Treasure Island Reader's Theater Script | Adapted from Stevenson's 1883 Story

This Treasure Island Adapted Readers' Theater Script is based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 classic pirate adventure. Spanning 34 acts across 6 parts, this 41,000-word script mirrors the 34 chapters of the original novel, following young Jim Hawkins as he embarks on a perilous quest for buried treasure. From the eerie arrival of Billy Bones at the Admiral Benbow Inn to the treacherous shores of Treasure Island, Jim navigates a world of cunning pirates, hidden maps, and shifting loyalties, encountering the charming yet ruthless Long John Silver, the stern Captain Smollett, and the marooned Ben Gunn amidst mutinies, ship battles, and ambushes.

With 48 vivid characters—including the gruff Billy Bones, sinister Blind Pew, loyal Dr. Livesey, excitable Squire Trelawney, and a rowdy crew of buccaneers—this dialogue-driven script brings to life a thrilling saga of courage, greed, and survival, captivating students with its high-stakes storytelling and rich historical flavor.

• Character Roles: Adjust roles to fit the number of students by combining or splitting character lines.
• Act-by-Act Character Roles: Given the large cast, consider reassigning roles every few acts to ensure all students have opportunities to read lines during class sessions.
• Small Groups: Alternatively, divide students into small groups, rotating through acts and reassigning roles frequently to keep engagement high.
  

Teacher’s Note: This script is almost twice as long as some of the other "Classic Literature" scripts I have and depending on your classroom's reading level it could a 1 to 3 weeks to complete. Due to the length of this script, the teacher’s guide and worksheet sections have been divided into parts to manage its length effectively. The script and worksheet have similarly split between Parts 1-3 (Acts 1-15) and Parts 4-6 (Acts 16-34), allowing teachers to focus on manageable segments for classroom use.

What's included?

1) Teacher's Guide & Answer Key

• Standards Alignment (CCSS Grade 5, CCRA)
• Teacher Tips
• Answer Keys for all worksheet sections
• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts
• Format: DOCX (17 pages)

2) Readers Theater Script

• ~48 Characters, 41,000 words,
• Format: Google Doc & PDF (110 pages) (Can be downloaded to DOCX, etc)

3) TWO Worksheets each containing:

• 10 Vocabulary Words
• 10 Short-Answer Questions: Comprehension and recall questions based solely on the script.
• 3 Reflection Questions
• Format: Google Slides (40 Slides) (Can be downloaded to PDF, etc)

Will this work for my classroom?
Download this similar FREE Peter Pan Adapted RT Script

Teaching Tips for Using the Script:

• For More Students: Main character can be read by multiple students.
• For Less Students: Minor characters can be read by just one student.
• This script should take about a week or two and depending on your classroom's level it may be suitable for other grade levels.
• An extra time should be planned for practice/rehearsal, discussion and worksheet activities.

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Script Summary:

(Note: Each act covers a chapter from the original Robert Louis Stevenson version)

