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Pressure: Competition Version by Lindsay Price play script cover

Pressure: Competition Version

by Lindsay Price Canadian Author

NEW Competition Version!

A raw, fast-moving portrait of teenage pressure, told through intersecting stories of young people trying to survive a world that demands everything from them. Grades. Popularity. Resilience. Perfection. All while they are still figuring out who they are. When all they want is to be seen, understood, and safe, the pressure does not let up.

This is a character-driven drama with no easy answers and no neat endings.

Ideal for mixed ability groups. The script offers strong opportunities for both novice and advanced actors, with meaningful roles for all.

Drama Character Study Choral Work
Also available in a one-act version here.

Recommended for High Schools

At a Glance

Running Time
About 35 minutes
Approximate; excludes intermissions and scene changes
Cast
14 Characters
4 M 8 F 2 Any Gender
Plus Mob
Set
Simple set
Length
29 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.

14 Characters

  • 4 Males
  • 8 Females
  • 2 Any Gender
  • Plus Mob

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.
NOTE: See author's note in script for further details.

  • PENNY Female 55 lines
    A relentlessly overworked high achiever. Dresses to reflect her uptight high achieving ways.
  • KYLE Male 33 lines
    Caught between the dreams others have for him and the ones he secretly imagines for himself. He dresses in second hand clothes and in dark colours.
  • ALEX Male 38 lines
    A newcomer from Ukraine trying to learn a new language, make friends, care for his family, and stay afloat in unfamiliar terrain. Happy to have clothes on his back.
  • TERA Female 79 lines
    Shy and uprooted, convinced she will never fit in. Wears whatever she thinks is going to make her popular.
  • SARAH Any gender 44 lines
    Kyle’s best friend. Straight talking.
  • MRS. KEELY Any gender 23 lines
    A supportive, kind Teacher.
  • GEORGIA Female 7 lines
    Penny’s academic rival in big hair and high heels.
  • DAVE Male 29 lines
    Knows everyone worth knowing. A basketball player. A dangerous date.
  • ALLY Female 60 lines
    On the formal committee, wants to help Alex.
  • SAM Female 34 lines
    Wants to be on Tera’s good side when she gets a date with Dave, but not above pushing her out of the way.
  • AMY Female 9 lines
    Tells a chilling tale of what it’s like to date Dave.
  • MAMA Female 7 lines
    Alex’s ailing mother.
  • FATHER Male 12 lines
    Puts a lot of pressure on Kyle to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
  • MOTHER Female 11 lines
    Pressures Kyle to do his best.
  • MOB Any gender 11 lines
    The voice of pressure itself.

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