Mia

Female | Teen | under 3 minutes
Starts on page 25

EXTRACT: I'm 18./ I want to be 18./ I want to go to that party that ends too late/and sleep with the wrong boy./ I want to vote and trust that it matters./ I want to go to the Complex and gamble away/ the money that I have - it won't take long-/ I want to press my foot on an accelerator for the first time/ A car is still a glittering toy, every dress a ball gown/ Love- a novel I wish I'd read-

Kellie

Female | Unspecified | 3 to 5 minutes
Starts on page 18

EXTRACT: Me and Mum had a blue -/ A big stink just before Christmas./ Me and my mouth,/ I laid into her something shocking,/ Told her I’d lost my virginity -/ I don’t know where it went - Had it when I went in the party -/ She threw a big mental - but she boasts how quick she lost hers -/ Then we both went up in flames -

Judy Garland

Female | Unspecified | 3 to 5 minutes
Starts on page 16

EXTRACT: Oh, I've got a feeling this isn't Kansas anymore./ I feel so wonderful, don't you?/ A girl just feels at her best when she's slept for 8 hours and lost two pounds, doesn't she?/ These tablets my boss gives me - they make a new girl of me every day./ A little friend to wake me - a little friend to 'un-wake' me - and a whole/ party of friends to make me look 12 years old.

Stephanie

Female | Unspecified | 5 to 10 minutes
Starts on page 5

EXTRACT: When you found the condoms all through the Volvo? /My pants wrapped round the federation lampshade - /The expulsion for my nipple ring?/ Hmm? Shadows of doubt?/ That particular midnight when you were meant to be interstate?/ The lounge room floor - my legs to heaven and Scragger Williams/ A pogo stick with a head -/ 10 minute Sumo wrestler orgasm -/ We were eye to eye Dad -/ Couldn’t you have given up on me then?

The Daughter of Veronica Leigh

Female | Unspecified | over 10 minutes
Starts on page 26

EXTRACT: We danced the Varsouviana! Suddenly, in the middle of the dance the boy I had married broke away from me and ran out of the casino. A few moments later -- a shot! I ran out -- all did! -- all ran and gathered about the terrible thing at the edge of the lake! I couldn't get near for the crowding. Then somebody caught my arm. "Don't go any closer! Come back! You don't want to see!" See? See what! Then I heard voices say -- Allan! Allan! The Grey boy! He'd stuck the revolver into his mouth, and fired

Swannie

Female | Unspecified | 5 to 10 minutes
Starts on page 11

EXTRACT: Could you give an old girl a/ hand. Won't bite you know. Can't./ Lost my teeth in a frozen pie two year back./ Look at you lot. Wouldn't give me the time of day./ No point, anyroad. Who cares about the time of day or even the/ day itself. Since Bobby Skilton gave the game away there's no/ point to nothing./ 3 Brownlow medals they give him - you'll never see no-one do/ that for the Swans again./ Look at him now - can't talk proper and walks like a fucking rowboat.

Peta

Female | Unspecified | 3 to 5 minutes
Starts on page 15

EXTRACT: Can King Lear be Chinese?/ Macbeth - an Iroquois/ Let's set Stanley Kawalski in Arnhem Land/ And My Fair Lady in the Bronx./ Who can we play?/ Can we swap shoes-/ Your Ug-boots for my bare feet,/ My high heels for your moccasins./ How else can I understand you?/ Isn't it time to trade tongues?/ Let your language lactate on my lips./Ingest your intuitions, your ancient histories/ And gulp at your blood-/ And play you back.

Miriam

Female | Unspecified | 5 to 10 minutes
Starts on page 21

EXTRACT: I'm working on my family tree. I sometimes think it's of no use. The tree remains whether I water it or not. It seems, sometimes, to tower over me. And there is my Mother - Who never gave in - A depression, a war - a family - And Grandma Mae - two wars, a depression and a family - Way back to Penelope... A pioneer - More depressions, wars and family than you could shake a stick at - All useful women - staring down at me.

Roma

Female | Unspecified | 5 to 10 minutes
Starts on page 1

EXTRACT: In the summer the soldiers come. We are putting all the tomatoes in the bottles - My brothers and I run and hide in the tomatoes - the little tomatoes have little hairs on their arms like us. The soldiers take my papa away - to join them, even though he's never won a fight in his life. While he is gone I dance in his shoes. My brothers go in four directions. One to love, one to fight, one to prison and the other to God.

SOLITAIRE BY CHRIS DICKINS

CHRIS DICKINS

Story synopsis and related information from the playwright.