Look Inside - You Are Special

CHARACTER LIST
There are speaking parts for 30 plus some essential non-speaking roles. To increase the cast size,
you can have any number of All Stars or additional Dot, Star or Mixed-Sticker Wemmicks such as
Market Traders. To decrease the cast size to 23, the Snooty, Sniggering and Gossipy Wemmicks could
be played by the same three children (reallocating their lines accordingly) and just have one Model
Wemmick and one Circus Wemmick (with some modification of their lines). The Poet and Photographer
roles could also be combined. The All Stars can be played by any of the Star Wemmicks.
Alternatively, for a simpler, cantata-like performance involving less staging/movement and only six
characters, you might prefer to use the Shorter Narrated Version (see page 58).
LARGE SPEAKING PARTS:
Narrators 1 & 2
Eli
Punchinello
Lucia
Important speaking roles
An important speaking role, ideally taken by a confident singer* able
to sing a solo in Song 6.
An important speaking role, ideally taken by a confident singer* able
to sing a solo in Songs 3 and 6.
An important speaking role, ideally taken by a confident singer* able
to sing a solo in Song 5.
* If you do not have confident singers, the solos can be sung by a small group or with the full choir ‘backing’.
MODERATE SPEAKING PARTS (3-5 LINES):
Snooty Wemmicks 1 & 2
Sniggering Wemmicks 1 & 2
Entrepreneur
Personal Assistant (P.A.)
Gossipy Wemmicks 1, 2 & 3
Poet
Helpful Wemmick
Child Wemmicks 1, 2 & 3
SMALL SPEAKING PARTS (1-2 LINES):
Photographer
Celebrity
Model Wemmicks 1 & 2
Circus Wemmicks 1 & 2
These characters need to be able to ‘show off’
an impressive circus, gymnastic or dance move.
Nosey Wemmick
Mr or Mrs Chips
Mr Bit
Market-Trader Wemmicks 1 & 2
NON-SPEAKING ROLES:
All Stars
Have any number of these. They have
their own song, number 4.
At least 3 stagehands
Required in scene 1 (two dressed as dots
and one who dangles a gold star on a
pole) and the opening of scene 3 (to
move the tool props around Punchinello).
Messenger
Appears briefly in scene 1.
Any number of additional Dot, Star or
Mixed-Sticker Wemmicks such as
Market Traders
Star Wemmick
Dot Wemmick
Mixed-Sticker Wemmick
2

CHARACTERS BY SCENE
SCENE 1: WEMMICKSVILLE
SCENE 3: ELI’S WORKSHOP
Narrators 1 & 2
Snooty Wemmicks 1 & 2
Sniggering Wemmicks 1 & 2
Child Wemmicks 1, 2 & 3
Mr/Mrs Chips
P.A.
Entrepreneur
Mr Bit
Market-Trader Wemmicks 1 & 2
Celebrity
Model Wemmicks 1 & 2
Gossipy Wemmicks
Circus Wemmicks 1 & 2
Nosey Wemmick
Photographer
Punchinello
Helpful Wemmick
Stagehands
Poet
Messenger
Any additional Dot, Star or Mixed-Sticker
Wemmicks
Stagehands
Narrators 1 & 2
Punchinello
Eli
SCENE 4: WEMMICKSVILLE
Full cast
SCENE 2: WEMMICKSVILLE MARKET DAY
Narrators 1 & 2
Child Wemmicks 1, 2 & 3
Nosey Wemmick
Helpful Wemmick
Market-Trader Wemmicks
Punchinello
Lucia
Snooty Wemmicks 1 & 2
Sniggering Wemmicks 1 & 2
3

