GRN

Guy Newsham's site


there are TWENTY-four plays to choose from, three full-length, TWO one-actS, NINEteen 10-minute plays, a 1-minute play, AND, in addition, TWO SHORT MONOLOGUEs



Below you can see summaries, production histories, and download samples. If you wish to inquire about producing any of these plays, and obtaining the full scripts, please contact the author (guy.newsham@cantab.net).

Many of these plays were developed with the valuable dramaturgy assistance of Chelsey Fawcett.


Guy has also mentored first-time writers in the development of nineteen 10-min plays produced at three local festivals (see here, here, and here)



REception (FULL LENGTH)





At a wedding, the bride and groom might be the headliners, but the supporting cast are far more entertaining. This play is a series of seven interconnected scenes that all take place at the same wedding reception. Each of the first six scenes features two of the six characters, and each character appears in two scenes. The seventh scene features six characters in another series of rapid duets.

(Some scenes may be performed as independent 10-min plays.)

A comedy-drama.

6 characters.


Performed at the Eat, Play, Love fundraiser by GhostLight Productions at EcoTay, Perth, ON, Canada in Sept, 2022.



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RED, INK. (FULL LENGTH)





A play about work-life balance, about what a person thinks they want changes over time, about moving on, and about an escort as the only honest capitalist in the room.

A drama.

4 characters.



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green cheese (FULL LENGTH)





Middle-class problems are just so Trivial! Olive is the founder of her own company, but times are tough and she has to cut staff. Both her husband and her former college boyfriend (and current lover) work for her, and one of them has to go, but how does she decide which one? Via a game of Trivial Pursuit, of course! Which of the senses is the most sensitive?

A drama.

4 characters.



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making friends (one act)





David is divorced, middle-aged, and in danger of becoming a reclusive alcoholic. In a desperate act of self-preservation, his psyche summons back his childhood imaginary friend, Michael. Michael has taken a different path to maturity, and has an agenda of his own.

A comedy.

5 characters (3 actors).


Winner of the Frostburg One-Act Playwriting Competition, 2019. Performed in Frostburg, MD, USA in November, 2019


Performed at the Embassy Theatre, Cumberland, MD, USA in June, 2022.


Selected for the Shawnee Original Playwrights Series Festival. Performed (reading) at Shawnee on Delaware, PA, USA in August, 2022. To be produced in 2023.


Selected for the shortlist in the Morecambe Fringe John Clarke Memorial Prize (Morecambe, UK) in August 2022.


​photo: Stephen Gumtz as Michael, and Phillip Schroeder as David, Frostburg, 2019. Directed by Jordan D. Kline.​


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LAST RITES (one act)





What would you admit to if you only had a few minutes left to live, or if you had an eternity?A priest visits a prisoner on Death Row, 30 minutes before the prisoner's scheduled execution. The prisoner is searching for a purpose in his life, and is ready to confess his sins, but only if the priest goes first.

A drama.

2 characters.

I am indebted to Father Geoffrey Steel for his help in the development of this script.


Winner of the 80th Canadian National One-Act Playwriting Competition, 2021


Performed at the EODL One-Act Festival, Lindsay, ON, Canada in Nov, 2022. (Winner: Director, Actor (Prisoner) Nominated: Physical Theatre, Costume Design, Actor (Priest), Production)


Selected for the Enter Stage Left One-Act Play Festival, 2021. Performed at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts, MA, USA in August, 2021


Performed at the Embassy Theatre, Cumberland, MD, USA in June, 2022.


To be performed by the River & Main Theatre Company, Belleville, ON, Canada in July, 2023.

A winner of the Frostburg One-Act Playwriting Competition, 2020. Performed in Frostburg, MD, USA in November, 2020


Selected for the short list in the Gaslight-Baker Theatre One-Act Play Competition, 2020 (Lockhart, TX, USA)


Selected for the long list in the British Theatre Challenge, 2021 (London, UK)


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SECRET santa (10 mins)





It's December, and four friends meet to draw names and decide fates.

Since assisted dying laws do not cover patients with dementia four nurses decide to take matters into their own hands should their grandparents become ravaged with this disease. To avoid suspicion they will not relieve the suffering of their own grandparents, but draw lots to select the grandparents of one of the others in the group, who would be relative strangers. However, things do not go smoothly.

A dark comedy.

4 characters.


