Reader's Theater: The 12 Labors of Hercules Scripts

Readers theaters, and scripts based on the 12 labors of Hercules from Greek mythology:

Act 1, Scene 1 The Nemean Lion

Hercules enters, flexing his muscles. He speaks to the audience.

Hercules: They call me Hercules, the strongest man in all of Greece! I have been tasked by King Eurystheus to perform 12 impossible labors. My first task is to slay the Nemean Lion, a ferocious beast with impenetrable skin who terrorizes the hills around Nemea. I'm not afraid - I will use my god-like strength to strangle that lion with my bare hands!

Hercules travels to Nemea where the lion is hiding in his cave. A dramatic fight ensues, with Hercules emerging victorious, holding the dead lion up in triumph.

Act 2, Scene 1 The Lernean Hydra

Hercules enters, sword in hand.

Hercules: I may have defeated the Nemean Lion, but that was just the first of my 12 labors! King Eurystheus commanded me to slay the dreaded Lernean Hydra - a nine-headed serpent who grows two new heads whenever one is severed! But I will not shy away from this challenge. With the help of my nephew Iolaus, I shall cauterize the Hydra's heads as I cut them off, preventing them from growing back. Have at thee, vile serpent!

Hercules and Iolaus battle the hydra, hacking off heads and cauterizing the wounds. Finally only one immortal head remains. Hercules chops it off and buries it deep underground.

Hercules: Two labors down, ten to go! Surely Eurystheus will run out of tasks soon enough!

Act 3, Scene 1 The Ceryneian Hind

Hercules enters, looking weary.

Hercules: Eurystheus has ordered me to capture the Ceryneian Hind, a giant deer with golden antlers and bronze hooves, sacred to the goddess Artemis. This task may prove my most challenging yet, for Artemis surely will not let me harm her prized pet without a fight. But I shall find a way to respect the goddess's property while also completing my labor.

Hercules pursues the hind through the forest. He finally traps it in a net and begins carrying it back to Eurystheus. Artemis appears and confronts him.

Artemis: Unhand my hind, Hercules! No mortal may touch her and live!

Hercules: Noble Artemis, I mean you and your hind no harm. I must bring it before my king to complete my third labor. But I will return her safely to you when my task is done. Grant me this, I beg of you!

Artemis: Very well, Hercules. For your respect, I will allow you to borrow the hind - but you must swear to keep her from all harm!

Hercules: You have my oath, great goddess.

Hercules continues carrying the hind to King Eurystheus.

Act 4, Scene 1 The Erymanthian Boar

Hercules enters, accompanied by the Muse of epic poetry, Calliope.

Calliope: And so bold Hercules set forth on his fourth labor, to capture the dreaded Erymanthian Boar that ravaged the farmlands near Mount Erymanthos...

Hercules: Yes, Eurystheus has ordered me to bring back this wicked swine, dead or alive. I care not how ferocious a foe - I shall best him as I have all others! Onward to Mount Erymanthos!

Hercules journeys to the mountain where the boar dwells. After an intense battle, Hercules subdues the giant boar using his strength. He slings the boar over his shoulder and carries it back to Eurystheus.

Hercules: That's four labors down now. I'm halfway there! But I'm sure Eurystheus has more dangerous tasks in store...

Act 5, Scene 1 The Augean Stables

Hercules marches up to King Eurystheus, who sits on his throne.

Hercules: Your highness, I have captured the Erymanthian Boar as you commanded. What is to be my fifth labor?

Eurystheus: Hercules, you must clean out the Augean Stables in one day's time. This will be an impossible task, for these stables have not been cleaned in over 30 years! The filth has piled high as mountains. Not even you can finish this job in so short a time.

Hercules: We shall see about that, your majesty! I will divert the rivers Alpheus and Peneus to wash out the stables. No task is too large for my might!

Hercules goes to the heavily clogged stables, digs trenches, and diverts the rivers. The water floods through and washes the stables clean.

Hercules: There! The stables are spotless, and with time to spare. Do you have another impossible task for me, my king?

Act 6, Scene 1 The Stymphalian Birds

Hercules enters a dense forest, looking around cautiously.

Hercules: The Stymphalian Birds, my sixth labor. Sharp-beaked and voracious, they descend without warning, preying on man and beast alike. Their feathers are as sharp as arrows. But they are no match for me! I will rout them from their marshy home and rid the countryside of their menace.

Hercules startles the birds out of the trees by banging loudly on a pair of bronze krotala cymbals given to him by the goddess Athena. The birds take flight and Hercules shoots many of them down with his bow and arrow. The rest flee far away and the forest is quiet once more.

Hercules: And so the savage Stymphalian Birds trouble this land no more! Now, I must bring these carcasses to Eurystheus to prove my deed is done. Onward!

Act 7, Scene 1 The Cretan Bull

Hercules is led by King Eurystheus into a massive arena. Spectators fill the seats, cheering.

Eurystheus: For your seventh labor, Hercules, you must capture the Cretan Bull that is devastating farmlands on Crete. This ferocious bull was once a gift from Poseidon but has since grown wild and unrestrained. You must bring the bull back to me alive. Now go!

