Great 2-Person One-Act Plays for College Students

If you’re looking for a one-act play great for college students, check out the list below. These are all 2 character plays, allowing every actor to sink their teeth into a role which will be featured the entire play (all parts are good!). They offer great range, character arcs and journeys, conflicts and connection, and conversation-starting themes. These plays also provide so much room to explore creative scenic, lighting, costume and sound design. Think about how you’d design these: fairies trapped in a jar behind a water fall, Grief himself visiting a woman in an isolated cabin or clouds dissipating in the sky. Student directors also can challenge themselves by digging deeply into these pieces; they’re great canvasses for trying out unique staging, and theyre filled with wonderful active and thoughtful moments. In short, these plays—whether dramatic, comedic or absurd—are fun, unique and give tons of opportunity to put your remarkable stamp on it as a student.

GREAT 2-PERSON PLAYS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

INTO THE VIOLET
When two fairies find themselves trapped in a jar in the woods, they must struggle through hope and despair to create the escape they desperately need.
Details: Dark comedy/Absurdist, 2 person play, around 15-20 minutes, 2 women/female actors
Why this play? INTO THE VIOLET is great if you’d like to try your hand at a bit of theater of the absurd, while still a sincere grounding in deep emotions. You’d explore themes like connection, false narratives, imagination, loneliness, friendship, how to cope with despair, believing in someone or something, having hope. This play also has 2 stellar, fun, powerful acting roles for women (great for actors and director), and lots of cool options for design. Plus, y’all get to play woodland fairies.

THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY
After a life-altering event, Clare runs away from everyone she knows and isolates herself in a secluded cabin. But when a familiar, yet unwelcome, visitor (Grief himself) shows up at her door and refuses to leave, she must decide if she should let him inside.
Details: Drama/dark comedy, heightened reality, slightly fantastic (Grief is a character), 2 person play, around 15-20 minutes, 1 female, 1 male or any gender
Why this play? THE VISITOR IN THE DOORWAY is great if you want to explore deep concepts like loss and grief in a theatrical, physical, sometimes funny, but also very thoughtful and real manner. Grief is terrible because it means loss, but also comforting because it means love—and how these opposites square in a play with the phsyical manifestation of Grief as a character is something you get to explore. This play is rich in emotional, psychological, thoughtful conversational language. It says what a lot of people wish they could say to Grief, and we get to hear how Grief responds back. This play offers what some actors have called “dream roles,” with humor, pain, anger, devastation, comforting, pleading, warmth, love (and some great monologues for each actor).

THE MOON RIVER RAFT
Two rabbits flee for their lives, holding onto hope that a mysterious secret Moon River Raft will carry all Woundeds to a perfect land. But things are never what they seem in the middle of the night…at a creepy river bank…in a forest…under the moon… Are they?
Details: Dark comedy, 2 person play, around 15 minutes, 2 female or any gender
Why this play? THE MOON RIVER RAFT is great if you want to explore themes of false narratives, loneliness, losing one’s place in life, how to stand with each other and fight for/with each other, self-sacrifice. It’s a comedy, but also goes deep, with some suspense and tragedy—and strength and love. It’s creepy enough for a Halloween themed show, but wouldn’t have to be. Plus, y’all get to play bunnies.

THE PRETTIEST DUCKLING (more like, The DEVIOUS Duckling!)
Two adorable ducklings, Gorgeous and Cutesy, plot the ousting of their gray-feathered sister… It’s mean girls, duckling-style.
Details: Around 25 minutes, dark comedy, teen, “mean girl” style, fairytale tangential, 2-person play (2 any gender), set outside near a pond
Why this play? Don’t let the title deceive you—this is not a children’s play! Gorgeous, the oldest duckling, is conniving and self-centered (even if she is ONLY thinking about eveyrone else ALL THE TIME) and has a very dark plan in place. These roles are a blast to play—any gender. And you get to explore themes like false narratives, fear, self-preservation, standing up, coercing others, power corrupting, manipulation, and how far someone will go to get their own social standing. Plus, y’all get to play ducklings.

