Jean-Pierre Martinez is a French playwright and scriptwriter. Born in 1955 in Auvers-sur-Oise (France). He has written 108 comedies, several of which have been translated in English. Jean-Pierre Martinez first got a taste of stage performance as a drummer in various rock bands, before becoming a semiologist in the field of advertising. Later, he worked as television scriptwriter and returned to the stage as a playwright. Today, he is among the most played contemporary playwrights in France, and almost all of his plays have already been translated in Spanish and English. He graduated in Spanish and English literature (Sorbonne), linguistics (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales), economics (Institut d’Études Politique de Paris) and scriptwriting (Conservatoire Européen d’Ecriture Audiovisuelle). His fictionalized autobiography is freely available to read on this website: Writing One’s Life. Jean-Pierre Martinez has chosen to make the scripts of all his plays free to download on his website comediatheque.net
The texts of these plays, sketches and playlets are to free download. However, an authorization is required from the author for any public representation. To get in touch with Jean-Pierre Martinez and ask an authorization to represent one of his works CONTACT FORM
List of Jean-Pierre Martinez’s plays sorted by Cast, by Theatrical Genre
2 CHARACTERS
Running on empty
2 characters (males or females)
A journalist visits a playwright on the down and out for an interview that could launch his comeback. But in the world of theatre, appearances can be deceiving…
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The window across the courtyard
2 characters (1 male and 1 female)
An aging novelist on the brink of suicide is visited by a young woman who claims to have lost her cat. A visit that will change his life…
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New Year’s Eve at the Morgue
2 characters (1 male and 1 female)
On New Year’s Eve, a man is on duty at the Forensic Institute. One hour before midnight, a woman appears in front of him, covered only by a sheet. She doesn’t know who she is or where she comes from. And what was shaping up to be a deadly dull New Year’s Eve at the morgue turns out to be full of surprises… A comedy with multiple twists and turns, absurdly romantic and darkly humorous.
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Is there a pilot in the audience ?
2 characters (males or females)
On a plane, the director of a sensationalist magazine coincidentally meets an embalmer, who claims to have a bombshell news, making her dream of a record-braking circulation. Things get complicated because this encounter takes place on a Paris-Tokyo flight: twelve hours in confinement with no way to communicate with the outside world. Holding a scoop but being unable to publish it… A true Japanese torture!
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Euro Star
2 characters (1 male and 1 female)
A well-known film director and an ambitious actress happen to meet on the Eurostar, seated opposite each other. Both are headed to London for an audition. She is willing to do anything to land the role that will make her a star. He is drawn to her charm but is unsure about taking it further… Suddenly, the train stops in the middle of the Channel Tunnel. The breakdown trick? But in this game of trickery, he is not who she thinks he is. Nor is she who he thought she was…
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Heads or Tails
2 characters (males)
Mark and Peter are actors, who were once friends but haven’t seen each other for years after their friendship turned into a rivalry, both professionally and in their romantic lives. Now one of them has invited the other on the stage of a theatre to rebuild the friendship they lost with their youth. This attempt at a reconciliation will turn into a settling of scores before opening up the possibility of an unexpected collaboration.
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Preliminaries
2 characters (1 male and 1 female)
A man and a woman encounter each other daily at a café, discreetly observing one another from separate tables, filled with curiosity but hesitant to initiate conversation. Will they yield to the longing for a rendezvous, uncertain if reality will match their mutual fantasies? While exploring the potential of deepening their connection, they also face the inevitable narrowing of options. Holding onto the preliminary stage of their interaction means risking missing out on what truly matters.
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Last chance encounter
2 characters (1 male and 1 female)
On the platform of a suburban railway station, a man and a woman who don’t know each other are waiting for the train that will take them to the new destiny they have chosen for themselves. But this 8:30 train, which they used to take in the past, has been canceled. The next one is only three hours later. This presents them with an unlikely encounter that could potentially change the course of their lives…
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The Joker
2 characters (2 males or 2 females)
A screenwriter tackling both a creative block and a computer breakdown gets a surprise visit from a strange repairman. Everyone deserves a wild card to play for a second chance.
