (whispering, edging away from the door) I'm not scared.

Key idea

Scripts use a scene heading, character names before each line, no speech marks, and short present-tense stage directions in brackets. Reveal character through dialogue and subtext.

Key words
Speech marks
Marks (' ' or " ") around the exact words someone says. The punctuation of the speech goes inside them.
Stage directions
Instructions in a play script that tell actors how to move or speak, or describe the set.
Dialogue
The words characters speak. Start a new line for each new speaker.
Narrator
The voice that tells a story.
Audience
The people a text is written or spoken for.

All KS3 English key terms and definitions →

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

Try each one, then tap to check.

  1. Which line is set out incorrectly for a play script?

    1. JAY: Looking for something?
    2. "Looking for something?" asked Jay.
    3. MIA: Go away, Jay.
    4. MIA: It has to be here.
    Show the answer

    Answer: "Looking for something?" asked Jay.

    Scripts do not use speech marks or "asked".

  2. Which stage direction is in the correct tense?

    1. (MIA searched the box.)
    2. (MIA will search the box.)
    3. (MIA had searched the box.)
    4. (MIA searches the box.)
    Show the answer

    Answer: (MIA searches the box.)

    Stage directions use the present tense.

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Sources and references

Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 17 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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