The crowd cheers as Hercules sails to Crete. He finds the great bull rampaging and engages it in an epic struggle. Hercules finally subdues the bull, binding it with ropes. He sails back to Greece with the captured bull in tow, to the adulation of the thrilled spectators.

Eurystheus: Well done, Hercules! You continue to impress. But I have greater challenges in store...

Act 8, Scene 1 The Mares of Diomedes

Hercules meets King Eurystheus in his royal gardens.

Hercules: Your majesty, I captured the Cretan Bull. What is the eighth labor you would have me complete?

Eurystheus: The mares of Diomedes! These fearsome man-eating horses have killed and eaten many heroes who have tried to capture them. Bring the beasts back to me, Hercules, and break their spirit!

Hercules journeys to Diomedes’ kingdom and finds the bloodthirsty horses devouring human flesh. He wrestles the savage mares into submission and leads them back to Eurystheus.

Hercules: Here are your man-eating mares, my king, tamed at last. I slew Diomedes and fed his corpse to the horses to quell their taste for human blood. Now they will trouble your kingdom no more!

Eurystheus: Astounding, Hercules! Only four labors remain. But I assure you, the worst is yet to come!

Act 9, Scene 1 The Belt of Hippolyte

Hercules meets with Eurystheus in the royal assembly hall. Many curious citizens have gathered to hear about the next labor.

Hercules: What task lies ahead of me, your highness? I have conquered all dangers thus far. What can you possibly ask that I cannot accomplish?

Eurystheus: Someday your hubris may be your downfall, Hercules. But today, your task is to retrieve the belt of Hippolyte, Queen of the Amazons! It will not be easy to take a prize guarded by an entire tribe of female warriors.

The crowd murmurs anxiously. Hercules merely laughs.

Hercules: I do not fear these so-called warriors! No women could stand against my strength. Consider it done!

Hercules sails to the Amazon kingdom. Through force and trickery, he steals Hippolyte's belt and returns triumphant to Eurystheus.

Hercules: Never doubt my prowess again, your highness! I have faced the fiercest Amazon queen and won!

Act 10, Scene 1 The Cattle of Geryon

Hercules enters Eurystheus' throne room. The king's attendants cower from Hercules in fear, but the king remains seated.

Eurystheus: Only three labors left, Hercules. For your tenth, you must steal the red cattle of the three-bodied monster Geryon, who dwells on the distant island Erytheia. Beware - it will not be easy.

Hercules: I live for such challenges, my king! I will bring you these cattle or die trying!

Hercules sails across the ocean to the mystical island. He slays the giant, three-headed Geryon and gathers the magnificent red cattle. As he leaves, he is attacked by a two-headed hound named Orthrus, but kills it with his club. Hercules drives the cattle back to Eurystheus, completing his tenth labor.

Hercules: Your prize, highness - the cattle of Geryon as promised! Never again doubt that I can accomplish anything!

Act 11, Scene 1 The Apples of Hesperides

In Eurystheus' palace, Hercules lounges with his feet up, while attendants wait on him.

Hercules: Only two labors left, your majesty! I can't wait to complete my service so I can be rid of you forever. What will it be this time? More dangerous beasts to slay? Treasure to retrieve? Name it, and it shall be done!

Eurystheus: Careful, Hercules. Hubris leads to nemesis. Your next task is to steal the golden apples of Hesperides. These sacred fruits are zealously guarded by a hundred-headed dragon and can only be picked by the Hesperides nymphs. Many before you have met their doom pursuing these apples. But go, attempt this feat if you are so confident!

Hercules travels far to the garden of the Hesperides, where he finds the fearsome dragon. After an epic battle, Hercules slays the dragon. He then tricks Atlas, father of the Hesperides, into retrieving some of the golden apples for him while he temporarily shoulders the weight of the heavens.

Hercules returns to Eurystheus with the apples.

Hercules: Behold, the apples of Hesperides are yours, your majesty. Only one labor remains! What will it be?

Act 12, Scene 1 Cerberus

In the royal assembly hall, Eurystheus addresses his subjects. Hercules stands before him.

Eurystheus: For his final, impossible labor, Hercules must journey to the Underworld itself and capture Cerberus, the vicious three-headed hound who guards the gates of Hades! No mortal has ever entered Hades and returned alive. But if Hercules succeeds, he will have completed his 12 labors and earned his freedom!

The crowd cheers as Hercules departs. He enters the forbidden Underworld, battles spirits and monsters, and finally overcomes Cerberus using his great strength. Hercules parades the chained hellhound back to Eurystheus, alive and triumphant.

Hercules: Here is your wretched Cerberus, Eurystheus! My 12 labors are finally complete! Now grant me the freedom you promised!

Eurystheus: Incredible, Hercules! No one has ever matched your feats of strength and courage. Very well - you are released from your servitude, having proven yourself the greatest hero who ever lived!

The crowd roars its approval. Hercules exits proudly, ready for new adventures.