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The Costa Mucho Castaways
2 characters (1 male and 1 female)
Peter and Mary were strangers until their cruise ship, the Costa Mucho, was shipwrecked. After washing up on a deserted island, they realise that, as the lone survivors, they must overcome their differences in order to survive. Life is a shipwreck … and the afterlife is an offshore tax haven.
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Him and Her
Interactive Monologue
One or several couples
About the exciting adventure of living together…
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Not even Dead
One or several couples
About the exciting adventure of living together…
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The rope
2 characters (2 males)
In a country under the grip of a tyrant, as dissent simmers and repression rages, a doctor and a priest clash over whether the sacred duty of their respective roles outweighs that of the citizens they both are. The stakes are nothing short of the life or death of the dictator and consequently the survival of the regime or hastening its downfall…
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3 CHARACTERS
Friday the 13th
3 characters : 1 male and 2 females
John and Christine have invited two of their friends for dinner in their London home. Natalie arrives without her husband, distraught, having just heard that the plane bringing him home crashed at sea. With the potential widow they wait with baited breath for news confirming whether her husband is among the survivors … and learn that they are the winners of that evening’s super jackpot lottery draw. From then on, the operative words are “controlling emotions”. And that is just the beginning of this eventful evening, with twists, turns and revelations galore.
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An innocent little murder
3 characters : 1 male and 2 females
Involuntary adultery can easily lead to involuntary manslaughter, but getting rid of the body of evidence is a whole different matter…
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Cheaters
3 characters : 1 male and 2 females OR 2 males and 1 female
Since his first novel was published and won the Goncourt Prize, Alexander has enjoyed a reputation as a successful author, and is reaping the benefits. He is expected at the Ministry of Culture to be awarded with the insignia of Knight of Arts and Letters. Then, he receives a visit from a stranger who could jeopardize his success…
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A simple business dinner
3 characters : 2 males and 1 female
A CEO invites a minister to dinner with the aim of getting him to sign a large contract, and hires an escort to help seal the deal. But the escort in question is filling in for a friend who led her to believe it was just a well-paid catering job. She expects to be handing out appetisers, only to find out she’s on the menu.
Naturally, nothing will go according to plan …
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Crash Zone
3 characters (males or females)
They gather at a crash site to pay tribute to their missing brother. But what truly occurred? And who exactly are they?
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Fragile, handle with care
3 characters (2 male and 1 female)
After being dumped once again, Fred swore to his best friend that no girl would sleep over at his place until the end of the year. A few months later, he is on the verge of winning his bet and the hefty cheque that came with it. But on the eve of Christmas, one is never safe from a surprise gift…
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A brief moment of eternity
3 characters (2 male and 1 female)
Peter, a dedicated researcher, stumbles upon the formula for eternal life. Faced with the potential unforeseen consequences, he contemplates keeping the discovery a secret. Yet, his wife, longing for perpetual youth, and her lover, desiring immortality, are unwilling to make such a sacrifice.
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One small step for a woman, one giant leap backward for Mankind…
3 characters (2 males and 1 female OR 1 male and 2 females)
A couple of astronauts embarks on a mission to Mars, with the goal of establishing a colony and laying the foundations for a more humanistic society. However, a mysterious accident transforms their space journey into a time-traveling odyssey. Between a dystopian future and a past carrying the seeds of impending disasters, it may be tempting to want to rewrite history… and perhaps even the Bible!
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Ménage à Trois
3 characters (2 male and 1 female)
When three people live in a two-room apartment, it means there’s one too many. But who?
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The Ways of Chance
3 characters (1 male and 2 females)
At Chance’s Café, Thelma and Louise—stranded due to car trouble—encounter Richard and the ghost of Virginia. An odd place for an even odder meeting, feeling like both a reunion and a showdown. After all, chance doesn’t always work in our favour…
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4 CHARACTERS
Casket for two
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
When two candidates in a local by-election cremate their spouses on election day, conditions are rife for spoiled ballots and stray bullets. Especially when the funeral director’s newly hired temp has a mind of her own…
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Strip Poker
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
Asking the new neighbours over for dinner to get to know them: a risky move that could end up costing more than it’s worth and a perfect opportunity for a poker comedy where every player must eventually show their hand.
