Darkness in the Night
A witty, farcical comedy in one act for youth theatres and schools by Rob Hockley
The plot
Dave wants to bring his dead girlfriend, Lily, back to life (I'm losing you already aren't I, but keep going - she isn't really dead). Along with his mate, Bob, they go to a deserted house in the middle of the night (a place that has some significance, or so Dave believes, as Lily's ancestral home - it isn't), to enter the Underworld and find Lily. In order to cross over, they need iPods* and a 'totem of death'. Bob helpfully brings iPods, an egg whisk and some sandwiches.
Meanwhile, Lily, who is definitely not dead, is also sneaking into the same house around the same time with her supportive friend, Kate. Lily has a bit of a problem with shoplifting and has stashed her goods in a cupboard in the house. As she's already introduced Dave to the house she decides to move everything so he doesn't find her dark secret and take revenge for being dumped. But .... Kate, being a thoughtful friend, has told Dave that he wasn't actually ditched, but Kate died in an explosion in a lingerie factory. So four people in a dark, deserted house at night, some stolen boots, iPods, an egg whisk and a few sandwiches...
*see 'Details' section below for notes on iPods.
The characters
Dave: a would-be necromancer who wants to bring his dead girlfriend, Lily, back to life.
Lily: Defintely not dead, but believes she has managed to ditch Dave. Has a bit of a problem with shoplifting.
Bob: Dave's mate. A fairly solid sort of lad who is happy to offer his mate emotional support and a helping hand during this testing time.
Kate: Lily's supportive friend.
A note on gender: There are only 4 cast members. Darkness can be played as written, or with same-sex relationships. It works however you want to play it. If you change gender (and possibly a name), please don't alter the script.
Details
- Suitable for KS3, KS4 & YA.
- Running time is approx. 45 mins
- Your cast will need to learn lines well!
- Props are minimal - iPods were used in the original production, but you may need to update that if they are obsolete!
- An egg whisk is essential to enter the Underworld.
- Gender can be changed - see above.
- Designed for a minimum of stage dressing and works very well in one-act competitions where it has been performed very successfully.
Why perform Darkness?
-
A great challenge for 4 good young actors with a gift for comedy and timing!
- The wordplay is remarkable.
- Easy to stage and costume.
- A farce at its heart - timing is everything.
- Great for one-act competitions & has won multiple awards with different youth theatres.
- You get to install a 'door to the underworld' on your set. That has to be unusual.
The Cost
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Script + photocopying rights | £10 |
| PR 1 performance | £12 |
| PR multiple performances | £40 |
Interested in performing?
I am committed to making our plays as affordable as possible! As you can see from the pricing.
The purchase link takes you to the Darkness page on the ARTS ON THE MOVE website - which is full of plays and drama resources.
You can also CONTACT me to buy directly (preferred)
Artwork by Emma Beebee Art - link to Instagram