The Twelve Dancing Princesses is one of the most magical and mysterious fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm. In this enchanting play, a worried king cannot understand why his daughters’ shoes are worn out every single morning.
Every night, the twelve princesses are locked safely inside their bedroom. The door is closed, the key is turned, and the king believes his daughters are fast asleep. Yet when morning comes, their shoes are torn and full of holes—as if they had been dancing all night!
Where do the princesses go? What secret adventure awaits them after dark?
Many princes try to solve the mystery of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, but they all fail. Then one day, a brave soldier arrives at the palace. With courage, clever thinking, and a little magical help, he decides to discover the truth behind the strange secret of The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Get ready for a magical journey through hidden doors, sparkling forests of silver and gold, and an enchanted palace where music and dancing last until the break of dawn.
CHARACTERS:
KING
PRINCESS 1 – Oldest Princess
PRINCESS 2
PRINCESS 3
PRINCESS 4
PRINCESS 5
PRINCESS 6
PRINCESS 7
PRINCESS 8
PRINCESS 9
PRINCESS 10
PRINCESS 11
PRINCESS 12 – Youngest Princess
SERVANT
SOLDIER
OLD WOMAN
CROWD: PRINCESS 1–12 (no dialogue)
SCRIPT:
Act 1
Scene 1 – At the Palace
(The twelve princesses are dancing in their bedroom. The King opens the door and enters. He has a key in his hand.)
KING: Good evening, my dear princesses.
PRINCESS 1–12: Good evening, Father.
KING: It is time to go to bed.
PRINCESS 1–12: (running to their beds) Yes, father!
KING: Oh, and don’t forget to say your prayers.
PRINCESS 1–12: (kneeling) No, father.
PRINCESS 1: Father… why do you always have to lock our door?
KING: My dear, I love you all so much that all I want is to keep you safe.
PRINCESS 1–12:: We love you too!
KING: (raising his hand and showing the key) Sweet dreams, my precious daughters.
PRINCESS 1–12: Sweet dreams, Father.
(The King leaves. The princesses cheer happily and start dancing again.)
PRINCESS 2: Hurry up! We have to go!
PRINCESS 1–12: Ha, ha, ha, ha!
PRINCESS 3: Put on your shoes! It’s time to dance all night!
(The princesses put on their shoes.)
PRINCESS 1–12:Ha, ha, ha, ha!
(Princess 4 pulls her bed away from the wall. A secret door appears. The princesses enter and walk through a long hallway.)
Scene 2 – In the King’s Bedroom
(The King is talking to a servant.)
SERVANT: What is worrying you, my king?
KING: It’s my daughters’ shoes!
SERVANT: Oh, I know, my king… shoes are so expensive!
KING: It’s not that. Every day they have a new pair of shoes, and that is not possible.
SERVANT: But at night, they are locked in their room, so they cannot go anywhere.
KING: They are hiding something! And tomorrow morning, when I enter their bedroom, their shoes will be torn to pieces as though they had been dancing all night. I cannot understand how their shoes are always full of holes!
SERVANT: It is a great mystery. How will you discover the truth?
KING: I will issue a proclamation. Go and tell everyone in the land that anyone who can discover in three days and three nights how my daughters’ shoes are worn out may marry one of the princesses of his choice and will become king after my death.
SERVANT: And what if many come, but no one succeeds?
KING: Then the witch from the forest will turn them into frogs!
SERVANT: Tomorrow morning, I will do as you have told me. Good night, my king.
(The servant leaves.)
Act 2
Scene 1 – In the Forest
(A soldier wearing a bandage on his arm is reading the proclamation nailed to a tree. He sits on a stone and begins eating a piece of bread. An old woman wearing a cloak approaches him.)
OLD WOMAN: (looking at the soldier’s arm) What happened to you?
SOLDIER: I was in the army, but I was discharged because I was wounded, and I can no longer serve.
OLD WOMAN: Where are you going?
