(Under license from Prospero Arts and Media)
William Shakespeare has come home—but is he welcome back? Having traveled between London and Stratford-Upon-Avon his entire professional life as England’s premiere playwright, he has missed significant events in the life of his family; most tragically, the death of his son Hamnet. Now his daughter Judith hates him, his daughter Susannah distrusts love, and his wife Anne grows ever more distant. To make matters worse, a vengeful, but complex Thomas Quiney plots to tear down all that Shakespeare holds dear and raise himself up in its place. Shakespeare must confront the mistakes of his past, or risk losing what’s left of his future.
Written in iambic pentameter, blank verse and Elizabethan/Jacobean language.
CONTENT: Likely a PG or PG-13 rating for innuendo, mild language, and mature themes.
GENRES: Historical Drama, Comedy, Biography
Artwork by Trevor Downs
PLAY DETAILS
- CAST SIZE: 7 (4 male, 3 female)
- RUN TIME: 2 hours
- SETS:
- COSTUMES:
- Order #3303
REVIEWS
“THE WRITING OF THIS PIECE IS REMARKABLE. Stewart has taken great pains to stay true to Elizabethan language and verbiage, even down to the beauty of the soliloquy. Devotees of Shakespeare will enjoy the high language, the verbal sparring, and the witty repartee … Lovers of words will find themselves immersed in language that exceeds the tweet, elevates the senses, and enlarges the mind.” – Andrea Johnson, Front Row Reviewers
“A DELIGHTFUL PLAY.” – Harlow Clark, A Motley Vision
“I FELT AS THOUGH I WAS WATCHING A PLAY THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD HAD BEEN WAITING 400 YEARS FOR … Stewart weaves a rich tapestry that even the Bard would delight in … I felt like I was encountering a long-lost and newly rediscovered Shakespearean play … the true magic of Stewart’s play is that he successfully replicates Shakespeare’s uncanny ability to peer into and convincingly play with timeless human nature.” – Hillary Stirling, AML/Dawning of a Brighter Day
PERUSAL MATERIALS:
- A copy of the PERUSAL SCRIPT (in PDF format) which contains Act One of the script of the play is available, (it also has an extensive Author’s Note.):Drownéd Book PERUSAL
- The PRINT VERSION of The Drownéd Book is published by PROSPERO ARTS AND MEDIA and is available on Amazon . The is a great way to peruse the entire script for $12.00 SOON
PRODUCTION/REHEARSAL MATERIALS:
(Any PDF purchased will be emailed to your email address — if you need to provide that to us (not the one on your PayPal account?), email us. CDs will be mailed to a snail mail address. Do not purchase rehearsal materials or pay for royalties until you have performance clearance.)
- Script in PDF format — Order #3303a : $40.00 (from which you will be authorized to copy for your production)
PAYPAL BUTTON HERE SOON - First Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3303d : $90
PAYPAL BUTTON HERE SOON - Second Performance Amateur/Educational Royalty — Order #3303e : $80
PAYPAL BUTTON HERE SOON - Professional Royalties will be quoted upon application
- EMAIL us for rights and information. Be sure to give us anticipated performance dates and the address of your group and, if different, your theatre. Please also include a contact name and phone number.
BILLING CREDITS
The following is how the credits should read in all programs, posters, fliers, handbills and other promotional advertising for the show:
The Drownéd Book
by
Mahonri Stewart
NOTE: The names of the Playwright(s), Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter shall be equal in size, type, coloring, boldness, and prominence. No billing shall appear in type larger or more prominent than the billing to the Authors except for the title of the play. (In a press release all type, will of course, be the same size.)
ALSO:
THIS NOTICE MUST APPEAR IN ALL PROGRAMS, ON ALL POSTERS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS AND INTERNET ADVERTISING/WEBPAGES FOR THE PLAY:
“THE DROWNED BOOK is presented through special arrangement with Leicester Bay Theatricals. All authorized materials are also supplied by LBT, www.leicesterbaytheatricals.com”
PRODUCTIONS
- PREMIERE: Zion Theatre Company, 2017
