Set in a fictional ‘alternate present’, the action takes place in a hospitality facility that is somewhere between an airport lounge and a budget hotel. In the recent past, the powers-that-be have taken the view that the institution of marriage, viewed as the bedrock of a stable society, is in freefall and needs to be stabilised. Recognising that in the modern world marriage for ‘as long as you both shall live’ is an unrealistic expectation, it has been ordained that marriage licenses will be issued for a limited period only: one year, five years or ten years. Once their licence expires, couples may choose either to renew it or allow it to expire. On the day before they make the decision, couples are invited to ministry-approved accommodation to reflect on the state of their marriages and discuss the future of their relationships.
The play introduces three couples at very different stages of their lives, with contrasting outlooks and particular challenges. Each couple must now confront the past and look into the future before deciding what the next step should be.
Cast: 2M + 5F
Tom (Thomas) Andrews : mid/late 30s, Kate’s husband
Kate (Katherine) Andrews / née Richardson : mid/late 30s, Tom’s wife
Annie (Annabel) Smith : early/mid 20s, Bev’s wife, noticeably attractive
Bev (Beverley) Smith : mid/late 30s, Annie’s wife
Sarah Woodfall : late 50s/mid 60s, Jim’s wife
Jim (James) Woodfall : late 50s/mid 60s, Sarah’s husband,
Gillie Crane : the Registrar
Running time: 100 minutes
For a preview script and licensing enquiries, please contact Stagescripts