COSTUME IDEAS
Bear in mind that each Wemmick is unique, so it is important that you have as wide a range of
costumes as possible. Some of the Wemmicks could be padded; some wearing clothes that look a bit
too small for them, giving them a ‘lanky’ look. It would be effective to have a variety of hats, scarves
and glasses (these can be constructed from cardboard using online templates) and add large buttons
or bows to costumes. All Star, Dot and Mixed-Sticker Wemmicks should have a few appropriate
stickers added to their costumes (allowing space for more to be added during scene 1).
Below are suggestions for particular characters, although many could be portrayed as either male or
female. The Dot Wemmicks’ clothes should be worn-looking, to reflect their ‘scuffed’ appearance.
NARRATORS 1 & 2
ELI
PUNCHINELLO
LUCIA
SNOOTY
WEMMICKS
CELEBRITY
PERSONAL
ASSISTANT (P.A.)
ENTREPRENEUR
GOSSIPY
WEMMICKS
Smart casual outfits.
Shirt with sleeves rolled up, apron or overalls.
Three-quarter-length trousers, jacket that’s slightly too small. Cap or hat.
Plain dress.
Hats, with flowers if appropriate.
Good quality coats with large gold buttons added.
Something sparkly, with padded shoulders.
Smart suit or separate trousers and jacket. Large tie. Large glasses and
clipboard (optional).
Business-like outfit and oversized sunglasses.
Some can wear overalls or dungarees. Some have large, brightly-coloured
rubber gloves and raincoats with football scarves. Others can wear ordinary
coats and flat caps.
CIRCUS WEMMICKS Striped top and plain leggings for one; plain top and striped leggings for
the other.
PHOTOGRAPHER
POET
Waterproof jacket and cap.
Top hat and tail coat (if possible), cravat and monocle.
MODEL WEMMICKS Stylish, fashionable outfits.
NOSEY WEMMICK
MR/MRS CHIPS
MR BIT
Three-quarter-length trousers, jacket slightly too big.
Glasses with false nose attached.
Tatty overalls or mucky tracksuit.
Old jeans and shirt.
HELPFUL WEMMICK Brightly-coloured trousers and top.
DOT WEMMICKS
MARKET-TRADER
WEMMICKS
Baggy, slightly short trousers, T-shirts and waistcoats, all rather worn looking.
Half aprons with a headscarf or butcher’s/baker’s hat.
4

SNIGGERING Dresses or trousers and shirts with brightly-coloured buttons/scarves/ties.
WEMMICKS
CHILD WEMMICKS Shorts or dungarees and plain T-shirts and glasses.
MESSENGER Blazer and peaked cap.
Instructions for making shoulder pads:
1. Measure the length and width of the area you want to pad out.
2. Cut off the foot end of a pair of tights to the length you require.
3. Cut the shape you want out of some card and pop that inside the tights.
4. Stuff as neatly as possible with batting, wadding or flattened cotton wool.
5. Tack the open edge and use safety pins or velcro® to fix inside your costume.
5

PROPS
SCENE 1
Two chairs and books with ‘You Are Special’ visible on the outside, for the narrators
Golden star stickers and grey dot stickers
A sign reading ‘WEMMICKSVILLE. Population: All Stars, not enough; Rotten Dots, too many!’
Brooms and dusters (optional)
Trays with various goods on them, for the Market Traders
Washing line with items attached to it, e.g. shorts, socks, bloomers and a sheet to go over
Punchinello’s head
Camera for Photographer
Large gold star on a pole for stagehand
Pad and pencil for Poet
Notes for Messenger and Entrepreneur
Photo for Celebrity
SCENE 2
Trays and goods for Market Traders, as scene 1
SCENE 3
Two chairs, preferably wooden
A piece of wood for Eli to be ‘carving’
Cardboard cut-outs of oversized tools
SCENE 4
No props required
6

STAGING
Wemmicksville needs to have a timeless feel about it (almost fairy-tale-like), so a backdrop of an
‘olde worlde’ cobbled street, with a couple of shops/houses in the foreground and a hill with Eli’s
workshop on top in the background would be good. In addition, if you can locate a couple of tall
cardboard boxes, these can be cut and painted to look like the ‘corners’ of houses/shops. They don’t
need roofs, just two or three sides, depending on stability. They would need to be positioned at the
edges of the stage so as not to impede viewing. They should have flaps on the inside, which can be
safely weighted down (ensuring that there is no trip hazard). These would add visual interest and
provide a place for Punchinello to hide in scene 1. Alternatively, you can use side panels, if available.
Either of these would also work to create Eli’s workshop, painted/covered to look like wood, with
various oversized tools attached.
7