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Quarantine
4 characters (males or females)
Four strangers find themselves forcefully quarantined in what turns out to be an abandoned theater. Seated behind an imaginary two-way mirror, they are observed by another group of people (the audience). The allegedly contaminated strangers consider the situation. What virus are they contaminated with? What will happen to them? How and when will all this end? Little by little, we learn that this huis-clos takes place in a near future where Big Brother reigns supreme, and that the reason for this quarantine may not be entirely medically motivated.
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Lovestruck at Swindlemore Hall
4 characters : 1 male and 3 females
Desperate to regain some of her family’s lost prestige, Baroness Swindlemore von Hustlestein is in search of a rich and easily pleased suitor for her daughter, who isn’t much to look at. She thinks she has found the perfect candidate…
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Four stars
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
Four passengers who have nothing in common are participating in a tourist trip in space. The cohabitation is going more or less smoothly until the control tower announces to them that due to an oxygen leak, they will have to be evacuated urgently. The problem is: there won’t be enough air for everyone. One of them must sacrifice themselves, otherwise they will all perish. They have one hour to find the one who will show « The Right Stuff ».
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The perfect son-in-law
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
When you abandoned your fiancée a year ago, just days before the wedding, leaving only a post-it note on the refrigerator as an explanation, you better never come back…
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A cuckoo’s nest
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
On the eve of Christmas, the unexpected return of a grandfather thought to be dead disrupts the routine of an ostensibly ordinary family. A zany and dark comedy about family ties. Go straight to hell… or draw a lucky card.
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Bed and Breakfast
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
Seeking to escape the stress of Parisian life, Adam and Eve moved to an old farmhouse where they set up a bed and breakfast, to break the isolation and make ends meet. But their first couple of guests arrive, and they will soon discover that in this little corner of paradise, hell is other people…
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One marriage out of two
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
One marriage out of two ends in divorce… That night, Steven has to tell his in-laws, who idealize him, that he is getting divorced from their daughter, whom he cheated on. It is at that moment that Mabel’s parents announce to the couple that they are giving them their house in Kensington to raise their future children. How to reignite the flame without appearing simply interested in real estate?
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Just a moment before the end of the world
4 characters (males or females)
Three people who do not know each other are summoned to participate in a jury. At least, that’s what they were told. But the place where they have been gathered is not a courtroom. They learn that they are there to decide together how to manage the consequences of an inevitable catastrophe that will strike the world in the very near future. Opinions diverge, and numerous twists and turns keep the debate alive. Throughout this immersive performance, the audience will also be called upon to express their opinions to guide them in their choices, so that they can make the best possible decision to face the worst imaginable situation.
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The smell of money
4 characters : 2 males and 2 females
Can money buy happiness? Out of self-respect, Michael, a broke painter, refuses the dirty money left to him by his father upon his disappearance in an airplane crash. But as Michael proudly rejects this inheritance from a father who abandoned him when he was five years old, his decision puts him at odds with his partner and his sister. The two women are less bothered about the origin of this unexpected fortune and both have very good reasons not to let it slip away. But who exactly is this man offering them ten million in exchange for a simple signature, and where does the money really come from? To each their own truth…
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Is there an author in the audience?
