![]() Feeling stagnant in her life, stuck in her ways with a family and husband who fail to see her (let alone respect her), she packs her bags and heads off on a holiday to Greece to relax and find herself. The titular Shirley is a beloved character in contemporary theatre. But, as it proves to be for Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking is ultimately an uplifting and cathartic experience. It’s a tough watch in some respects, especially for those who may have experienced similar events and emotions in their lives. Much like the book, it explores real events, scientific and medical theories as well as Didion’s own inner life and musings on her tragic situation. The actor must take on a whopping forty-odd characters, often portraying them in conversation, so get your vocal warm-ups on point: you’re going to need to be flexible! The Year of Magical Thinkingīased on the 2005 memoir of the same name, The Year of Magical Thinking documents Joan Didion’s attempts to process and overcome her grief following the death of her husband and, later, her daughter. It’s the story of real-world German antiquarian Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf, a transgender woman who lived through the Nazi regime in wartime Germany before running a museum that became a meeting place for the gay community of East Berlin. I Am My Own Wifeįirst performed by legendary Broadway actor Jefferson Mays, Doug Wright’s astounding I Am My Own Wife opened in 2003 and won just about every major theatrical prize possible. A fantastic recording of this performance is available via the National Theatre Online portal. ![]() Prima Facie first took Australia by storm in 2019, going on to receive multiple accolades and seasons before heading across the pond for its West End debut staring Jodie Comer. However, after a devastating event in her personal life forces her to the outside of a system she once operated within, Tessa must confront the inequities of gender, class and privilege inherent in the legal system. Tessa, a young and brilliant barrister, has fought her entire life to overcome modest beginnings and reach the top of her field. Without further ado, let’s take a look at a selection of the very best contemporary one-person plays to sink your teeth into: Prima Facie They are some of the hardest pieces an actor can perform, but one-person shows can be infinitely rewarding to all involved. And as the actor/audience relationship is so close by default, the opportunity to make strong emotional connections and convey ideas are unparalleled in all dramatic forms. ![]() For actors who love the process of script analysis and creating layered characters, there is a wealth of material to work from in a one-person text. ![]() Just them, the audience, and pages of text with which to weave some magic.īut there is magic to be had. It’s acting without a safety net: there are no exits, no fellow actors to rely on, and often little in the way of set or props. They present an enormous challenge for the performer, who is tasked with carrying the whole damn show on their back using a mixture of skills such as narration, physical expression, character work, dialogue and even stand-up comedy. One-person plays are often intimate, forthright and engaging much of an actor’s efforts usually concentrated on other performers is focused directly towards the audience. Finding their origins in oration (the foundation of all modern Western drama), as well as lecture and poetry recital, the 20th century saw the play for a single actor take a strong foothold in the vastness of the contemporary canon. One-person plays, often called one-man or one-woman shows (which we think is perhaps a bit reductive) occupy a unique space in modern theatre. ![]()
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