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The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Parade of Pretend

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The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Parade of Pretend. A vibrant cartoon illustration depicting the climactic scene from "The Emperor's New Clothes." In the center, a plump Emperor, wearing only a golden crown, red furry slippers, and white ruffled underwear, stands with a look of shock and embarrassment. He is marching under a large, red and gold canopy held by two confused royal attendants in medieval attire. Around him, a crowd of diverse townspeople react with pointing fingers, gasps, and suppressed laughter. In the foreground, a small, cheerful child in blue overalls points directly at the Emperor. To the right, two cunning fox-like weavers sit smugly beside large sacks of gold coins. The background features charming, colorful medieval buildings under a bright blue sky.
The Emperor marches confidently through the streets in his “new clothes,” while a little boy bravely points out the truth that no one else dares to admit.

In “The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Parade of Pretend”, an Emperor loves clothes more than anything else in the world. When two clever rogues arrive in the kingdom promising a magical cloth that can only be seen by those who are wise and worthy, everyone — from ministers to courtiers — pretends to see something that isn’t there.

This humorous script invites children to explore themes of honesty, courage, and the importance of speaking up, even when everyone else is too afraid to do so. 

Production Guidance (Casting Notes):

For a production of The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Parade of Pretend, a cast of 10 to 12 actors is highly recommended to balance efficiency with dramatic clarity. This range allows for dedicated actors in the nine primary speaking roles (Emperor, Narrator, two Weavers, Minister, Emperor’s Friend, Officer, Child, and Child’s Father), while also providing enough actors to convincingly portray the crucial group roles of the Courtiers and the People in the Streets. However, the script is versatile enough to be performed by as few as eight actors through strategic doubling, or

CHARACTERS:

EMPEROR

WEAVER ONE (ROGUE)

WEAVER TWO (ROGUE)

MINISTER

EMPEROR’S FRIEND

COURTIERS (Group or named individuals)

OFFICER

PEOPLE IN THE STREETS (Crowd)

LITTLE CHILD

LITTLE CHILD’S FATHER

NARRATOR

SCRIPT:

NARRATOR: Many years ago, there lived an Emperor who cared so much for fine clothes that he spent all his money on them. He had a new coat for every hour of the day and spent his time riding through the streets so that everybody could see his beautiful clothes. One day, two rogues arrived in the city, claiming to be weavers.

WEAVER ONE: We know how to weave the most wonderful cloth in the world!

WEAVER TWO: The patterns and the colors are marvelously beautiful! It is unlike anything you have ever seen!

NARRATOR: But they also spread a rumor that the cloth could not be seen by anyone stupid or unfit for the Emperor’s office.

EMPEROR: I must have some clothes made from this cloth at once! When I wear them, I shall find out which men in my empire are not fit for their places. I shall know the clever men from the dunces! Those weavers must be brought to me immediately!

NARRATOR: So the weavers were brought into the Emperor’s presence.

WEAVER ONE: Yes, your Majesty. What can we do for you?

EMPEROR: Here, take this sum of money, a handsome advance! But you must work without delay. I expect the most magnificent garments.

NARRATOR: The rogues immediately put up two great looms and pretended to be working. They called for the finest silks and the brightest gold, but these they put into their pockets. They worked steadily at the empty looms until far into the night.

EMPEROR: I can hear the rattling of the looms! I must see my wonderful clothes!

NARRATOR: He decided to send someone to find out how the weavers were getting on. But he remembered that no one stupid or unfit for his office could see the cloth.

EMPEROR: I will send my faithful old Minister to the weavers. He is a very clever man, and no one is more worthy of his office than he.

NARRATOR: So the good old Minister went into the room where the two rogues sat working at the empty looms. He stared and stared, and opened his eyes wide.

MINISTER: (Aside, whispering) I can’t see a thing! I see nothing but the loom and the wall!

NARRATOR: But he said nothing at all.

WEAVER TWO: Get closer, Minister. Isn’t this a beautiful pattern?

WEAVER ONE: And the colors! Observe how the threads of pure imagination glisten! Aren’t they wonderful?

NARRATOR: And they pointed to the empty looms. The poor old Minister put on his spectacles and bent over the looms, but he could see nothing, for there was nothing to see.

MINISTER: (Aside, in true horror) Surely, it cannot be that I am unfit for my post! The shame! I must never admit that I see nothing.

WEAVER ONE: Well, sir, what do you think of it?

MINISTER: Oh, it is magnificent. The colors are splendid and the pattern is wonderful. I shall tell the Emperor that I am pleased with your work.

WEAVER TWO: We are glad indeed to hear you say so.

NARRATOR: They went on talking of the cloth. They named the colors and described the peculiar pattern. The old Minister listened carefully, for he wished to repeat to the Emperor all that was said.

WEAVER ONE: We need more silk and more gold thread to keep working. 

NARRATOR: But all that was given to them, they put into their pockets. Not a single strand of silk was ever put on the loom. The Emperor sent another faithful friend to inspect the cloth and inquire about the expected completion date. But this man fared no better than the Minister. He stood before the empty looms, but he saw no cloth.