imaginations regarding the setting of
the story, their feelings as they encounter
various Wemmicks on the way and the
P.S.H.E.
Discuss ‘What is bullying?’ using a line
of opinion with ‘The Wemmicks are not
bullies’ at one end and ‘The Wemmicks
are all bullies’ at the other end. Children
should position themselves along the line
according to their opinion. Manage a
class discussion as children express their
views, drawing out the definition of bullying
as persistent mocking over time.
GARDENING
Plant a sapling or use an existing
tree. Create a compost of
shredded paper stars and dots
and other vegetable matter to dig
in around the tree to represent the
giving up of our ‘labels’ in order to
promote growth.
CLASS DISPLAY
MINDFULNESS
Create a ‘Bonfire of the
With their eyes closed, guide the
children through a visualization of
Vanities’ wall display of flames, on
to which children pin paper
a walk through Wemmicksville to
Eli’s workshop. Draw on the children’s
cut-out stars and dots annotated
with judgemental statements
that they wish to relinquish.
meeting with Eli in his workshop.
8

SCRIPT
SCENE 1: WEMMICKSVILLE
Each Wemmick needs to have a supply of star and dot stickers. If possible, the narrators
should be seated at either side of the stage, each holding a book with the title ‘You Are
Special’ visible on the outside.
NARRATOR 1
Good ............ (morning/afternoon/evening) and welcome to our story.
Both narrators open their books.
It takes place in the village of Wemmicksville. This is the home of the
Wemmicks – little wooden people who were all carved by someone
very special – Eli the woodcarver.
When Narrator 1 mentions Wemmicksville, a sign could be hung up, reading:
‘WEMMICKSVILLE. Population: All Stars, not enough; Rotten Dots, too many!’
NARRATOR 2
(Indicating off and up) Eli can be found in his workshop, up there on
the top of the hillside, overlooking the village. He hums and smiles
as he crafts each Wemmick into a completely unique creation.
As you will see, Eli loves variety.
As SONG 1 begins, the Wemmicks (WMK) enter, if possible through the audience and from
both sides of the stage. They begin to gather and mime chatting in small groups, made up
of those sporting similar stickers (i.e. mostly stars or mostly dots). Star Wemmicks, including
Snooty WMK 1 & 2, Celebrity, Personal Assistant (P.A.) and Entrepreneur, are at one side of
the stage. Various Dot Wemmicks including Helpful WMK are at the other side, with Mixed-
Sticker Wemmicks miming doing daily tasks like gardening or sweeping. Market-Trader
WMKS 1 & 2 carry trays with their wares on. Mr Bit mimes cleaning windows. Sniggering
WMKS 1 & 2 snigger whilst looking at a book and Child WMKS 1, 2 & 3 mime playing a
game. (Nosey WMK and Punchinello are off stage.)
During the song, the relevant Wemmicks step forward as their characteristics are
mentioned.
SONG 1: WE’RE THE WEMMICKS! CD TRACK 1/8
NARRATOR 1
Sadly, though, instead of enjoying their many differences, the
Wemmicks often use them as an excuse to judge each other.
Snooty WMKS 1 & 2 stand at the front of the stage, to one side. Nosey WMK enters and
walks towards them. The other Wemmicks resume miming as in the SONG 1 introduction.
10

