YOU by Keith Hanna #TinyPlayChallenge

Keep your creativity flowing with Fishamble's #TinyPlayChallenge
In these challenging times, Fishamble - along with many of our colleagues in the wider Irish artistic community - is working hard to keep imaginations lively, communities engaged - and most of all offer people the opportunity of creative expression. We asked our audiences: Would you welcome the challenge of exploring your thoughts and feelings through drama? Do you have a dramatic story that you feel the urge to work out for yourself, and maybe share with your fellow citizens?
​Below is one of the chosen plays from our weekly submissions.

A large bench sits in the middle of an empty stage. The location could be a park/open area.
It’s quiet except for some distant outdoor sounds. Character A enters and sits on one end of the bench. Character B follows and sits on the opposite end. Characters are not gender/age
specific and do not make eye contact at any point.

A.   They say you only get one. I’m not sure if that’s true.
But, if you really only get one

B.   That one is definitely you.

A.   Someone who just .. gets it.

B.   No regrets it

A.   Always there to see the best yet. Builds that confidence inside, that .. sense of pride.

B.   Fills up the heart.

A.   Not been that way since the start, but acquired over time

B.   Aged like a fine wine

A.   This life of mine. Still, it’s that same someone who’s pushing you, rushing you

B.   Doubt building like it’s crushing you

A.   Mounting pressure like a kettle on the boil

B.   Makes you recoil

A.   Causes a situation to spoil ... And you just want to scream and tell them to stop, to .. stay on top

B.   Your head above water.

A.   And you can tell them, they’re always listening

B.   They know if you’re being true

A.   Because that who

B.   Is you.

A.   You. The cause of

B.   And solution to.

Short silence

A.   A lone ranger fighting off the danger

B.   This, stranger within.

A.   Trying to beat that repetition of the everyday condition, eating at the soul as it slowly

B.   Swallows it whole.

A.   Dark days

B.   Trapped in this maze

A.   This haze that clouds you

B.   Surrounds you

A.   With a need to break free

B.   To finally see.

A.   And this struggle leaves you lost in the rubble, buried deep down in trouble, trapped
in that bubble seeing only ‘no’ .. can’t find the ‘hello’ you so desperately need

B.   To plant that one seed

A.   And just let something good grow. You know it, feel it, too familiar to conceal it. Locked
in that dark room, nothing but gloom letting everything just billow

B.   Can’t lift a head off the pillow.

A.   And the worst part, for most there’s no second start, walking this dark path alone when
they are not alone

B.   Not on their own

A.   Seeing only an end, not a beginning, keep losing

B.   Not winning

A.   Head spinning

B.   Stop the record, change the tune

A.   Out of the ruin

B.   Feel the ebb and flow of the waves

A.   Look at the moon ... But they can’t see that brightness, can’t breathe just tightness

B.   In the chest, too much thinking, not as good as the rest

A.   Not taking chances, finding romances, exploring life's awkward dances

B.   To that song where you know all the lyrics but not the author

A.   Just want to be that son be that daughter, whoever it is you need to be to feel the free,
happy alone or in company, that husband or that wife

B.   But instead

A.   They’re taking their own life.

Short silence

B.   This life is fragile, fleeting

A.   Feel that heart beating

B.   Enjoy the mistake

A.   Or that chance meeting. We need to do better

B.   Help people. Talk

A.   Listen

B.   Listen.

A.   You may not feel it but there’s time to heal it, you can break through the rough .. you’re
tough.

B.   You are enough.

A.   You have potential, you are influential

B.   You, are, essential.

A.   You

B.   Are

A.   Essential




Keith Hanna is a Dublin based actor/DJ/voiceover artist and spoken word performer. He’s taken a step back from acting recently and is currently working with an entertainment company (7 Entertainment) creating bespoke entertainment for various events. He has a huge interest in spoken word poetry fused with music/hip-hop beats and performance. His tiny play is written in a form of rhyme/spoken word style.
Twitter  @KeithHanna_
IG   @keithhanna_

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