Wonderful school festival / cultural festival

Recommended plays for a high school cultural festival: popular, crowd-pleasing ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

When it comes time to put on a play for your high school cultural festival, the choice of work can dramatically change the feel of the stage.

From moving fantasies to relatable comedies and heartfelt musicals, each has its own unique appeal and key directing points.

Because it’s a production everyone in the class creates together, you’ll want to pick something that’s fun for the cast to make and a joy for the audience to watch.

Here, we introduce a wide range of plays that are perfect for high school cultural festivals.

Find the one that fits your class!

Anime, Manga, and Contemporary School-Set & Variety Works (1–10)

hero show

The hero show at the school festival was insane [High School Students] Amazing school talent show performance / Japanese high school students

hero show

No matter how old you are, why not transform into the hero you’ve always admired on the stage of your school’s culture festival? From Gorenger to Kamen Rider, there are so many heroes kids love.

Of course you can use existing heroes, but creating an original hero and putting on a show is also highly recommended! Costumes can be handmade or easily purchased, so go ahead and become the hero you dreamed of when you were little.

The peace of the culture festival is in your hands!

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Nintama Rantarō

Nintama Rantarō: Rantarō, Kirimaru, and Shinbee get thrown for a loop by the quirky third-year seniors!? Stage play “Nintama Rantarō ~Nice to meet you! All Third-Years, Assemble~” — Public Dress Rehearsal

Nintama Rantarō

The humor- and energy-filled world of Ninjutsu Academy brings brightness and laughter to the cultural festival stage.

With many characters—including uniquely quirky students and teachers—it’s easy to assign roles even in large classes, making it a performance where everyone can stand out.

Slapstick antics and chase scenes allow for action and prop-based staging that keeps the audience engaged.

Period-style costumes and backdrops look great, and the handmade touches are part of the charm.

With the familiar theme of ninjas, it becomes a lively, crowd-pleasing play that everyone can enjoy.

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Doraemon

Rehearsal and message video for the stage play Doraemon: Nobita and the Animal Planet has arrived!

Doraemon

Let’s put on a performance based on a beloved national anime! Here are some ideas inspired by Doraemon.

When you think of Doraemon, it’s an anime and a set of characters cherished by people of all ages, from children to adults.

Many viewers get excited about the secret gadgets that pop up in its everyday-life stories.

Because it portrays daily life, it’s easy to adapt into original stories, and with its large cast of characters, it seems perfect for creating a play with the entire class.

Be sure to give it a try!

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toi toi toi！

[Parody] “toi toi toi!!” NHK [School Culture Festival Project]

toi toi toi！

Here’s an idea for a parody piece, “toi toi toi!”, memorable for its cute animation and song.

Some of you may have had the experience of spending so much time on structuring your video that you can’t see when it will be finished.

For those people, we recommend making a parody.

A parody is a work that humorously or satirically imitates an already completed piece.

In the video, they try their hand at parodying a show that’s broadcast on TV.

Give it a try yourself!

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Mr. Osomatsu

Public Enemy (Osomatsu-san skit, Odottemita) / Chikuzenjin vol. 5 DANCE SHOWCASE

Mr. Osomatsu

How about turning the hugely popular anime Osomatsu-san into a stage play? Try taking on the challenge with comedic elements and some dance! Just having the characters’ hoodies for costumes is enough to capture the vibe, so the stage set can be simple.

After that, use the anime as a reference and give it a try!

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Skip and Loafer

A brand-new PV for the hit, feel-good manga Skip and Loafer is out now—just watching it will lift your spirits!

Skip and Loafer

Skip and Loafer is a work by manga artist Misaki Takamatsu that won third place in the 2020 Manga Taisho Awards, and it was adapted into an anime in 2023.

The story follows Mitsumi, a high school girl who moves to Tokyo from a depopulated rural area, and depicts her everyday life with her classmates.

It’s an uplifting series where the naturally airheaded yet positive Mitsumi leads the way and gives you energy.

The content is also perfect for a high school cultural festival, so if you like, why not adapt it into a stage script and perform it?

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Oshi no Ko

Stage Play [Oshi no Ko] 2.5D Stage Adaptation / Performance Digest Video

Oshi no Ko

The story featuring idols, “Oshi no Ko,” is a very famous manga.

When performing it at a school or cultural festival, fully get into character while expressing the characters’ complex emotions.

By understanding their feelings, you’ll be able to enjoy the play more deeply.

It’s also important to be creative with the idols’ glamorous costumes and the outfits used on stage.

Using lighting and sound to add sparkle is another key point.

Work together as one to create a wonderful, memorable performance!

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