Short plays for two actors are a format convenient for practice, for staging, and for partner reading. On Chitacle, plays for two 20–45 minutes long are the main format. Free distribution under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
Why short plays are a distinct format
A full-length play requires rehearsals, sets, a cast. A short play for two is a different genre: the format of an evening, not a season. You can read it in an hour, stage it in a week, study it in class in a single session.
It's a convenient genre for:
- Amateur productions no complex logistics.
- Student readings in a single session.
- Partner training for actors between roles at a big theater.
- Literary evenings over a cup of tea.
- Partner encounters on Chitacle an hour meeting through video call.
Runtimes on Chitacle
- 20–30 minutes a light scene, for a first acquaintance with the genre.
- 30–40 minutes the main format for a play for two.
- 40–45 minutes a deep scene for experienced readers.
- 20–25 minutes monoplays for a single performer (not one-man shows).
What sets "a short play" apart from "an excerpt"
- A short play a self-contained work with a beginning, a climax, and a finale.
- An excerpt part of a larger text, taken out of context.
All short Chitacle plays are self-contained works, written from the start as short plays for two or as monoplays. These aren't "extractions" — they're whole stories told in 30–40 minutes.
Why the short format is ideal for a reading
- You can read it for the first time attention holds.
- The voice doesn't tire you don't burn out in half an hour.
- Convenient for an online meeting a short video call isn't tiring.
- You can really free up an evening an hour of meeting, an hour of conversation.
Who Chitacle is for
- For actors. Training partnership, building your repertoire, material for auditions and scenes.
- For acting teachers. Fresh material in a single session. Online supervision: the teacher joins the student's session as a viewer.
- For theater studios. A short form without complex logistics.
- For playwrights. See your text in a live reading by ordinary people.
- For two who already know each other. "Read with a friend" mode — a private meeting via personal link.
How to get the texts
A specific short play can be requested as a file: write to chitacle.online@gmail.com with the play's title — we'll send you the file. You learn the play's title during your meeting in the theater. You can also specify a desired runtime and genre — we'll pick from the repertoire.
The legal side — Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Chitacle plays are freely distributed perpetually and worldwide, with no rights claims. You may copy, distribute, perform on stage, create derivative works, and use commercially. The only requirement — attribution to the author (Chitacle) and links to our resources.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a short play?
A short play for two actors — a self-contained work with a beginning, a climax, and a finale, 20–45 minutes long. The format of an evening, not a season: you can read it in an hour, stage it in a week, study it in class in a single session.
How is a short play different from an excerpt?
An excerpt is part of a larger text, taken out of context. A short play is a self-contained work, written from the start as a single whole.
What runtimes are available on Chitacle?
20–30 minutes (light scene), 30–40 minutes (main format for a play for two), 40–45 minutes (deep scene). Separately — monoplays 20–25 minutes for a single performer (not one-man shows).
On what terms can I stage these plays?
All Chitacle plays are freely distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0), perpetually and worldwide, with no rights claims. Staging is allowed freely, including for commercial purposes. The only requirement — attribution to the author (Chitacle) and links to our resources.
How do I get the text of a short play?
Write to chitacle.online@gmail.com with the play's title — we'll send you the file. You can also specify a desired runtime and genre — we'll pick from the repertoire. You learn the specific play's title during your meeting in the theater.
What languages does it support?
The Chitacle interface is in five languages: Русский · English · Español · العربية · 中文. The play repertoire is being translated and continues to grow.
How much does it cost?
Your first meeting is on us. After that — by individual meetings or a monthly subscription.
Your first meeting is on us
Head to the Dressing Room at play-read.online and choose a meeting mode.
Your first meeting is on us.
Enter the theaterChitacle now speaks five languages — Русский · English · Español · العربية · 中文.
We did it quietly, but properly.