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Backspace

Backspace

by Lindsay Price

In the world of Backspace, writing is a struggle, a battle, a war. Writers go off to the front lines to fight Ideas who resist at every turn. They stare at the Blank Page and must stand strong when she starts talking back. They look for anything and everything to move their writing forward.

The front is littered with writers who have given up. Will our four young writers face the same fate? Every word is another word closer to Victory!

An excellent theatrical experience for any cast or any class. The play explores personification in a unique and vivid manner. Where else can you bring a typewriter to life?

Drama Experimental Form Movement-based

Average Producer Rating:

Recommended for High Schools

Running Time
About 30 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
23 Characters
2 M6 F15 Any Gender
Set
Simple set
Length
38 pages
Free Excerpt

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Performance Royalty Fees

Royalty fees apply to all performances whether or not admission is charged. Any performance in front of an audience (e.g. an invited dress rehearsal) is considered a performance for royalty purposes.

Exemption details for scenes and monologues for competition.

23 Characters
2 M, 6 F, 15 Any Gender

Characters in this play are currently identified as male or female. Directors are welcome to assign any gender (binary or non-binary) to any character and modify pronouns accordingly.

Characters
Fresh [F] 42 lines
Writer just starting out.
Rook [F] 34 lines
Writer just starting out.
Fledge [M] 53 lines
Writer just starting out.
Tyro [M] 41 lines
Writer just starting out.
The Blank Page [F] 9 lines
The personification of writer’s block, the one who fills your headwith doubt.
Lady Aid [F] 13 lines
Lady of the Auxiliary who is fascinated by writers, tea, and crochet.
Lady Charity [F] 10 lines
Lady of the Auxiliary who is fascinated by writers, tea, and crochet.
Novata [F] 8 lines
A representative of the next round of writers just starting out.
Raw Ideas (all) [A]
Amoebic, whispering, clawed figures. Aside from the group there are three specific ideas: Whisp, Germ, and Bead. Chorus of lines
The Typewriter (all)
Character Typewriter Part
RC [A] 22 lines
Commander of the Carriage (the machine as a whole)
2ND [A] 54 lines
Carriage Release
F-REN [A] 15 lines
Feed Ribbon
HAMM [A] 20 lines
Type Hammer
TB [A] 12 lines
Type Bar
PEG [A] 13 lines
Type Guide
SHIFT [A] 42 lines
Shift Key
CAPS [A] 17 lines
Caps Key
SPACE [A] 15 lines
Space Bar
TAB [A] 23 lines
Tab Key
APOSTRO [A] 15 lines
Apostrophe Key
A, Y, B, M, J [A] 30, 20, 19, 19, 16 lines
Individual Letter Keys

Praise for Backspace

Christine Vitale
Oberoi International School
Loved the concept of personifying the typewriter. The kids really got into the roles. It was easy to stage.

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From the Drama Teacher Learning Centre

A One-Act Movement-Based High School Drama: Backspace
Featured Plays

A One-Act Movement-Based High School Drama: Backspace

Writing may be a struggle but tackling Backspaceby Lindsay Price definitely is not. This movement-based high school drama explores personification in a unique and vivid manner. Where else can you bring a typewriter to life? The drama students at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, VA, under the direction of Dr. Shelley Nowacek, performed this one-act production with award-winning results: “We won conference for VHSL (Virginia High School League) with this show!” Congratulations, Great Bridge High School!
Theatrefolk Podcast: Workshop Q&A
Podcast

Theatrefolk Podcast: Workshop Q&A

Episode 27: Workshop Q&AThis past fall Lindsay spent a week working on a new play with students. On the last day she lead a Q & A with them about the process and the play. The students asked some amazing and insightful questions and kept Lindsay on her toes!
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