SOLDIER: I don’t know where I am going or what I will do. But I think I would like to discover where the princesses dance. Then perhaps, one day, I might become a king!
OLD WOMAN: That is not such a difficult task. I will tell you the secret. When the princesses go to bed, they will offer you wine. Do not drink it, because it will put you to sleep, and you will never discover anything.
SOLDIER: That is very good advice.
OLD WOMAN: (removes her cloak and gives it to the soldier) Whenever you wear this cloak, you will become invisible. Then you will be able to see things others cannot.
SOLDIER: What should I do?
OLD WOMAN: When you put it on, follow the princesses wherever they go.
SOLDIER: I am determined to try my luck. Thank you.
OLD WOMAN: Now go and see the king!
(The soldier leaves.)
Scene 2 – At the Palace
(The King sits on his throne. The soldier stands before him.)
KING: I am glad to have you in my palace. I imagine why you are here.
SOLDIER: I came to solve the mystery.
KING: Come with me. I will take you to a room next to my daughters’ bedroom. I hope to hear good news tomorrow morning.
(They enter the princesses’ bedroom. Each princess is reading a book.)
PRINCESS 5: (standing) Another one, father?
PRINCESS 6: (kissing the king’s cheek) You must trust us!
KING: (to the soldier) As you can see, these are my beautiful daughters. If you discover how their shoes become worn out, you may marry one of them. (to the princesses) I will not lock your door tonight, but this soldier will watch you. Sweet dreams!
PRINCESS 1–12: Sweet dreams!
(The King and the soldier go to another room.)
KING: You will stay here. I will see you tomorrow.
(The King leaves.)
(Princess 7 enters.)
PRINCESS 7: (offering wine) I brought you a cup of wine. It will help you relax.
SOLDIER: (taking the cup) You are very kind. (Pointing suddenly)
Oh! What is that behind you?
(Princess 7 turns around. The soldier secretly throws the wine behind his back.)
PRINCESS 7: Where?
SOLDIER: Never mind. It was nothing. Mmm! The wine was excellent.
PRINCESS 7: I’m glad you liked it.
SOLDIER: (yawning) I’m so tired.
(He lies on his bed and begins snoring.)
(Princesses enter one by one.)
PRINCESS 8: Is he asleep?
PRINCESS 7: Fast asleep!
PRINCESS 9: Poor man… or should I say poor slimy frog?
PRINCESSES 7, 8, 9: Ha, ha, ha!
PRINCESS 10: Come on! We must go!
PRINCESS 11: I am eager to dance!
PRINCESS 12: I don’t know why, but while you are all so happy, I feel uneasy. I am sure something bad will happen tonight.
PRINCESS 1: You are always afraid! Have you forgotten how many princes have already tried and failed? And this soldier would have slept soundly even without the wine!
PRINCESS 2: We are safe now.
(The princesses go to their bedroom. The soldier quietly rises, puts on the cloak, and follows them invisibly.)
Scene 3 – The Secret Place
(The princesses walk through a long hall in single file. Princess 1 leads. Princess 12 is last. The soldier follows, then he accidentally steps on Princess 12’s dress.)
PRINCESS 12: Ouch! Someone pulled my dress!
PRINCESS 11: Who?
PRINCESS 10: There’s no one here!
PRINCESS 1: (bored) You silly girl! It caught on a nail. Keep walking.
(The princesses enter a grove of silver trees. The soldier breaks a branch and hides it.)
PRINCESS 12: (nervous) What was that noise?
PRINCESS 1: It is only our princes celebrating our arrival.
(They enter a grove of golden trees. The soldier breaks another branch.)
PRINCESS 12: I’m sure someone is following us!
PRINCESS 1: It is only our princes.
(They enter a grove of diamond trees. Another branch breaks.)
PRINCESS 12: I’m frightened!
PRINCESS 1: Please control yourself. It is only the princes welcoming us.
(The princesses reach a lake where twelve boats wait. Each princess sits with a prince. The soldier sits beside Princess 12.)