ALFRED AND LILY AND THEIR MARVELOUS TANK IN THE FOREST
When Alfred and Lily are transplanted to a mysterious tank in the forest, they must decide if they will trust their new benefactors or find a way to escape.
Details: Absurdist, dark comedy, 10-15 minutes, 2 actors (1 male, 1 female), set in a tank in the forest
Why this play? ALFRED AND LILY AND THEIR MARVELOUS TANK IN THE FOREST is great if you want to try a theater of the absurd short play, exploring themes of false narratives, power, how to decide who to trust, what you’re social and ethical responsiblity is toward others in the face of atrocity, how much do you try to help if something doesn’t affect you? Plus, y’all get to play frogs.

SEVENTEEN STITCHES
Two teenagers meet in a vortex-like space between opposing lines of people. While Rachel is simply passing the time before she returns to her place in line, Peter has stepped out of his line in protest. As the lines begin to close in on them, he must make a life-altering decision by choosing to continue forging his path in his father’s line, or join the haunting allure of Rachel’s line, the “line of diamonds.”
Details: absurdist, dark comedy, drama, around 25 minutes, 1 male, 1 female
Why this play? SEVENTEEN STITCHES is great if you want to explore false narratives, why someone might believe a lie when the terrible truth is right in front of you, fighting against the world, connection. This play is funny but moves dark. Note this play has some violent imagery.

20 MAGICAL MINUTES OF DARKNESS & SILENCE & PEACE
Grace, a raccoon, is begrudgingly charged to find, and bring back, her fellow raccoon who has gone missing after a shocking personal tragedy. When she finally finds the depressed Joffrey in a train station parking lot, he refuses to come back with her—yet. Because he has something important he has to do first. In this parking lot. And he needs her help.
Details: 10-15 minutes, dark comedy/drama, 2 actors (1 male, 1 female, or 2 any gender), set in a parking lot
Great for: navigating loss, existential dread, your place in the world
Why this play? 20 MAGICAL MINUTES… is great if you are looking to explore grief, loss, love, friendship, feeling hopeless and lost and giving up, but then also learning to rely on others for hope, grounding and connection and remembering your own self-worth. It’s raccoons, yes, but more people have shed tears in this animal play than many human-based dramas. It’s funny, but sad, thoughtful but uplifting. And yes, y’all get to play raccoons.

PITFALLS AND TREASURES
Mary and Andrew are lonely and troubled seagulls, each ostracized by their former flocks. When Mary embarks on the desperate challenge of removing twine wrapped around Andrew’s leg, they both must decide how much to trust each other in the hope of finding a better life.
Details: 10-15 minutes, dark comedy/drama/comedy, 2 actors (1 male, 1 female or 2 any gender), set in a parking lot
Why this play? PITFALLS AND TREASURES is great if you want to explore disenfranchized folks living alone in the margins finding each other. One is immediately trusting (and in a very bad way) while the other is immediately distrusting. It’s funny, but poignant, a little sad and tragic, but with some hope to accept any win, however small it might be. Plus, y’all get to play seagulls.

THE BRONZE LINING
When two estranged sisters attempt to bond during a hike after their mother’s death, they confront whether there may be too much damage between them to repair.
Details: drama/comedy, 2-person play, around 10 minutes
Why this play? THE BRONZE LINING is great if you want to explore a realistic comedy/drama about two grown sisters, their relationship with each other, their deceased parents, and how they navigate roles within their family, what one gives up, what the other doesn’t, jealousy, hurt, guilt and love. It’s a great play for deeply diving into these relationships, complicated emotions, subtext moving to direct confrontation. Great also if you’re looking for a rich play for 2 female characters.

