This is Not Detention

This is Not Detention cover art

One-act drama

This is Not Detention

When five high school students are accused of hacking the school’s grading system, they’re thrown together in daily detention until someone confesses.

Running time40 to 45 min
Cast8 to 13 actorsMany roles, any gender
SetOne main setLights do the rest
CompetitionYes, with a trimTrim to fit your time limit
ForMiddle and high school
No application, no approval wait
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The story

When five high school students are accused of hacking the school’s grading system, they’re thrown together in daily detention until someone confesses. At first, it’s all denial, deflection, and insults—Riley, the high-strung school president, tries to control everything; Jordan, the star athlete, just wants to keep his scholarship hopes alive; Emerson, a social media influencer, panics about losing followers and her sister’s trust; Alex, the class clown, hides behind jokes; and Jamie, the quiet artist, wants nothing to do with any of them. Their teacher, Mrs. Jones, lays down the rules, but what unfolds in that classroom is far from a typical punishment.

As the days pass, the students begin to let their guards down and reveal the pressures they’re facing outside the classroom—overbearing parents, illness, grief, and the fear of not living up to expectations. Detention becomes less about discipline and more about connection, honesty, and unlikely friendship. When the truth about the hack finally comes to light, the group decides to stand together, refusing to betray each other. By the end, it’s clear: this wasn’t detention—it was something much more meaningful.

Producing it

Cast8 to 13 actors, with doubling. Many roles can be played by any gender. You can change lines, roles and genders to fit your students.
SetClassroom; flashbacks played in light pools.
TechOne classroom set with lighting shifts for flashbacks. School bell and alarm sound cues, phones, a spilled water bottle, and artwork torn up each night.
For your scene-stealersFive students share the spotlight, each with a confession, and the play builds to a chain of false confessions that pulls the whole group together.

Quick answers

Can I change lines or genders?Yes. Change lines, roles and genders to fit your students. You never have to ask.
Can we take it to competition?Yes. Competition rights are in every plan, with no extra fee and no approval to request.
Can my school pay with a PO?Yes. Request an invoice at checkout. Your access is set up as soon as the PO arrives.
Read it tonight. Cast it tomorrow.
80% of the script is free. Licensing takes two minutes and needs no approval.