Baggage Play #1 - Solo unrehearsed reading

Kate Herbert · Baggage KateHerbert Solo 2020

This is an audio reading of Play #1 Baggage in the Cycle of 8 X 10. This reading is done unrehearsed by me, solo, playing all characters, unedited and reading stage directions. This is my Covid19 Iso project - or part of it. Enjoy! Many more to come with me doing all characters or with another performer.

Take My Phone - Please! Play # 2 by Kate Herbert, 3 April 2020

Kate Herbert · Take My Phone -Please!!

COVID Iso Project

 

This is an audio reading of  Play # 2 Take My Phone – Please! in the Cycle of 8 X 10. This reading is done unrehearsed by me, solo, playing all characters, unedited and reading stage directions. This is my Covid19 Iso project - or part of it. Enjoy! Many more to come with me doing all characters or with another performer.

The play depicts four very different people on a train, their relationship to their mobile phones and how they react when a crazed thief enters the carriage and steals their mobile phones.

CHARACTERS: 2 MALE, 3 FEMALE

OLDER WOMAN. 70s. Has adult daughter and two grandchildren.

HIPSTER: MALE 30s. Successful web-page designer. Feigns interest in things eco-friendly but more interested in money.

GIRL: 17. Obsessed with social media and her boyfriend.

YOUNGER WOMAN: 30s, mother of three.

CRAZY GUY: 20s. Scruffy, homeless, mentally ill.

LOCATION

Suburban train carriage. 

8 X 10 - A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each. 

Play # 1 Baggage
Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train
Play # 3 Social ME-dia
Play # 4 Lover Boy!
Play # 5 The House That Alex Built
Play # 6 DB and Scruff
Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs
Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Take My Phone -Please!– 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

 See extracts on following pages of blog.

 

Social ME-dia Play # 3 by Kate Herbert, March 2020

Kate Herbert · Social Me - Dia

Covid19 Iso Project 

 

This is an audio reading of Play #3  Social Me-Dia in the Cycle of 8 X 10. This reading is done unrehearsed by me, solo, playing all characters, unedited and reading stage directions. This is my Covid19 Iso project - or part of it. Enjoy! Many more to come with me doing all characters or with another performer.

The play deals with ABBY’s obsession with social media and her mother’s assumption that ABBY is a victim of bullies, only to find that her daughter is the bully.

CHARACTERS:  2 FEMALE 

ABBY CINCOTTA: 15-year old girl

MARIA CINCOTTA: ABBY’s mother.

SETTING: Maria’s kitchen

Extract from Social ME-dia  is on this blog posted in April.

8 X 10 is A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each. 

Play # 1 Baggage
Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train
Play # 3 Social ME-dia
Play # 4 Lover Boy!
Play # 5 The House That Alex Built
Play # 6 DB and Scruff
Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs
Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Take My Phone -Please!– 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

 See extracts on following pages of blog.

 

 

LOVER BOY! Play # 4 by Kate Herbert, March 2020

Covid19 Iso Project 

This is an audio reading of Play #4  LOVER BOY! in the Cycle of 8 X 10. This reading is done unrehearsed by me, solo, playing all characters, unedited and reading stage directions. This is my Covid19 Iso project - or part of it. Enjoy! Many more to come with me doing all characters or with another performer.

JASON frightens MARIA when he leaps uninvited into her car, and it becomes clear that they are not strangers and she is his teacher.

CHARACTERS: 1 MALE, 1 FEMALE
GINA PAPPAS: 30, Greek heritage, teacher at secondary college, married, no children

JASON: 18, looks older than his years, tall, good-looking, confident, charming, sassy.

MARIA: Voice on phone

JASON’S FATHER: Voice off

SETTING: In and around GINA’S car. 

SET DESIGN: Two car seats to represent the front seat of car.  All other items in car are mimed.

Extract from Lover Boy! is earlier in this blog.

8 X 10 - A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each

 

Play # 1 Baggage
Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train
Play # 3 Social ME-dia
Play # 4 Lover Boy!
Play # 5 The House That Alex Built
Play # 6 DB and Scruff
Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs
Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

 

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

 

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

 

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Take My Phone -Please!– 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

The House That Alex Built, play #5 by Kate Herbert, April 2020

 Covid19 Iso Project

This is an audio reading of Play # 5 The House That Alex Built, in the Cycle of 8 X 10. This reading is done unrehearsed by me, solo, playing all characters, unedited and reading stage directions. This is my Covid19 Iso project - or part of it. Enjoy! Many more to come with me doing all characters or with another performer.

ALEX struggles with the changing scope of his sustainable building business and MARIA suggests some radical changes.  

 

CHARACTERS: 1 MALE, 1 FEMALE
ALEX: (JASON'S FATHER) 40s, three kids, Jason from first marriage & two smaller kids with 2nd wife.

MARIA: (JASON’ STEPMOTHER) ALEX’S second wife, physiotherapist.

SETTING ALEX and MARIA’S Kitchen

DESIGN Bench & stools/chairs. Laptop on bench.

Extract from The House That Alex Built is earlier in this blog.