• Act 1: The Old Buccaneer: Jim Hawkins meets Billy Bones, a rough sailor, at the Admiral Benbow Inn, where Bones hides from old shipmates and warns Jim about a one-legged man.
• Act 2: Black Dog: A pirate named Black Dog confronts Bones, sparking a fight that leaves Bones shaken and sick, while Jim tends to him and learns of a secret map.
• Act 3: The Black Spot: Blind Pew delivers the black spot to Bones, signaling doom, and Bones dies of fright, leaving Jim and his mother to find a treasure map in his chest.
• Act 4: The Sea Chest: Jim and his mother flee with the map as pirates raid the inn, and Jim shares it with Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawney, who plan a voyage.
• Act 5: The Man of the Island: Jim meets Captain Smollett in Bristol, who doubts the crew, while Trelawney hires Long John Silver, a one-legged cook Jim suspects from Bones’ warning.
• Act 6: The Voyage Begins: The Hispaniola sails, and Silver charms the crew as cook, but Jim overhears his mutiny plot while hiding in an apple barrel, alerting Smollett.
• Act 7: Mutiny Revealed: Jim warns Smollett, Livesey, and Trelawney of Silver’s plan, and they prepare as the ship nears Treasure Island, tension rising among the crew.
• Act 8: The Island in Sight: The island appears, and Silver spins tales of treasure, while Smollett plots with the loyal men to counter the mutineers as they anchor.
• Act 9: The Stockade: Jim joins a shore party, finds a stockade built by Captain Flint, and hides as Silver’s men grow restless, hinting at rebellion.
• Act 10: Jim’s Adventure: Jim explores alone, meets Ben Gunn, a marooned sailor who found the treasure, and agrees to help, while the pirates claim the ship.
• Act 11: The Jolly Boat: Jim rows a tiny boat to cut the Hispaniola’s anchor cable, dodging pirates Israel Hands and O’Brien, who fight and leave Hands wounded.
• Act 12: Aboard the Ship: Jim boards the Hispaniola, battles Hands in a deadly climb, and kills him with pistols, retaking the ship and hiding it in North Inlet.
• Act 13: Captured: Jim returns to the stockade, finds it held by Silver’s pirates, and is taken prisoner, facing a grim choice as Silver offers him a deal.
• Act 14: Silver’s Rule: Silver protects Jim from the crew’s anger, asserting control as captain, while the pirates grumble and Jim learns his friends are alive.
• Act 15: The Doctor’s Visit: Dr. Livesey visits to treat the sick, scolds Jim for deserting, and learns the ship’s location, leaving Silver wary but hopeful.
• Act 16: The Chart’s Secret: Silver keeps Jim close as the pirates plan a treasure hunt, puzzled by Livesey giving up the chart, hinting at a trap ahead.
• Act 17: The Hunt Begins: The pirates trek inland with Jim tied to Silver, eager for gold, while Ben Gunn’s boat and a hidden plan stir trouble for the mutineers.
• Act 18: The Ambush: Livesey, Gray, and Ben Gunn attack Silver’s crew at the stockade, scattering them, while Jim and Silver escape in the chaos.
• Act 19: The Ship Regained: Jim and the loyal men retake the Hispaniola from the shore, finding it adrift, and Silver shifts loyalty, rowing to join them.
• Act 20: Treasure Found: Ben Gunn reveals he moved Flint’s treasure to a cave, and the group claims it, leaving Silver’s mutiny in ruins as they guard the hoard.
• Act 21: Silver’s Plea: Silver begs mercy from Livesey and Trelawney, claiming he saved Jim, while the squire vows justice for the dead as they plan to sail.
• Act 22: Loading the Ship: The crew hauls gold to the Hispaniola, leaving supplies for the stranded mutineers, who beg as the ship sails from North Inlet.
• Act 23: The Voyage Home: The Hispaniola heads for Spanish America, short-handed, and anchors in a gulf, where Silver slips away with gold, aided by Ben Gunn.
• Act 24: Bristol Bound: The ship reaches Bristol with five survivors, the treasure split, and each man’s fate unfolds—Smollett retires, Gray rises, Ben squanders his share.
• Act 25: My Sea Adventure: Jim escapes the pirates’ camp, hides in the woods, and vows to fight back, learning the island’s dangers as he plots his next move.
• Act 26: The Coracle: Jim builds a coracle from goatskins, paddles to the Hispaniola, and cuts her loose, risking all to thwart the pirates’ escape.
• Act 27: Israel Hands: Jim faces Hands in a tense standoff aboard the ship, outsmarts him in a rigging chase, and survives a knife attack to claim victory.
• Act 28: In the Enemy’s Camp: Jim sneaks into the pirates’ block house, defies Silver with his deeds, and forms a shaky pact as Silver shields him from the crew.
• Act 29: The Black Spot Again: The pirates give Silver the black spot, but he sways them with the chart, regaining command as Jim watches his cunning unfold.
• Act 30: On Parole: Livesey visits Jim in the pirate camp, learns the ship’s spot, and warns Silver of a trap, strengthening Jim’s hope as they talk.
• Act 31: The Treasure-Hunt—Flint’s Pointer: Silver leads the treasure hunt to tall trees, shaken by a ghostly voice, but rallies the crew, pulling Jim toward the prize.
• Act 32: The Treasure-Hunt—The Voice Among the Trees: A spooky song halts the hunt, Silver calms the terrified pirates, and they find an empty pit, the treasure gone, sparking fury.
• Act 33: The Fall of a Chieftain: Silver and Jim face a mutiny, but Livesey’s ambush saves them, and they reclaim the treasure from Ben Gunn’s cave, ending Silver’s reign.
• Act 34: And Last: The crew sails home with the gold, Silver escapes with a share, and Jim reflects on the adventure, vowing never to return to the island.