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. 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.

Duration: 40-45 Min
Roles: 7F, 6M (Can be done with as few as eight actors with doubling. All roles are gender flexible.)
Performance Group: Middle School, High School
Setting: School Classroom