4 characters (males or females)
It’s been seven years since a health crisis caused the closure of all theatres. Three individuals, presumed to be actors, step on a stage for an audition. Unless it’s a public reading. Or it might even be the show’s opening … The problem is that they don’t have the script. The author hasn’t written it yet. They’re going to have to improvise…
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Surviving Mankind
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
On a Planet Earth ravaged by climate change and rendered uninhabitable, mankind is living out its final hours. Two men and two women are set to take off in a spaceship for an unknown planet that might be their only chance for survival. The mission of these four « chosen ones » is to give humanity one last chance to save itself and carry on its evolution. But does mankind deserve a second chance if self-destructive madness caused its extermination? The passengers cannot agree…
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Crisis and Punishment
4, 5, 6 or 7 characters (males and/or females)
An actor ‘in between jobs’ finds work with a bank on the verge of bankruptcy, only to discover he is to be an actual scapegoat. But the nightmare is only beginning…
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Family Tree
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Khalid meets his fiancee Diana’s parents for the first time. Irritated by his future in-laws’ condescending attitude and their obnoxious pride for their pure-blood French ancestry they claim goes back to the Middle Ages, Khalid playfully challenges Diana to prove the authenticity of her heritage with a DNA test. They could never have foreseen the chain reaction triggered by the surprising outcome of this test …
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Is there a critic in the audience?
4 characters (males or females)
Fred and Sam have always dreamed of participating in the Avignon Festival, and finally, that dream has come true. But in Avignon, dreams can easily turn into nightmares. Right after the first performance, a harsh review discourages the audience from attending this already troubled show. Facing impending disaster, these two endearing underdogs make a daring choice – one that involves great risk. This play is a tribute to all those actors who toil in obscurity, yearning for a glimpse of the limelight, while also celebrating the remarkable power of passion that can elevate even the most profound failures into something extraordinary.
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A hell of a night
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Laziness, greed, envy, lust, pride, anger, intemperance… How, over the course of a single evening, without even leaving one’s home, to commit the seven deadly sins… without ending up in hell.
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Back in the spotlight
4 characters (3 males and 1 female)
You all know that famous website facilitating the reunion with long-lost schoolmates… Unfortunately, nostalgia nights can also turn into nightmares. Having invited over to his place two of his « best buddies » from high school whom he hasn’t seen since graduation, a friendly loser triggers their unexpected reunion with a girl who has some unresolved issues with them…
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Gay friendly
4 characters (3 males and 1 female OR 1 male and 3 females)
A bag full of banknotes can help to provide a lavish gay wedding for one’s son. However, ill-gotten gains never bring lasting benefits…
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Family portrait
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Two brothers and two sisters who rarely see each other reunite one last time in the family vacation home to sell it after the death of their mother. However, the issues they need to resolve are not only financial…
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The deal
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Alex, a struggling playwright, contemplates abandoning his theatrical career as his comedies fail to garner interest. Just as he contemplates a shift to a more conventional job, a renowned Parisian producer contacts him, expressing eagerness to stage his latest play. It’s a golden opportunity for Alex to finally gain recognition. The producer plans to visit soon for him to sign an exclusivity contract.
However, this unexpected phone call is immediately followed by another. Fred, Alex’s friend who already holds the rights to the play, informs him that he is finally going to stage it. He has invested all his savings in renting a small theatre.
How can Alex delicately navigate the situation, persuading his amiable but less successful friend to abandon the project without it appearing as a betrayal to their longstanding friendship?
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Hangover
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Peter and Karen have invited a couple they met at a restaurant, with whom they vaguely get along, for drinks. But since then, they’ve all had time to sober up, and they realise they don’t have much in common to share. It looks like it might be a long evening. Unless…
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The Pyramids
4 characters (males or females)
In a mysterious, enclosed setting—perhaps a madhouse, or maybe the theatre of the world—a few outcasts who have lost their Faith are being held. Not just Faith in God, but also belief in the principles upon which our society is built. What if the creator himself no longer believed in his creation? These skeptics must be re-motivated before their contagious scepticism triggers the collapse of the entire system.
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The Tourists
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Two tourists arrive at the villa they rented for their holidays in a Maghreb country, which was on special offer after its recent revolution. However, the house is already occupied by another couple…
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A Skeleton in the Closet
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
James and Emma are about to sell their house to some friends before heading abroad to start a new life. However, just after the sales agreement is signed, they discover a hitch—a significant one that could jeopardise the transaction.
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The House of our Dreams
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
A couple has just bought the house of their dreams at a surprisingly low price. What could have happened in this house that caused it to remain unsold for so long? The previous owners died there under circumstances as dramatic as they were mysterious… A philosophical countdown about the tragicomic fate of humanity in general, and of the couple in particular.
