About This Musical
Number of Speaking Roles: 29 | Runtime: 60 minutes | Original NZ-Made Songs: 7
One Fly Over the Rubbish Dump is a story of loss, friendship, power, greed and unfulfilled dreams through the eyes of some unlikely characters.
This musical tale tells of life inside Chillax Rubbish Dump – an overcrowded, growing wasteland that is starting to eat up all the surrounding land to fit more rubbish.
But when Eric, a not so common housefly accidentally gets left behind at Chillax Rubbish Dump, he makes it his mission to get back to the safety and comfort of his own home.
On his travels he stumbles upon an unlikely group of dump flies who face a constant struggle to find food. Mean and selfish spiders have control of the dumps entire food supply and will kill anything that comes close to their stash of food.
Will the flies find something to eat, or will they all starve to death?
Will the Chillax Rubbish Dump ever stop growing?
Will Eric find his way back home?
All will be revealed...
Scenes & Songs & Script
Scene One
We meet our ragtag group of flies who inhabit this little section of Chillax Rubbish Dump - Fanta, Marmite, Glade, Snickers and the drill sergeant Insector Diptera who has to try and keep them all in line. A fly from the city has mistakenly arrived after being trapped in a car and is now stuck in the dump - they all vow to try and get him back home.
Scene Two
We meet another group of characters at the dump - two mangy cats - Scraggles and Mangles who are equally impressed with how disgusting they both are. They are hanging around our 3 workers at the dump who dream of a better world where more things are recycled and their dreams of pop stardom is realised.
Scene Three
The flies show their new friend Eric around their part of the dump and explain how their numbers have been dwindling due to the population of spiders that have taken over the area, so need Eric (who is only a small house fly) to help defeat the spiders so they can share the rubbish dump. Eric agrees on the mission to reach a pile of old fireworks, set them off and destroy Spider Mountain - if they help him get home.
Scene Four
They embark on their mission, but along the way are captured by the spiders guards - 3 cockroaches who are actually very sensitive roaches who love to clean. They are taken to the spider's webs where we meet these blood thirsty arachnids and told (in song form) what they plan to do with anyone who enters their webs.
Scene One
Stuck on the web, the spiders start to interrogate the flies. Eric tricks them into thinking the flies are starting a revolution and are gathering their troops to take all of the spiders down. This leads to the boss, Tarrant Chula, to gather all of the spiders to defeat the flies before they attack. While they’re away, Eric and the other captured flies trick the spider guarding them and escapes - able to continue on with their mission
Scene Two
The three dump workers formed a band called ‘Stench’, wrote and recorded an songs to highlight the importance of recycling and it became a smash hit Number 1 record selling album. They are shooting the music video entitled ‘In the Dumps’ - and the World is taking notice of their message.
Scene Three
The battle between the flies and the spiders begin. After some fighting talk ensues, the flies plan works and Spider Mountain is destroyed. They then discuss the important relationship between spiders and flies, they important role they play - and they agree to share the Rubbish Dump.
Scene Four
This scene brings everyone together and shows what life is like now that recycling is more prevalent, and everyone is working together for a better Rubbish Dump.
Here's a sample of the script for your reading pleasure. If you need to see more get in touch.
Gallery of Characters
Note: While character images and song videos were created using generative AI tools to help bring these stories to life, all scripts, lyrics, and music are completely original. Every show, song, and resource has been written and created by New Zealand teacher and author Dan Minchin, who holds full copyright.
Order This Musical Now & Get...
The Script
A complete, stage-ready copy where you can print off as many as you like at no extra cost.
On request, this script can be editable so you can adapt it to your kura (free of charge)
The Music
Full lyrics for song booklets
Music with guitar chords
Behind the Scenes
Access to all of the songs with vocals as well as the instrumental backing tracks.
Ready-to-go programme and ticket templates, plus all the letters you can edit and send home to parents.
The Game Plan: A full organisational guide that will save time. Templates for auditions, costume and prop suggestions, rehearsal schedule templates, and proven ideas to ensure your show is a hit.
Cost for Purchasing this Musical
$400.00 NZD