Same Room, Different Story

Welcome to "Playwright Spotlight" — your exclusive backstage pass to the creative minds crafting the incredible plays featured in our Theatrefolk catalogue. Discover the magic, quirks, and genius of the playwrights who help bring the stage to life. Let's meet one of these exceptional playwrights who offers the chance for your student performers to shine in their spotlight. What inspired you to start writing plays specifically for high school & middle school students?I believe Theatre is such a wonderful way for young people to explore issues and the world around them. I wanted to write work that they would enjoy performing and might challenge the way they see the world. Can you share a bit about your creative process when developing plays that resonate with students?Sometimes one of my students will say something that will inspire me (giving me a line for a play). Sometimes it is seeing what is happening in the world, or seeing what challenges students are facing in the high school I work in. Are there any challenges you face when writing for student performers, and how do you overcome them?I want to make sure the language I use reflects young people, but is not stereotypical. I want to make sure the character voice sounds authentic. To overcome this, I will ask students to read my work and give me feedback. I have really appreciated their thoughts in the process. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your plays?It depends on the play, but I am hoping to leave casts, crews, and audiences with a sense of hope. How do you balance education and fun in your scripts?I want to make my work accessible - that it doesn't require a lot of sets, props, lighting, etc, to tell the story. Can you share a memorable experience or feedback from a student performance that left an impact on you?A student director shared that Gone from Same Room Different Story had a impact on them. They appreciated telling a story with complex emotions. They really liked that "what happened to him" was not what the story was about, but how the friend group dealt with their loss. Any advice for teachers or directors looking to choose engaging and age-appropriate plays for their student performers?If you find a play that you like, have a read through and get feedback from your students to see how they feel about it. Are they comfortable with the content? Next ensure that your administration and parents are on board. What is your favourite play you've written so far?Too hard to choose. I love Homework and Gone from Same Room Different Story, but Virtual Platform has a special place in my heart for the creative process it went through. It was written during a lockdown during the pandemic. Anything else you'd like students and/or directors to know about you as a playwright?I am a Drama Teacher.

March 8th is International Women’s Day – and what better time to highlight some amazing women within the Theatrefolk community. Join us in celebrating these phenomenal playwrights and authors and their incredible contributions to the world of student theatre. Plus, keep reading to see our Top 10 Plays for Female Casts at the end of the post! Rachel Atkins • Baalzebub (and One Act Version)

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. Same Room, Different Story by Claire Broome is truly the ideal high school play. Available in full-length and one-act versions, it’s perfect for a class project or drama club to take on and make it their own. A teenager’s bedroom is important. It’s a place to hide, to consider choices, to reveal. And sometimes, it’s a place to practice the periodic table. Stories can be found under the bed, in a suitcase, in a box that may or may not hold body parts… This vignette play explores relationships and situations that speak to today’s teens in a variety of genres with flexible gender roles. Why did we publish this play?Well-written, three-dimensional teen characters in an easy to stage piece are the plays that we love here at Theatrefolk. We want great characters in plays that anyone can produce. Add to that, this play is a roller coaster. It’s funny, (the last scene makes the periodic table HILARIOUS), heart breaking, empowering, and more. So much more! (There may be a body part in a box. Or not. You’ll have to read it to find out.) Let’s hear from the author! 1. Why did you write this play?I wanted to create a play with options. As a Drama Teacher, I know how hard it can be to please a class, or Drama Club with a play that fits the wants and needs of all performers. By using the location as the part that ties the play together, performers have an opportunity to explore a variety of characters and genres. 2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences.Same Room, Different Story explores teenage experiences and relationships. 3. What’s the most important visual for you in this play?The setting. The bedroom needs to have enough set pieces for each play, and neutral enough that it could belong to anyone. 4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be?Allow student performers, directors and technicians take the lead. Let them design the bedroom to work for all of the scenes. Consider allowing students to direct each scene. Let students create the set, props, lighting and sound. This is a great play to develop student leadership! 5. Why is this play great for student performers?It provides students with a variety of characters and genres to play. If doubling characters, students will have an opportunity to grow as actors.