THERE ONCE WERE TWO CLOUDS IN THE SKY
When two clouds realize their time existing is quickly running out, they attempt to find some sort of purpose for their lives so their legacy will live on (Creating lightning? Writing poetry?). Yet their own listlessness is dragging them down, and the pressure of dissipating in a matter of minutes is a bit distracting, to say the least. When one cloud proposes a risky way to extend their existence, they must decide together, if what they must give up is worth what they might gain.
Details: 2 actors, comedy/drama/heightened, 10-15 minutes

HOLDING GINGER
When Jenna breaks a special gift a boy gave her older sister, they are not only faced with broken glass to clean up, but they are also faced with the changing dynamics of their family.
Details: drama/comedy, teen, around 10 minutes, 2-person play

A LIFE SPURRED INTO MEANINGFUL ADVENTURE
When secret friends, Goldilocks and Little Bear, find themselves alone in the forest, they must decide what they will give up to embark on a new future together…and, um…how to survive in the actual woods.
Details: 10-15 minutes, drama/comedy/fairy-tale, 2 actors (1 female/1 any gender), set in a forest

MABEL AND THE TALKING CAT
A lonely baker has the opportunity to finally adopt a child of her own. But her best friend, Patches, a talking cat, has grave hesitations about the questionable method she’s using to secure her precious child. Hint: a witch is involved.
Details: 15-20 minutes, dark comedy/drama/fairy tale tangential, 2 actors (1 female/1 any gender), set outside a cottage, in a garden

JACK AND DEAR RAVEN
Jack didn’t give it much thought when he climbed up the 15,000 foot beanstalk. But now that he has reached the clouds, he is starting to miss his mother, his turkey, and even his fence post. Unfortunately, he appears to be stuck and unable to climb back down the slippery stalk which was so easy to climb up. When a roving black bird passes by, Jack solicits his company and aid in figuring out how on earth he should now get down the beanstalk he has carelessly climbed up. Unless, of course, he is not meant to climb down…
Details: 10-15 minutes, fairy tale comedy/drama, 2 actors (1 male, 1 any gender), set outside on a giant beanstalk in the clouds

THE ITEMS FORGOTTEN
Locked out of their house for the third time this week, Travis and Kira search for their spare key on their porch, and begin questioning their relationship (and state of mind)!
Details: 2 actors (1 female, 1 male), drama/comedy, 5-10 minutes, Published in Five-Minute Plays, Applause Acting
Great if you want: Something super short! This is perfect for jumping into real issues, real drama, real problems, as the characters deal with getting older, caring for their parents, fearing what will happen if they start to suffer health issues…

THE SCENT OF COCONUT HAD HAUNTED HER FOR DAYS
A newlywed Woman chooses unusual methods to communicate to her husband that she is not happy she might be pregnant. Her husband, in turn, finds ways to ignore the situation he does not wish to address. As the Woman becomes increasingly obsessed with a backyard weed garden growing in her picnic table, the dissonance in their marriage escalates.
Details: 2 actors (1 male, 1 female), comedy/drama, 10-15 minutes

WHAT’S INSIDE THE EIFFEL TOWER COFFEE MUG
On their 10th wedding anniversary, Rebecca finally reveals to Henry a secret collection she has been hoarding. But what Henry sees inside his souvenir coffee mugs may change their marriage forever. (Hint: It’s not coffee)
Details: 2 actors (1 male, 1 female), dark comedy/absurdist, 10-20 minutes

RUTH AND HARRY & THE DINNER PARTY
While preparing for a dinner party, Ruth reveals a well-kept secret to her husband, which jeopardizes their future as a family.
Details:2 actors (1 female, 1 male), drama/comedy/1940s, 10-20 minutes

UNDER THE ASHES
Emmett frantically searches for keys to his private office which he thinks his wife has hidden. But before Lorna will answer his questions about the keys, she insists on telling him about her day, including the mysterious trinket she says her lost son has sent her.
Details: 2 actors (1 female, 1 male), absurdist/drama, 10-15 minutes

WHEN MARSHMALLOWS BURN
Sammy and his mom are enjoying roasting marshmallows by the fire, under the full moon, when something very strange starts to happen. Sammy’s arms look a little furry. His teeth look a lot like fangs. And he has a sudden urge to kill squirrels—and eat them raw. What (or who) else will he have an urge to kill? Is there anything his mother can do to stop him, or can she ultimately accept and love him? This is a dark comedy about a boy becoming a werewolf, but it’s also a story about needing acceptance and love, in the face of evolving identity.
Details: around 10 minutes, dark comedy/absurdist/thriller. 2 actors, 1 female, 1 any gender