A winning entry to the Newmarket National Play Festival, 2019. Performed in Newmarket, ON, Canada in July, 2019


A winning entry in Act Bedford's call for Winter plays. Radio version broadcast by Bedford Radio, UK in December, 2021


Selected for the short list in B3 Theater's Festival of Shorts, June, 2021 (Phoenix, USA)


photo: Meredith Busteed as Cass, and Julia Hussey as Abby,

Newmarket, 2019. Directed by Brandon Nicoletti. Scenic design, Ellen Brooker. Costume Design, Madeline Ius. Lighting Design, Christopher Pattenden. Photography: Jason Wighton.


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the other side (10 mins)





After seeing reports on the Syrian refugee crisis I wanted to write a play about immigration policy. In what scenario might a middle-class white couple face harsh barriers in escaping persecution and getting to a better place? Running from Hell and getting into Heaven, of course. The pearly gates are a well-worn backdrop for plays (and films and TV) but I hope I've given it a new twist.

A comedy.

4 characters.


Performed at the Weekend of Pop Up Theatre, Perth, ON, Canada, August, 2021


A winning entry to the Newmarket National Play Festival, 2018. Performed in Newmarket, ON, Canada in July, 2018


A winning entry to Show Off! 2022, Camino Real Playhouse. Performed in San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA in January, 2022


A winning entry to the LITE Festival. To be performed in Cary, NC, USA in March 2023


photo: Bonnie Ings as the Border Guard, Marianne McIsaac as Janet, and Dan Karpenchuk as Mike, Newmarket, 2018. Directed by Pascale Behrman. Photography: Jason Wighton.


View Sample

alexa the liar (10 mins)





A man wants answers, Alexa has other ideas.

A single man engages his smart speaker to help him find love and gain a promotion. However, after a few unkind words, he discovers that Alexa is smarter than he thought. A play about intelligence, both artificial and emotional.

A comedy.

3 characters (2 actors).


A winning entry in the Left Edge Theatre Hindsight 2021 Festival. Performed in Santa Rosa, CA, USA in January, 2021


A winning entry in Lab Laughs. Performed in Tampa, FL, USA in January, 2021


A winning entry in the South Simcoe Theatre Four Play Showcase. Performed in Cookstown, ON, Canada in March, 2021


Performed at the Merrickville Festival of the Arts, Merrickville, ON, Canada, August, 2021


A winning entry in the Shaker Bridge Theater Ten Minute Play Contest. Performed in Enfield, NH, USA, December, 2021


A winning entry in the First Company One-Act Play Contest. To be performed in Colorado Springs, CO, USA, 2023


Selected for the short list in the Clocktower Players AMAZE short play competition, 2020 (Irvington, NY, USA)


photo: (upper) Mark Bradbury as Adam (with Julianne Bradbury as the voice of Alexa), Left Edge Theatre, 2021. Directed by Argo Thompson. Photography: Argo Thompson.

(lower) Christopher Rushing as Adam (with Emma Hurlburt as the voice of Alexa), Lab Laughs, 2021. Directed by Caroline Jett. Photography Owen Robertson.



View Sample

it starts with a bang
(10 mins)





A consensual, intergenerational office romance, and then the power dynamic flips.

Nathan and his assistant Amber have been secretly dating happily for several months. Amber wants to make it official with HR and go public, but is shocked when Nathan simply assumes that it is she who will have to find another job.

A drama.

2 characters.​


Selected for the short list in the Short+Sweet Dubai Festival, Jan-Mar, 2021 (Dubai, UAE), the Short+Sweet Perth Festival, the Short+Sweet Queensland Festival, Jun-Jul, 2021 (Brisbane, Australia), the Short+Sweet Sydney Festival, May-Aug, 2021 and Sep-Oct, 2022 (Sydney, Australia), the Short+Sweet Festival Illawarra, Sep 2022 (Illawarra, Australia), the Short+Sweet Festival Hollywood, Oct 2022 (Hollywood, CA, USA), and the Short+Sweet Essex Festival, Sep-Oct, 2022 (Brentwood, UK)


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on the sidelines (10 mins)





A soccer Mom and a soccer Dad tackle their sons, their spouses, and each other.

A comedy.