8 X 10 - A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each

 

Play # 1 Baggage
Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train
Play # 3 Social ME-dia
Play # 4 Lover Boy!
Play # 5 The House That Alex Built
Play # 6 DB and Scruff
Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs
Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

 

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

 

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

 

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Take My Phone -Please!– 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

DB and Scruff Play # 6 by Kate Herbert, April 2020

COVID ISo Project

 

 I have not yet recorded this play, as I didn't want to play a young man with Cerebral Palsy. DB and Scruff is Play # 6 in the Cycle of 8 X 10.

 

ANNA runs a music class for differently abled youth and she and DANNY share experiences and write a Rap song satirising their bullies.

8 X 10 - A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each

 

Play # 1 Baggage
Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train
Play # 3 Social ME-dia
Play # 4 Lover Boy!
Play # 5 The House That Alex Built
Play # 6 DB and Scruff
Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs
Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

 

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

 

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

 

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Take My Phone -Please! – 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

 See extracts on following pages of blog.

 

Thievin’ Thugs Play # 7 by Kate Herbert, May 2020

Kate Herbert · Thievin' Thugs Solo Kate Herbert 26 Mar 2020

Covid19 Iso Project 

 

This is an audio reading of  Thievin’ Thugs Play # 7 in the Cycle of 8 X 10. This reading is done unrehearsed by me, solo, playing all characters, unedited and reading stage directions. This is my Covid19 Iso project - or part of it. Enjoy! More to come with me doing all characters or with another performer. 

 

This play is about two teenage lads, Zac and Gabba, who roll people for their phones, IPads and laptops at the railway station or outside the school. Their last robbery is more violent than usual.CHARACTERS - 2 MALE

ZAC: 16. Loud, brash, confident, street-smart. Thief, thug, leader. Expects GABBA to follow orders. Wears loose jeans, hoodie, phone, over-sized headphones, backpack. 

GABBA: 15. Loud, under-confident, inarticulate. Follows ZAC’s instructions Wears loose jeans, hoodie, phone, over-sized headphones, backpack.  Uses ‘f’ instead of ‘th’ -e.g. ‘fousand’ not ‘thousand’. Loves and understands technology but not much else. 

BOY (VOICE): 10-13. Off-stage only.

MAN (VOICE): Any age. Off-stage only.

 

SETTING Suburban laneway beside train line.

 

Extract of Thievin’ Thugs is earlier in this blog.

8 X 10 - A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each

Play # 1 Baggage
Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train
Play # 3 Social ME-dia
Play # 4 Lover Boy!
Play # 5 The House That Alex Built
Play # 6 DB and Scruff
Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs
Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

 

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

 

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Take My Phone -Please! – 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

 See extracts on following pages of blog.

 

Foxy’s Hangout Play # 8 by Kate Herbert, May 2020

 

Covid19 Iso Project

 This is an audio reading of Foxy’s Hangout Play # 8  in the Cycle of 8 X 10. This reading is done unrehearsed by me, solo, playing all characters, unedited and reading stage directions. This is my Covid19 Iso project - or part of it. Enjoy! More to come with me doing all characters or with another performer.

DAZ rides his quadbike on a bush track and is confronted by MITCH the farmer who is more dangerous than he seems.

CHARACTERS:  2 MALE

DAZ: 20ish, Unemployed. Rough, petty criminal. Obsessed with quad-bikes.

MITCH: AKA “Foxy”. 40ish. Struggling farmer. Carries shotgun. Has a Blue Healer. Broad Australian accent. 

 

SETTING: Bushland track on MITCH’s land. Quad-bike represented by boxes.

  Extract from Foxy’s Hangout is earlier in this blog.

8 X 10 - A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each

Play # 1 Baggage
Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train
Play # 3 Social ME-dia
Play # 4 Lover Boy!
Play # 5 The House That Alex Built
Play # 6 DB and Scruff
Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs
Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

 

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

 

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

 

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Take My Phone -Please! – 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

 

8 X 10: 8 x 10 minute plays by Kate Herbert

A cycle of 8 plays approx 10 minutes each. 

Play # 1 Baggage

Play # 2 Phone Calls on a Train

Play # 3 Social ME-dia

Play # 4 Lover Boy!

Play # 5 The House That Alex Built

Play # 6 DB and Scruff

Play # 7 Thievin’ Thugs

Play # 8 Foxy’s Hangout

 

The 8 plays are connected not by a narrative thread, but by themes and characters. A character that is only mentioned in a play then appears in the following play until we get to Play # 8, when a character is mentioned who appeared in Play # 1.

As I wrote the plays, I realised that each dealt with a different social issue: bullying, perceptions of disability, street violence etc. I then noticed that each play had characters using mobile phones and that phone technology had become a character!

Cast

Baggage – 1 Woman, 1 Man

Phone Calls – 3 Women, 2 Men

Social ME-dia – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Girl

Lover Boy! – 1 Woman, 1 Teenage Boy

The House That Alex Built– – 1 Man, 1 Woman

DB & Scruff – 1 Man, 1 Woman

Thievin’ Thugs – 2 Men (2 off-stage voice)

Foxy’s Hangout ­ – 2 Men

                     

 See extracts on following pages of blog.