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How to get rid of your best friends
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Sometimes, it’s easier to make friends than to get rid of them. Vincent and Julia have always gone on holiday with Patrick and Christine. But now they aspire to mix with a more exclusive crowd, one that can help boost their new professional ambitions. In search of an excuse to ditch these friends who have become a burden, they find themselves caught in their own web of lies. It’s not so easy to get rid of your best friends…
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Déjà vu
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
In a future where assisted suicide has been replaced by voluntary recycling, a man and a woman, who met just before their reconditioning, reappear in the very ordinary home of the outdated couple they are meant to replace. Is there anything left of love when everything has been forgotten?
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Perfect In-Laws
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
After inviting the fiancé’s parents over to get acquainted and plan the wedding, they soon realize that the parents of the perfect son-in-law don’t always make for perfect in-laws…
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The Fishbowl
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Leaving your apartment keys with a friend during August so they can feed your goldfish – that’s nothing unusual. But when that friend is a bit eccentric, and everyone has secrets to hide, it can quickly lead to a cascade of unexpected twists and turns. Especially when Wallonia decides to declare its independence on that very day…
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The Worst Best Man Ever
4 characters (2 males and 2 females)
Fred and Clara are getting married in just a few hours. Max and Zoe, on the verge of divorce, are about to turn this joyous occasion into an all-out brawl. When tying the knot, it’s best to choose your witnesses wisely…
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5 CHARACTERS
All’s well that starts badly
5 characters (males or females)
Alice and Luke have been waiting for years to adopt a baby. Finally, the big day has arrived. The social worker from the Child Welfare agency is expected any minute for a final visit to assess the stability of their relationship, their motivation to adopt, and the child’s future living conditions. But disaster strikes as Alex isn’t home which risks jeopardising everything. Fred must find a way to handle this delicate situation, made worse by a sudden plumbing emergency. Unless the arrival of the plumber provides part of the solution …
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In lieu of flowers…
5 characters (males or females)
Stanley’s cremation is scheduled for 3:35 PM precisely. Only a handful of close relatives are attending the ceremony since the dearly departed left few cherished memories. But, as they say, authors live on through their work. And this funeral may just turn out to be Stanley’s greatest comedy …
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Crisis and Punishment
4, 5, 6 or 7 characters (males and/or females)
An actor ‘in between jobs’ finds work with a bank on the verge of bankruptcy, only to discover he is to be an actual scapegoat. But the nightmare is only beginning…
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King of fools
5 characters : 4M/1W, 3M/2W, 2M/3W, 1M/4W
As the presidential election approaches, a party plummeting in the polls selects a designated fool to represent them, taking on the responsibility for the impending disaster. Simultaneously, they secretly promote an outsider candidate for their supporters to rally behind after their victory. However, the fool turns out to be unpredictable… and so do the voters.
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6 CHARACTERS
Critical but Stable
6 characters (males or females)
Raymond is in a deep coma following an accident on a Boris Bike. His long lost relatives are called to his bedside to decide what to do and avoid prolonged therapeutic interventions. But this collective decision becomes even more difficult when the patient turns out not to be who everyone thought he was. And is the keeper of a secret that could make everyone very rich…
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Crisis and Punishment
4, 5, 6 or 7 actors (males and/or females)
An actor ‘in between jobs’ finds work with a bank on the verge of bankruptcy, only to discover he is to be an actual scapegoat. But the nightmare is only beginning…
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King of fools
6 characters : 5M/1W, 4M/2W, 3M/3W, 2M/4W, 1M/5W
As the presidential election approaches, a party plummeting in the polls selects a designated fool to represent them, taking on the responsibility for the impending disaster. Simultaneously, they secretly promote an outsider candidate for their supporters to rally behind after their victory. However, the fool turns out to be unpredictable… and so do the voters.