WEAVER TWO: Isn’t this beautiful stuff? The colors are gorgeous!

EMPEROR’S FRIEND: (Aside, panicking) Heavens! Am I a fool? No! It must be that I am unfit for my office. This is a terrifying secret that must be kept.

NARRATOR: Then he addressed the Weavers.

EMPEROR’S FRIEND: Ah! The design is most unusual, and the color is marvelous. I shall tell the Emperor what fine progress you are making.

NARRATOR: Soon, everyone in the city was talking about the wonderful cloth that the two weavers were making. The Emperor thought that he would like to see the beautiful cloth while it was still upon the looms. With a number of his Courtiers, he went to visit the two rogues, who were weaving rapidly day after day without any thread. Among the Courtiers were the two men who had already been there. They thought that the others would see something upon the empty looms, so they began to cry out at once.

(The Minister and Emperor’s Friend step forward.)

MINISTER AND EMPEROR’S FRIEND: Look, your Majesty! Do you see the beautiful design? And the color, isn’t it gorgeous?

EMPEROR: (Aside, whispering) What is this? I see nothing at all! Am I not fit to be Emperor? If that were known, I should be deposed!

NARRATOR: Then, forcing a smile, he spoke aloud.

EMPEROR: Yes, yes, it is beautiful. I could not be better pleased.

NARRATOR: He smiled and nodded his head, and stared at the empty looms. His Courtiers, too, looked and looked, but saw no more than the others. Yet they all cried…

COURTIERS: It is truly wonderful, your Majesty! Absolutely magnificent!

NARRATOR: They asked the Emperor to wear a suit made from this cloth in a great procession that was soon to take place. The Emperor gave each of the rogues a royal badge to wear and called them the Imperial Court Weavers.

WEAVER ONE: The day of the procession is getting nearer. We must work harder!

WEAVER TWO: We will stay up all night before the procession to finish the cutting and sewing!

NARRATOR: Through the shining windows, the people could see them hard at work. They took yards of nothing down from the empty looms. They made cuts in the air with big scissors. They sewed strong stitches without any thread, and at last they said…

WEAVERS: The clothes are ready!

EMPEROR: This is wonderful! Let me put on my new suit!

NARRATOR: The rogues lifted their arms as if holding something.

WEAVER ONE: See! Here is the coat! Here is the cape! Here are the trousers!

WEAVER TWO: The cloth is as light as a spider’s web. You may move as freely as if you had nothing on! That is the beauty of it.

COURTIERS: It is marvelous! An engineering feat!

NARRATOR: And yet all the time they saw nothing, for there was nothing.

WEAVER ONE: Will your Majesty be pleased to take off your suit? Then we will put on the new garments in front of the long mirror.

NARRATOR: The Emperor took off his clothes, and the rogues pretended to put on each new garment as it was ready. They wrapped him about, they buttoned, and they tied.

COURTIERS: How well his Majesty looks in his new suit! What a style! What beautiful colors!

NARRATOR: The Emperor turned round and round before the mirror, and looked and looked, and nodded his head.

OFFICER: They are waiting outside with the canopy, which is to be carried over Your Majesty during the procession.

EMPEROR: I am ready.

NARRATOR: The two men who were to carry the train of the Emperor stooped down to the floor, as if picking up something, and then they held their hands high in the air and moved forward. They did not dare let it be known that they saw nothing. The Emperor marched along under the handsome canopy, and all his officers marched behind him in gorgeous clothes.

PEOPLE IN THE STREETS: How handsome the Emperor’s clothes are! What a perfect fit! What marvelous colors!

NARRATOR: No one would say that he could see nothing, for that would have proved him very stupid and unfit for his office. No clothes of the Emperor had ever been so much admired.

LITTLE CHILD: But he has nothing on!

LITTLE CHILD’S FATHER: (Pulling the child away, whispering) Hush! Hush! Don’t say that!

NARRATOR: But the people began to whisper to one another what the child had said.

PEOPLE IN THE STREETS: He has nothing on! A child says he has nothing on! He has nothing on!

NARRATOR: The Emperor heard what they said, and he shivered, for he knew that their words were true. But it would never do to stop the procession, and so he held himself stiffer than ever. And behind him, his officers carried the invisible train.

And so, in The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Parade of Pretend, both the Emperor and his people learned a valuable lesson. Pretending to be something you are not only leads to embarrassment, confusion, and unnecessary fear. It took the brave voice of one honest child to reveal the truth — that sometimes the most powerful truth comes from those who speak with sincerity and innocence.

From that day on, the Emperor understood that honesty is worth more than the finest silk, and his people remembered that it is better to admit what you do not know than to pretend just to fit in.

The End

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

Adapted by: K I D S I N C O

Moral of the Story: Honesty is more valuable than pride — and speaking the truth is always better than pretending.

Moral Values:

  • Honesty: Always tell the truth, even when it feels hard or embarrassing.
  • Courage: Be brave enough to speak up when something isn’t right.
  • Humility: It’s okay not to know everything; admitting it helps you grow.
  • Integrity: Stay true to your principles, even when others choose to pretend.
  • Critical Thinking: Don’t believe everything just because everyone else does.

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