Kill Jill (Reloaded 2026)
Mark Wheeller
Genre: Drama
Cast size: 8 minimum +ensemble
Duration: 50 mins approx
Mark Wheeller | Drama | One Act | 3m, 4f, 5m/f plus ensemble
Short synopsis
- Synopsis
- Characters
- Reviews
Commissioned by the Birmingham REP, Kill Jill (Reloaded 2026) is a bold, inventive and surprisingly funny play for secondary school students that asks two provocative questions in contemporary life: how far should reality television be allowed to go and does a man have the right to defend his own castle?
Jill Wentup is fourteen years old when she is selected, without warning, without consent, as the subject of The Lottery Reality Show. For one month her life is everyone's entertainment. When her growing relationship with Jack MacBeanstalk leads them to a castle at the top of a beanstalk, they encounter George, a man who has been robbed ten times, ignored by the police, and has reached the end of his patience. The Camera Operators are filming everything. But should they intervene? And when George defends his home, where does protection end and punishment begin? The consequences are irreversible.
Rooted in the real-life Tony Martin case, Kill Jill (Reloaded 2026) places nursery rhyme characters inside a contemporary moral landscape where everyone bears some responsibility and no one is entirely innocent. It is a play that will generate debate long after the curtain falls; about self-defence, institutional failure, the voyeurism of reality television, and the price of entertainment.
Written with Mark Wheeller's characteristic theatrical freedom and moral seriousness, this 2026 reload deepens the characterisation and sharpens the dramatic architecture of a play that has been thrilling and challenging young audiences since its original production in 2002. It is ideal as a GCSE, BTec or A Level text and equally suited to school, youth theatre, sixth form, higher education or amateur dramatic production.
This play is an updated version of 'Kill Jill' first published in 2005. Originally commissioned by The Birmingham REP for the Young REP 2005.
Applying for and paying royalties
To apply for royalties, please complete the form on our apply for royalties page.
To pay for fixed fee royalties having received your Quotation from us, please go to this payment form.
More information
If you require any additional information regarding this script, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.
Frequently asked questions
Can we try before we buy?
Of course! All our plays and pantomimes have a free Preview Script available for download as an A4 pdf file that contains 60-75% of the full script. If you like what you read then you can buy an inexpensive e-script of the entire play (typically less than half the cost of a traditional printed script) which is licensed to you for your personal use. Purchasing a script copying licence allows you to make just enough copies to support rehearsals and performances.
All our musicals are included in our perusal service. Through this, representatives of producing organisations can request a USB Stick of perusal material which comprise the script/libretto and piano/vocal score as PDF files; a Cast (or Studio) Recording as MP3 files and (where available) an MP4 file video of either the premiere production or of a subsequent production.
Some titles have the facility to read the entire script online on our website.
Do we need a Licence To Perform?
The simple answer is, yes.
Under the international laws of copyright, you must be in possession of a valid, unexpired licence before performing any piece of theatre unless the owner or managers of the copyright has waived their rights.
Why do you insist on providing a formal royalties quotation?
When you request a quotation, it is logged in our system, it forms part of an orderly queue and protects your place in that queue should multiple licensing requests occur for the same show.
Need help?
Contact us
If you need help with our scripts, please contact our customer service team, we would be more than happy to help.
Established for over 25 years
Unearthing future talent
Stagescripts is a trusted licensing company run by theatre professionals with decades of experience on and off stage. Our curated catalogue includes over 1,000 carefully selected plays, musicals, and pantomimes — from fresh, undiscovered writing to well-loved classics.
We’re passionate about helping theatre-makers at every level discover scripts that inspire, challenge, and connect with audiences. Whether you're staging a village hall production or leading a professional company, our team offers expert advice, flexible support, and a responsive, personal service to help your next performance shine.