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Christmas Eve at the police station
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
On Christmas night, two inspectors are on duty, accompanied only by some lost souls no one is waiting for at home. In an unexpected turn of events, the Minister of the Interior makes an appearance at their police station to pay tribute to the dedication of law enforcement. Clearly, things are about to take an unforeseen twist…
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In flagrante delirium
6 actors (males and/or females)
A corpse in a sauna and a plagiarism case… Captain Dupont is assigned to an investigation that appears to be linked to a state affair. Unless it’s all just theatre…
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The President’s draw
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
In the only bar of a village emptied by rural exodus, the two owners and their few remaining customers create fake news stories to escape their bleak fate—some of which could become self-fulfilling prophecies.
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Traffic Jam on Graveyard Lane
6 actors (or actresses)
The cemetery of Beaucon-le-Château is fully occupied. To accommodate new deceased, an extension would be required. However, the owner of the adjacent park stubbornly refuses to give up even the smallest plot. To remedy this urgent situation, the mayor takes a radical step: from now on, dying will be strictly forbidden within the town’s limits, under penalty of prosecution…
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The Rebels
6 characters : 4M/2F
In adulthood, our lives are not always as we had dreamed them to be at twenty. Conversely, the idealised memory of our twenties is often quite distant from the reality of our youth. Nestled between our dreamt lives and our actual life is the nostalgia for all the possibilities. The eternal question remains: could we really have lived a different life, or was it all written in advance? This bittersweet comedy sketches, in delicate strokes, the tragicomic portrait of a few characters with thwarted destinies.
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The House of our Dreams
6 characters (3 males and 3 females)
A couple has just bought the house of their dreams at a surprisingly low price. What could have happened in this house that caused it to remain unsold for so long? The previous owners died there under circumstances as dramatic as they were mysterious… A philosophical countdown about the tragicomic fate of humanity in general, and of the couple in particular.
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Dead End Boulevard
6 characters (males and/or females)
Robert and Caroline Blanc would love to marry their daughter Victoria off to Stanislas de Coursensac, the mayor’s son, who’s on the verge of being re-elected. But this boulevard comedy seems to have no way out…
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7 CHARACTERS
Crisis and Punishment
4, 5, 6 or 7 actors (males and/or females)
An actor ‘in between jobs’ finds work with a bank on the verge of bankruptcy, only to discover he is to be an actual scapegoat. But the nightmare is only beginning…
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The Jackpot
7, 8, 9 or 10 actors (males and/or females)
Following a hearse accident, the arrival in a typical French café of a coffin, which turns out to contain a winning lottery ticket, provides the pretext for a highly spirited comedy.
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Save Our Savings
7 actors (males and/or females)
Six mysterious characters are stranded on an island due to a ferry strike. They all have a good reason to want to return to the mainland as soon as possible. They board a fishing boat operated by an improvised smuggler. But the price to pay for this crossing will be higher than expected… A humorous fable about the flaws of our society.
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Christmas Eve at the police station
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
On Christmas night, two inspectors are on duty, accompanied only by some lost souls no one is waiting for at home. In an unexpected turn of events, the Minister of the Interior makes an appearance at their police station to pay tribute to the dedication of law enforcement. Clearly, things are about to take an unforeseen twist…
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The President’s draw
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
In the only bar of a village emptied by rural exodus, the two owners and their few remaining customers create fake news stories to escape their bleak fate—some of which could become self-fulfilling prophecies.
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Offside
7 actors (males and/or females)
Five strangers with nothing in common wake up locked in an unfamiliar place. Who brought them there, and for what purpose? The arrival of their two kidnappers only raises more questions than answers. Setting aside their differences, the hostages must work together, prioritizing the collective goal to survive and find a way out—carefully avoiding any missteps along the way.
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8 CHARACTERS
Welcome aboard
8 characters (males or females)
« Age doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese » said Kim Kardashian quoting Luis Buñuel. Life is like a cruise on the Titanic: whether you’re nibbling canapes on the top deck or slurping soup in the hold, at the end of the day we’re all destined to feed the fishes. So, as we wait for the inevitable iceberg, those of us who still can, might as well sit back, enjoy the orchestra and the sound of ice clinking in our glasses. A comedy laced with black humour throughout. The first metaphysical sitcom where the action takes place in an assisted living facility.
