Backspace
by Lindsay Price
In this world writing is a struggle, a battle, a war. Backspace explores personification and characterization like no other play.
Average Producer Rating:
About 30 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
23
2 M | 6 W | 15 Any Gender
Simple set
38 pages
Reviews from Past Producers
In addition to traditional live stage performance rights, Backspace can also be performed under the following scenarios.
Virtual Performance
A Virtual Performance is a performance on an online web conferencing platform such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, or Google Meets where performers are geographically isolated from one another and not together on a stage.
No audience is physically present with the performers. The audience is logged in to the same web conferencing platform as the performers.
Each time the play is performed for a virtual audience of any size (whether or not admission is charged) constitutes one performance.
Livestream Performance
Productions of Backspace may be Livestreamed.
All Livestream Performances must be conducted through our Authorized Streaming Partner, BookTix. Please contact BookTix at info@booktix.com for more information about Livestreaming.
A Livestream Performance is a traditional performance that is livestreamed to the Internet as the actors are performing. Instead of watching the show live in the theatre, the audience watches virtually from their home or other location.
All Livestream Performances must be conducted through our Authorized Streaming Partner, BookTix. Please contact BookTix at info@booktix.com for more information about Livestreaming.
A Livestream Performance may be pre-recorded. Recordings for pre-recorded Livestreams may be made if the recording is destroyed at the conclusion of the production. Should the producing organization want to retain the recording for archival purposes, they must purchase a separate Videorecording License from Theatrefolk.
Theatrefolk charges no additional fees for permission to Livestream. However, BookTix will charge nominal fees to the producing organization. Theatrefolk does not have any financial interest in BookTix and does not receive any commission or fees from BookTix.
Theatrefolk cannot be held responsible for any issues, technical, financial, legal, or otherwise, arising from the producing organization’s relationship with BookTix.
Each time the show is Livestreamed (whether performed live or pre-recorded) constitutes one performance.
One license, three ways to use it
Each royalty you purchase can be used as a Traditional Live Stage Performance, Virtual Performance, or Livestream Performance. How you choose to use your performance license is up to you! Performances need not all be of the same type so long as the total number of performances given does not exceed the total number of performances ordered.
How to Order
Click on the red "Add to Cart" button, then select "A Production"
“Being a writer is not for the faint of heart.
Not for the weak. Things get bloody.”
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?
Characters
23
2 Men, 6 Women, 15 Any Gender
Characters
-
Fresh
[W]
42 lines
- Writer just starting out.
-
Rook
[W]
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
[W]
9 lines
- The personification of writer’s block, the one who fills your headwith doubt.
-
Lady Aid
[W]
13 lines
- Lady of the Auxiliary who is fascinated by writers, tea, and crochet.
-
Lady Charity
[W]
10 lines
- Lady of the Auxiliary who is fascinated by writers, tea, and crochet.
-
Novata
[W]
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
- Subgenres
- Fantasy Avant-garde Movement-based
- Settings
- Abstract setting Present day
- Dress
- Elaborate costumes Fantasy costumes Simple costumes
- Audience
- All audiences Pre-teen Teen
- Features
- Mime Variable Cast Size Tableau Choral work Movement-based Variable gender breakdown Ensemble
- Set
- Simple set
- Themes
- Self-image Technology Theatre
- Cross-Curricular Uses
- Technology
- Other uses
- Competition Monologues Scene work Audition material Class work
Prop List
cups of tea, cookies (could be mimed)
Related Titles
Purchase Orders accepted from US and Canadian Schools.
Info for your purchasing department.
All others must pay at the time of ordering.
Not sure what you need to order? Check out our pricing and ordering guide.
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.
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About 30 minutes
Times given are approximate and do not include intermissions/scene changes/breaks
23
2 M | 6 W | 15 Any Gender
Simple set
38 pages