PRINCE: The boat feels heavier today.
PRINCESS 12: It must be the heat.
PRINCE: Listen… do you hear the music?
PRINCESS 12: What a beautiful melody! I want to dance all night!
(They arrive at a castle and begin dancing.)
PRINCESS 2: It’s three o’clock!
PRINCESS 1–12: And all our shoes are worn out!
PRINCESS 3: We must leave!
(The princesses return to their bedroom. The soldier runs ahead, removes the cloak, and pretends to sleep.)
PRINCESSES: Now everything is safe.
(They remove their shoes and go to bed.)
Act 3
Scene 1 – The Princesses’ Bedroom
(The princesses are talking when the King and the soldier enter.)
PRINCESS 1–12: Good morning, Father.
KING: Good morning, my dear daughters. (to the soldier) Tell me, young man—why are my daughters’ shoes ruined every night?
SOLDIER: Your daughters travel each night to an underground palace where they dance with twelve enchanted princes until three in the morning.
PRINCESS 1–12: Oh no!
KING: Is it true?
PRINCESS 1–12: (ashamed) Yes, father.
PRINCESS 4: There is no point in lying.
KING: Do you have proof?
SOLDIER: Yes.
(The soldier shows silver, gold, and diamond branches.)
KING: Can someone explain this?
PRINCESS 5: We simply love to dance there.
PRINCESS 6: It feels like a dream!
KING: What is wrong with the palace where you live?
SOLDIER: Your daughters deserve freedom instead of being locked away every night like birds in a cage.
KING: I only wanted to keep them safe. (to the princesses) Your mother always knew what to do. It has not been easy raising twelve daughters alone. Please forgive me.
(The princesses hug the king.)
PRINCESS 7: We love you!
PRINCESS 8: You have been a wonderful father!
KING: (to the soldier) You have solved the mystery. You may choose one of my daughters to marry.
SOLDIER: Your daughters are all beautiful, but I am no longer a young man. I chose the eldest princess.
PRINCESS 1–12: Oh!
SOLDIER: I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.
KING: Very well!
SOLDIER: But the decision must be hers as well. (to Princess 1) Will you marry me?
PRINCESS 2–12: Say yes! Say yes!
PRINCESS 1: I will marry you… on one condition.
SOLDIER: What is it?
PRINCESS 1: How did you discover our secret?
SOLDIER: Now you see me… (puts on the cloak) Now you don’t!
PRINCESS 1–12: Oh!
PRINCESS 1: So you followed us while invisible.
SOLDIER: Yes.
PRINCESS 1: Where did you get the cloak?
SOLDIER: An old woman gave it to me.
PRINCESS 1: That was no old woman… she was a witch!
SOLDIER: To me, she was my fairy godmother.
PRINCESS 1: I love you. And I will marry you.
PRINCESS 2–12: Yes!
(The princess and the soldier kiss.)
The End
Author: Brothers Grimm
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
Conclusion: At last, the mystery of The Twelve Dancing Princesses is revealed. The brave soldier discovers the hidden underground palace where the princesses have been secretly dancing every night.
The king realizes that his daughters were not trying to cause trouble—they simply longed for adventure, music, and freedom. Instead of anger, the king learns an important lesson about trust and understanding.
In the end, the secret is shared, forgiveness is given, and happiness fills the palace once again. The soldier marries the eldest princess, and the kingdom celebrates with joy.
And as for the princesses… perhaps they still dance from time to time—but now they do so with the king’s blessing.
Moral Values:
• Honesty
• Trust between parents and children
• Courage and curiosity
• Responsibility and freedom
• Kindness and gratitude
Moral of the Story: Sometimes secrets exist because people feel misunderstood. When trust replaces control, families grow stronger
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👉 External Resources:
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses – Wikipedia
- The Twelve Dancing Princesses – Project Gutenberg
- Grimms’ Fairy Tales – By Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm
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