SNOOTY WMK 1
SNOOTY WMK 2
SNOOTY WMK 1
(Pointing at Nosey WMK as he/she walks past and speaking loudly)
I say! I’ve never seen a nose like that before!
No, Eli must have broken the mould when he made that one.
I think he must have broken the mould before he made it!
Nosey WMK covers his nose with his hands and quickly moves over to join the other Dot
Wemmicks. The Snooty Wemmicks laugh.
NARRATOR 2
SNOOTY WMK 2
And there is one particular Wemmick who gets noticed more than
any other. But not for the right reasons...
Oh, look everyone! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Punchinello!
Punchinello enters, arms flapping, with a sheet over his head and a washing line with various
small items attached, e.g. striped shorts, colourful socks, bloomers.
PUNCHINELLO
SNOOTY WMK 1
(Staggering around the stage) Why’s it gone dark? I can’t see anything!
It looks like he’s collided with Mr Sudsy’s washing line. Again!
Clumsy boy!
Punchinello exits.
SNIGGERING WMK 1 (Holding up a grey dot and calling after him) We’ve got something
here for you next time we see you, Punchinello!
SNIGGERING WMK 2 Sorry, we can’t give it to you now. It would be a shame to spoil
Mr Sudsy’s nice clean sheet!
The Wemmicks continue to mime as before. Punchinello sneaks back on, looking very
dishevelled, and hides among other Dot Wemmicks, who are looking despondent. Mr/Mrs
Chips enters, brushing him/herself off and standing at the front of the stage.
NARRATOR 1
ALL
NARRATOR 2
The problem with the Wemmicks is that they seem to have forgotten
that, despite their differences, they were all made by the same
woodcarver and all belong to the same village. They have fallen into
the trap of...
(Star Wemmicks enthusiastically/Dot Wemmicks despondently)
...comparing!
And so, all day, every day, they scour one another with a critical
eye, inspecting for cracks and chinks, dull paint and scuffs...
Child WMK 1 walks to the front of the stage to inspect Mr/Mrs Chips.
CHILD WMK 1
(Summoning Child WMKS 2 & 3 who gather round Mr/Mrs Chips)
Oh my days! Come and see! Look at all these chips!
11

MR/MRS CHIPS
CHILD WMK 2
CHILD WMK 3
I fix carts. I knock myself sometimes, crawling underneath them!
Fix carts?! There are so many chips on you, you should open a fishand-chip
shop!
A fish-and-chip shop! That’s a good ’un!
The Child Wemmicks move away, laughing. Mr/Mrs Chips moves to join the other Dot
Wemmicks.
NARRATOR 1
They constantly observe and comment on each other’s lives, jumping
on any little mistake…
Helpful WMK starts to cross the stage and trips up.
P.A.
(Laughing) Look everyone! He/she’s so clumsy! (To Helpful WMK,
who limps back to the other Dot Wemmicks) Hope you enjoyed
your trip!
Mr Bit stops, looks at the window and wipes his brow.
ENTREPRENEUR
(Pointing at the window) You’ve missed a bit! (Bright idea) Hey,
that’s what we’ll call you from now on, ‘Mr Bit’!
ENTREPRENEUR & P.A. Mr Bit missed a bit!
The Star Wemmicks laugh and then suddenly fall silent as Model WMKS 1 & 2 enter, gliding
stylishly across the stage, almost in slow motion. They stop and strike a pose. The other
Wemmicks stare in admiration.
MARKET-TRADER
WMK 1
MARKET-TRADER
WMK 2
CELEBRITY
MODEL WMKS 1 & 2
What perfectly painted faces!
Not a smudge in sight!
Such style! True Wemmick perfection!
We try our best!
They move to the side, chatting, while admirers stare at them.
NARRATOR 1
To be sure that no one is left in any doubt about who is considered
to be a good wooden person and who isn’t, each Wemmick has a
collection of golden star stickers and a collection of grey dot ones.
All Wemmicks take out their stickers.
NARRATOR 2
SNOOTY WMK 1
This means that all day, every day, they can indulge in a frenzy of
selective stickering! Star stickers are good. Dots are definitely not…
(Giving Mr/Mrs Chips a grey dot) Dot!
12