4 characters (2 actors).​


A winning entry in the Thank You, 10! Ten-Minute Play Festival. Performed by Anacortes Community Theatre, WA, USA in August 2020


A semi-finalist in the Stage It! Ten-Minute Play Festival. Performed at the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs, FL, USA in September 2020


photo: Tim McLaughlin as Jeff, and Willow McLaughlin as Steph, Anacortes Community Theatre, 2020.


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the OTHER GUY (10 mins)





What's in a name?

A comedy.

3 characters.​


A winning entry in the Orange County International Ten-Minute Play Festival (NY, USA). Performed in August 2020


A winning entry in the Crafton Hills College New Works Festival (CA, USA). Performed in May 2021


Radio version performed as part of the Eye of the Mind series, produced by A Theatre Club, and broadcast by 99.3 County FM (Prince Edward County, ON, Canada), October 2022


Selected for the long list in the Pint-sized Plays 2020 Competition (UK)


View Sample

waiting for hello (10 mins)





A conference call that never quite connects.

A tragicomedy.

3 characters.​


A winning entry for the LIGHTS UP! Season 2 podcast series, Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga. Performed in Chattanooga, TN, USA in May, 2021


A winning entry in the Twisted Tales Festival, Rainy Day Artistic Collective. Performed in Seattle, WA, USA in December, 2021


View Sample

HIS & HERS (10 mins)





The course of true love can often be choppy, Here's the story of two folks you won't want to copy.

A drama, in rhyming couplets.

2 characters.​



View Sample

DERBY LINE (10 mins)





Two nations separated by a common library.
Set in the reading room of a (real) library that straddles the US-Canada border, the character interactions provide a metaphor for relationships between the two countries.

A drama.

4 characters.​



View Sample`

CHIN UP (10 mins)





In the future pandemics are frequent, so how much do you reveal on a first date? It's 2051, and now everyone wears face masks all the time, and it's only sensible to date people you're sure you can trust. Can Alice and Ben find a connection?

A drama/romance.

2 characters.​


A winning entry in Shepparton Theatre Arts Group’s 10 in Ten play festival, Shepparton, Australia


Performed at the Merrickville Festival of the Arts, Merrickville, ON, Canada, August, 2021


Selected for the short list in B3 Theater's Festival of Shorts, June, 2022 (Phoenix, USA)


Radio version performed as part of the Eye of the Mind series, produced by A Theatre Club, and broadcast by 99.3 County FM (Prince Edward County, ON, Canada), October 2022


View Sample

skiP (10 mins)





Two strangers meet on a beach, will their brief encounter be spun into a lasting connection, or will they throw it all away? Sometimes you do get a second chance to make a first impression.

A drama/romance.

2 characters.​


A winning entry in The Oakville Players Top 10 Comeback Festival. Performed in Oakville, ON, Canada, June 2022


Performed at the Merrickville Festival of the Arts, Merrickville, ON, Canada, July, 2022


photo: Andrea Pavlovic as Woman and Evan Furlong as Man, Oakville Players Top 10 Comeback Festival, 2022.


View Sample

10...9...8... (10 mins)





Three astronauts are on the launch pad, two are highly-trained NASA professionals, and the third won their seat in a reality show. It's just seconds to blast off, and Cupid, we have a problem.

A comedy.

4 characters.​


A winning entry in The Oakville Players Top 10 Comeback Festival. Performed in Oakville, ON, Canada, June 2022


A winning entry in The Central PA Playwriting Festival. Performed in State College, PA, USA, June 2022


A finalist in the Stage It! Ten-Minute Play Festival, 2022. Performed at the Center for the Performing Arts Bonita Springs, FL, USA in July 2022


Performed in the Texas A&M Theatre Department (Corpus Christi, TX, USA) 10-minute Play Festival, December 2022


Produced as a radio play podcast by Shouting in the Evening Theatre (S. Korea), early 2023


photo: Tracey Rowland as Commander, Victoria Walker as Second Officer, and Jack Van Roosmalen as First Officer, Oakville Players Top 10 Comeback Festival, 2022.


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the beautiful boats
(10 mins)





It’s the worst book club turnout ever, and has anyone read the book?

A comedy.

2 characters.​


Selected for The Actors Cove Professional Actors Showcase. Performed in London, UK in October 2022


Selected for the Rule of 7x7 series (New York, NY, USA). Performed in March 2021


Radio version performed as part of the Eye of the Mind series, produced by A Theatre Club, and broadcast by 99.3 County FM (Prince Edward County, ON, Canada), October 2022


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photo finish
(10 mins)





Two sisters sort through their mother’s things following her funeral, and discover more than they expected.

