The Twelve Days of Christmas in France
by Nora Louise Syran
Twelve short interconnected plays based in modern day France at Christmas time. Twelve stories set in Paris, Brittany, Normandy and Provence which weave together wild boars and hunters, swans on the Seine, partridges in plum trees, lonely lovers and more…
- Cast Size: 2M 4W w/ Flexible Casting
- Running Time: 60+ minutes
- Royalty Rate: $75 per performance
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About the Playwright
Nora is a first generation Norwegian-American writer and a teacher of literature, theatre arts and music which has allowed her to travel, write and produce plays and, above all, learn from her students the world over. She is a member of the SACD (Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques) and the Dramatists Guild. She studied under poet Brigit Pegeen Kelly at the University of Illinois. www.noralouisesyran.com
Her play ELLIS ISLAND AHEAD! is available with Eldridge Plays and Musicals and her monologue THERE ARE NO CLOSETS IN MY CLASSROOM can be found in the Smith and Kraus anthology WE-US: Monologues for Gender Minority Characters. Her play THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN FRANCE will be published by Next Stage Press in March. Her first 10 minute play WALKING WARM was a semi-finalist in the TASN’s 2021 Annual Short Play Festival and her first teleplay SPELLBOUND HORSES earned her Second Prize from the Central Illinois Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters in 1993.
The Twelve Days of Christmas is a collection of short stories set in various parts of France during the Christmas Season. It is formatted for a play, yet I was absorbed in reading it.
We get a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people as they engage in and reflect on their existence as during Yuletide in a way that blends humor and reflection.. This was such a creative take on the Twelve Days. I can’t wait to see this as a play. Keep me posted for that, please! In the meantime, read this collection for a fresh take on the Christmas Season.
This is too much fun: A series of shorts woven together around and inspired by the 12 things listed in the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas.” It’s so theatrical, with themes and characters who resurface, and I love how it gives the actors opportunities to play multiple parts – and the audience opportunities to watch the actors tackle a variety of roles. There are some beautiful monologues in here which can stand alone in their own right as well. What a wonderful piece to stage during the holidays!
Theaters be assured, no animal costumes (or actual animals) are required! All the livestock and personnel from the traditional “Twelve Days” carol are present, but mostly metaphorically. “Three French Hens” are three ladies conversing at a Parisian sidewalk café, for example. The audience will love how each charming scene plays with their expectations and how, in some cases, characters from one relate to characters in another. With its oh-so-French sensibilities, it will provide a welcome change to the usual theatrical holiday fare.
These short plays are woven together to make one beautiful holiday blanket. They’re poems. They’re paintings. And honestly very inspirational. There are so many ways this show can be presented! I see a walking holiday production where the guests are guided from place to place to see each scene. Or a great holiday film! The possibilities are endless. If you are looking for something to produce for your holiday programming that can involve a LOT of artists, this is your project!
Nora Louise Syran’s version of the Twelve Days of Christmas is a treasure trove of the comic, the quirky, the touching, the evocative and the inventive. This exceptional set of 12 short plays creates each of the 12 days in a most original fashion held together with characters who have a story to tell and with a French vibe and a wonderfully warm Christmas feeling. The variety of the pieces make it such a great performance piece – from the powerful monologue of ‘Eight Maids A Milking’ to the very funny ‘Nine Ladies Dancing’, there is a delight at every turn.
Clever, well-written and so original.
These plays are just dripping with romantic, lush, gorgeous details and settings. This is a total sensory overload that just consumes you with atmosphere and nostalgia! It makes me want to book a trip to France immediately. All the essence of the holidays are poured into these plays, and then some– beautiful use of animals and music, too. What a dreamy experience.
Nora Louise Syran showcases her skill at delicately creating a festive and jovial atmosphere in these 12 interconnected plays set in France. As I read them as shorter, separate scripts, I felt such warmth and camaraderie radiating between the characters, and the French holiday setting enhanced it. “The Twelve Days of Christmas in France” is a terrific choice for a cozy, contemporary holiday show.
What an amazing concept and you get to walk away with so much knowledge. The Twelve Days of Christmas is delightful, and can be read separately or as a collaboration. Nora paints these beautiful pictures with layers of rich cultural awareness. Each vignette stands out on it’s own, but they also lend the magic that Nora creates through the lens of each of her characters.
What an amazing concept and you get to walk away with so much knowledge. The Twelve Days of Christmas is delightful, and can be read separately or as a collaboration. Nora paints these beautiful pictures with layers of rich cultural awareness. Each vignette stands out on it’s own, but they also lend the magic that Nora creates through the lens of each of her characters. I’d love to see this show on a stage, its brilliant.
Review The Twelve Days of Christmas in France.