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How to Find a Duet Speech

A duet speech is a dramatic work or excerpt written for two performers. Duet speeches are usually included in the competitions sponsored by high school and college speech or forensic leagues, and it is for such competitions that duet speeches are usually sought. Some competitions distinguish between dramatic and humorous duet categories. Duo pieces are similar but do not allow physical or eye contact between the two performers.

Instructions

    • 1

      Download short individual scripts online. Brooklyn Publishers and JD Drama Publishing both offer a decent selection of duet pieces -- male/female, male/male and female/female -- for a reasonable fee, usually $10 to $15. Both sites allow you to read a sample before purchasing.

    • 2

      Buy, or loan from the library, a collection of short duet pieces to see if you can find one that works for you. Smith & Kraus, a publisher that specializes in works for the stage, has a four-volume Duo Series. Contemporary Drama Service also has a number of titles from which to choose.

    • 3

      Select a scene from a full-length play. Try to find a scene that stands on its own. Shakespeare is an excellent source for scenes with two actors, and his plays are both widely known and widely available. Moliere is good if you are looking for comic material. For something more contemporary, try a scene from Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."

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