A comedy/drama.

2 characters.​


Selected for New Vintage Theatre’s Black Cat Cabaret. Performed in Kelowna, BC, Canada in Aug/Sept, 2022


A winning entry in the Crafton Hills College New Works Festival (CA, USA). Performed in July 2022


Performed at the Merrickville Festival of the Arts, Merrickville, ON, Canada, July, 2022


Selected for the short list in the MadLab Theatre Roulette Festival, 2022 (Columbus, OH, USA)


Selected for the short list in the Paradox Theatre 2nd Annual New Works Festival, 2023 (Winnetka, IL, USA)


View Sample

first data
(10 mins)





Meeting an alien for the first time is awkward, right? What do you say? How do you figure out if there’s a meaningful connection?

A comedy.

2 characters.​


A winning entry in The Playwrights' Round Table Summer Shorts festival. Performed in Orlando, FL, USA, July, 2022


A winning entry to Show Off! 2023, Camino Real Playhouse. Performed in San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA in January, 2023


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a perfect two
(10 mins)





e questions you just shouldn’t ask. How would you rate your partner, on a scale
​of 1-10?

A comedy.

2 characters.​


Selected for The Actors Cove Professional Actors Showcase. Performed in London, UK in Aug 2022


Selected for the Orange Players' Acting Up! 2022. Performed in Orange, CT, USA in Nov. 2022


Produced as a radio play podcast by Gather by the Ghost Light (USA), Fall 2022


A winning entry in the Scriptwriters & Co. Spring 2022 Scratch Night, May, 2022


A winning entry in The Central PA Playwriting Festival. Performed in State College, PA, USA, June 2022


Performed at the Merrickville Festival of the Arts, Merrickville, ON, Canada, July, 2022


Selected for the short list in the MadLab Theatre Roulette Festival, 2022 (Columbus, OH, USA)


A semi-finalist in the Stage It! Ten-Minute Play Festival, 2022 (Bonita Springs, FL, USA)


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IT'S TIME TO COME OUT NOW
(10 mins)





Sam hasn’t left the house in thirty years, and it’s Robbie’s job to convince Sam to come out.

A drama.

2 characters.​


A winning entry in the UpStage Napa Valley PlayFest 2022. Performed in St. Helena, CA, USA, Oct/Nov 2022


Chosen for the City Lights Theater Company Lights Up! 2022 podcast program. Performed in San Jose, CA, USA (TBA)


Selected for the long list in the Wexford Literary Arts Festival, Billy Roche International Short Play Competition, 2022 (Wexford, Ireland)


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CHANGING ROOM
(10 mins)





A husband and wife go shopping, but which habit fits them best?

A (romantic/supernatural) comedy/drama.

3 characters.​


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SNOW CLUE
(10 mins)





There’s a killer in the ski lodge, but is the motive lust for power, lust for money, or lust for love?

A melodramatic murder mystery (with an unapologetic tip of the hat to Agatha Christie).

4 characters.​


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the wakers
(10 mins)





To sleep, perchance to dream, but can too much sleep be a bad thing?

Set in the near future, where humans take a hibernation pill to save the planet's resources, but not everyone wants to sleep their life away.

2 characters.​


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ESCAPE?
(10 mins)





Do you like pina coladas? Really?

It's many years since they connected through an ad in the personals column of the newspaper, and a couple meets to review their relationship status.

2 characters.​


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bump
(1 min)





If you don't look where you're going, who knows what might happen.

2 characters.​


Selected for Gi60 Houston. Performed in Houston, TX, USA, July 2022



REWILDING (MONOLOGUE)





Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, a bus driver is viewed as a health risk by his family, and seeks escape.​


A winning entry in Raze The Space's 2020 International Play Festival (Los Angeles, CA, USA). Performed in March 2021


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CHOICE (MONOLOGUE)





A student attempts to answer a crucial question on a college entrance exam, as time runs out. Focus seems impossible, whereas sneaking a peak at the answer sheet of the student one row over is very doable.
(This piece was prompted by the phrase “From Point A to Point B.”)


Performed by Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga (podcast), Chattanooga, TN, USA in August, 2021


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guy.newsham@cantab.net