A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

Scenes From Family Life

Short Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  3w, 2m, 11any gender (adult)

Scenes from Family Life is a charged and punchy play about relationships and the last two people left on earth. Lisa and Jack are teenagers, but they are about to become adults; Lisa is pregnant, and neither of them can wait for the baby to arrive and their lives to start. But then Lisa vanishes – into thin air.

Scenes From Family Life

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 2m, 11any gender (adult)
  • Duration
    Duration
    30 minutes
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Science Fiction
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Teen (Age 14 - 18)

Details

Summary

Scenes from Family Life is a charged and punchy play about relationships and the last two people left on earth. Lisa and Jack are teenagers, but they are about to become adults; Lisa is pregnant, and neither of them can wait for the baby to arrive and their lives to start. But then Lisa vanishes – into thin air. Jack panics until she comes back, but then she disappears again, and then it turns out that everyone is dematerialising, all over the planet people are disappearing. Quickly, the only people left in the world are Jack and his heavily pregnant friend Stacy. Jack adjusts to the silent and primitive world; but for Stacey it begins to turn into a nightmare. And when the vanished start to return, Jack has to learn how complex adult relationships are.

History
Scenes From Family Life was commissioned by National Theatre Connections. It was performed at the National in 2008.

JACK

LISA

STACY

BARRY

A GROUP OF THEIR FRIENDS

THREE SOLDIERS

PARENTS AND BABIES GROUP

MOTHER WITH AN EMPTY PRAM

ENTERTAINER

All characters are aged 16 - 18. Names and genders of the "group of friends" can be changed to suit a specific group.

Note from Mark Ravenhill: I'm happy for any of the parts to be played by whoever, whatever
gender. The gendered casting is only a suggestion and the parts are open to
anyone wherever they are on the gender spectrum. 

  • Time Period Contemporary, Present Day, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Setting The living room of Jack and Lisa's flat.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes / Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No intermission
  • Duration 30 minutes
  • Cautions
    • Intense Adult Themes

Media

"Scenes From Family Life is a story pregnant with possibilities, and feels as if Ionesco has suddenly started writing scripts for Doctor Who." - The Guardian

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £40 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
    This title may have restrictions in place for London based productions. Please submit a licence request to confirm specific availability.

Scripts

Available Formats:

Authors

Mark Ravenhill

Mark Ravenhill was born in Haywards Heath, West Sussex in 1966. He studied Drama and English at Bristol University. His first play Shopping and Fucking was produced by Out of Joint and the Royal Court Theatre in 1996. Subsequent plays include Faust Is Dead and Handbag (both ...
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