SNOOTY WMK 2
CHILD WMKS
P.A.
MARKET-TRADER
WMKS 1 & 2
(Seeking out Punchinello and giving him a grey dot) I can see you,
Punchinello! Dot!
(Giving Helpful WMK a grey dot) Dot!
(Giving Mr Bit a grey dot) Dot!
(Giving Model WMKS 1 & 2 golden stars) Star and star!
(Adoringly) Ahh!
During the next song, the Wemmicks sticker one another, ensuring that the Dot Wemmicks
don’t end up with star stickers and vice versa. Some could sticker members of the audience.
SONG 2: STARS AND DOTS CD TRACK 2/9
At the end of the song, all exit. Gossipy WMKS 1, 2 & 3 enter and stand together, gossiping.
GOSSIPY WMKS
(Occasional mutters are heard as they mime gossiping and looking
around) Ooh! No! Well I never! Did he really? She always sings out
of tune! Did you hear how he spelled ‘beautiful’? etc.
Circus WMKS 1 & 2 enter, along with Photographer. Punchinello enters and stands at the
side with Helpful WMK.
NARRATOR 1
Of course, all the well-dressed, talented, smart Wemmicks get
plenty of gold stars and it makes them feel so good, they want to
get more and more.
Circus WMK 1 does a successful gymnastic move/trick (if this involves a prop, it will need to
be left on stage for Punchinello). Circus WMK 2 gives him/her a gold star.
CIRCUS WMK 2
CIRCUS WMK 1
PHOTOGRAPHER
Well done. That was sooo good! Star for you!
Thanks! Next time I’m going to try a ..............(insert harder
gymnastic move) and get even more stars!
Pose please, before you go! (They pose and he/she takes their
photo) We love to let people see the face of success. Everyone
needs something to aspire to!
Circus WMKS 1 & 2 and Photographer exit.
PUNCHINELLO
GOSSIPY WMK 1
GOSSIPY WMK 2
(Moving forward, very determined) Hey, I’m going to try that, too!
(Tries and fails, tripping over his own feet)
That was so bad it was almost comical!
Almost. But not quite. Punchinello, you’re like a bad punchline. Just
not funny!
13

SHORTER NARRATED VERSION
This could be performed very simply by a group or choir, with one or more narrators linking
the songs and individuals stepping forward at the appropriate point to deliver their
dialogue. Some of the rest of the group could wear hats, scarves or oversized bow ties or
glasses etc. to add visual interest (see Costume Ideas, page 4).
NARRATOR
The Wemmicks were small wooden people. All of the wooden
people were carved by a woodworker named Eli. His workshop sat
on a hill overlooking their village. Each Wemmick was different.
Some had big noses; others had large eyes. Some were tall and
others were short. Some wore hats; others wore coats. But all were
made by the same carver and all lived in the village.
SONG 1: WE’RE THE WEMMICKS! CD TRACK 1/8
NARRATOR
All day, every day, the Wemmicks did the same thing: they gave
each other stickers. Each Wemmick had a box of golden star stickers
and a box of grey dot stickers. Up and down the streets all over
the village, people spent their days sticking stars or dots on one
another. The pretty ones – those with smooth wood and fine paint
– always got stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped,
the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars, too. Others,
though, could do little. They got dots.
SONG 2: STARS AND DOTS CD TRACK 2/9
NARRATOR
WEMMICKS
NARRATOR
Punchinello was one of those who got lots of grey dots. He tried to
jump high like the others, but he always fell. And when he fell, the
others would gather around and give him dots. Sometimes when
he fell, his wood got scratched, so the people would give him more
dots. Then when he tried to explain why he had fallen, he would
say something silly, and the Wemmicks would give him even more
dots. After a while he had so many dots that he didn’t want to go
outside. He was afraid he would do something silly, such as forget
his hat or step in the water, and then people would give him another
dot. In fact, he had so many grey dots that some people came up
and gave him dots for no reason at all, saying:
He deserves lots of dots. He’s not a good wooden person.
After a while Punchinello believed them.
58

YOU ARE SPECIAL
Eli
1. Child – I’ve waited patiently,
Hoping you’d come to me,
So make yourself at home.
2. Child – look what they’ve done to you,
How they’ve been judging you,
But you are not alone.
CHORUS
All
Don’t you know I made you?
Don’t you know I never make mistakes?
Every time I see you,
There’s a smile upon my face.
Can’t you see your value,
Coz I’ve chosen you by name?
So forget about dots and stars,
Coz I made you the way you are,
You are special!
Punchinello
3. I tried to do all I could,
Did what I thought I should,
So I could be loved.
Eli
4. Child – let who I say you are
Be all you need to hear,
Let it be enough.
CHORUS (All)
Eli
5. Child – keep coming back to me,
Let me speak tenderly,
Always of my love.
56

JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE LOVED!
Words and Music by Mark, Helen & Naomi Johnson
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© 2022 Out of the Ark Ltd, Middlesex TW12 2HD
CCLI Song No. 7190918
47