10 Minutes to..Break The Mould
10 Minutes to… is an evening of exciting short plays from new voices. Over the course of one exhilarating and action packed weekend, a selection of 10 minute plays are produced and performed based on the theme of Break the Mould.
Writers were selected from an open call out in the Spring.
Call Me Mary Poppins
Written by Rita Valentine
Directed by David Loumgair
Starring Jessica Johnson
‘If you’d have told me I’d be single again at thirty-eight, I’d have laughed.’
A witty, soul-laid-bare monologue reflecting one woman’s divorce and the unlikely places she finds her new path taking her. Sometimes your world doesn’t look like you imagined it would, but at least it’s not boring. Definitely not boring. Emma learns that different might just be the thing she wants.
Last Seen, Bensham Road
Written by Sam Neale
Directed by Holly Gallagher
Starring Jackie Edwards
‘Have you ever disappeared? Have you ever made yourself invisible?’
Head down, keep a smile on your face while talking to the other mums, keep afloat, just. In the madness of getting-by it is easy to wish yourself away, but anonymity has a price and a literal vanishing is probably not what you had in mind.
Pancake Factors
Written by Brogan Gilbert
Directed by Emma Roxburgh
Starring Charlie Martin and Claire Maggie Dowens
‘Thing is Kylie, like no offence, but it’s easier for you. You’re in year 10. You look about 12. No one bats an eyelash at you.’
Navigating the path to womanhood has never been easy, but it would be far easier without the boys in your year making comments. A loving look at morning routines spent dreaming of curves, carefully assessing your assets and the importance of sibling support (though don’t you dare tell anyone about that!)
Raw
Written by Ben Schwarz
Directed by Stan Hodgson
Starring Cooper McDonough and Katie Powell
‘Let me do the icing for you. I’m quite good you know. Come on Lori. Let me do something for Nana.’
Darren spends the night at Lori’s, but things have become complicated over the last three years. Lori is caring for her Nana, whose birthday she is currently baking for. She also got married, though her husband is absent today.
An honest and uncomfortable look at the dynamics of the morning after - can people ever really change?
Content warning: Contains scenes of domestic violence.
Wasp Nest
Written by Lily Johnston
Directed by Caroline Liversidge
Starring Jess Dawson and Cameron Sharp
‘I’m pretty sure we’re the first ones in our year to go out in Manchester. Even Sarah hasn’t and she’s done acid, apparently.’
1989. The summer is drawing to a close. O-Level results are in. Michelle and Jim are on a mission to get cool. Only Michelle would rather the girls from school didn’t find out that she’s hanging out with Jim, and Jim is ultimately far too nervous to go ahead with their plan. Erasure, crop tops and Special Brew. Saturday nights don’t get better than this.
Hai(R)
Written by Humera Mazhar
Directed by Umar Butt
Starring Rehanna MacDonald and Kuran Dohil
‘Do you think she’ll get over it? The me being gay thing, not the hair. She’s obviously never gonna get over me cutting off my own hair.’
Two sisters, box of neon wigs and a long overdue conversation. How do you balance your wishes with those of your parents? How can you be true to yourself when your religion disapproves? What do you do when cuts mean the only wigs you can get are made for white people?
A bold and unreserved exploration of culture clash and family expectation.
Deeds not Words
Written by Lynsey Rogers
Directed by Chris Foley
Starring Brogan Gilbert & Adam Donaldson
‘I spent years going around in my own little bubble. Nothing really got through to me and when it did I was too scared to speak up. But I’d had enough.’
Direct action might feel like the only way to make an impact, but Annie should perhaps have paused to consider the direction she aimed her frustrations. Words are falling out her mouth now. The tape isn’t recording yet, but she’s determined to explain herself. Her mum will probably kill her. In fact, her mum is almost definitely going to kill her.