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Check to the kings
8 characters (males and/or females)
Politics often resembles a ruthless game of chess, devoid of moral considerations. Whether playing as the white or black pieces, the ultimate goal for each side is to conquer and eliminate the other, leaving only a solitary king on the board. This absurd game concludes with the opponent’s defeat, bringing the entire game to an end, only to set the stage for a potential rematch. Such is the theme explored in this dark comedy, where the king, queen, and their conniving contenders spare no pawns in their quest for victory. It serves as a tragicomic portrayal of the excesses that those infected with the political virus can indulge in…
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The performance is not cancelled
8 characters (males and/or females)
The performers of a failing theatre company are minutes away from taking the stage to perform a play about Molière’s last hours. But nothing is ready and more problems keep coming. And then the box office takings disappear … Should they cancel the performance, putting the final nail in the coffin of their theatre company already on the brink of bankruptcy? Or should they carry on with the play, no matter what?
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The Jackpot
7, 8, 9 or 10 actors (males and/or females)
Following a hearse accident, the arrival in a typical French café of a coffin, which turns out to contain a winning lottery ticket, provides the pretext for a highly spirited comedy.
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False Exit
8, 9 or 10 actors (males and/or females)
Jack has organised a small gathering to honour the ashes of his recently departed grandfather. However, due to a mistake by the Funeral Services, his own name appears on the obituary…
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Stories and Prehistories
8 actors (4 males and 4 females)
Set during prehistoric times that might well be yet to come, Newanderthals and Bohosapiens live together in perfect harmony. But two human species… isn’t that at least one too many?
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Christmas Eve at the police station
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
On Christmas night, two inspectors are on duty, accompanied only by some lost souls no one is waiting for at home. In an unexpected turn of events, the Minister of the Interior makes an appearance at their police station to pay tribute to the dedication of law enforcement. Clearly, things are about to take an unforeseen twist…
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The President’s draw
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
In the only bar of a village emptied by rural exodus, the two owners and their few remaining customers create fake news stories to escape their bleak fate—some of which could become self-fulfilling prophecies.
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The House of our Dreams
8 characters (4 males and 4 females)
A couple has just bought the house of their dreams at a surprisingly low price. What could have happened in this house that caused it to remain unsold for so long? The previous owners died there under circumstances as dramatic as they were mysterious… A philosophical countdown about the tragicomic fate of humanity in general, and of the couple in particular.
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Of vegetables and Books
6 to 9 actors (or actresses)
The storefront of a grocery shop, which also serves as a bookstore, sets the stage for delightful exchanges between a philosophical grocer and his quirky customers, each in search of answers to their existential questions.
A philosophical farce that blends outrageous situations with reflections on the absurdity of life.
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9 CHARACTERS
The Jackpot
7, 8, 9 or 10 actors (males and/or females)
Following a hearse accident, the arrival in a typical French café of a coffin, which turns out to contain a winning lottery ticket, provides the pretext for a highly spirited comedy.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
False Exit
8, 9 or 10 actors (males and/or females)
Jack has organised a small gathering to honour the ashes of his recently departed grandfather. However, due to a mistake by the Funeral Services, his own name appears on the obituary…
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Just like a Christmas movie…
9, 10 or 11 actors (males and/or females)
Kimberley inherits her grandmother’s renowned cookie recipe. On Christmas Eve, alongside her best friend Jennifer, Kimberley is on the verge of launching a tearoom at the base of the building where Granny Maggie lived. This endeavour is deeply meaningful to her, and she has poured all her savings into it. However, a ruthless real estate developer is determined to acquire her shop, demolish the building, and replace it with a luxury residence. Can Kimberley overcome these challenges and finally find love? A true Christmas movie plot… but worse.
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Christmas Eve at the police station
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
On Christmas night, two inspectors are on duty, accompanied only by some lost souls no one is waiting for at home. In an unexpected turn of events, the Minister of the Interior makes an appearance at their police station to pay tribute to the dedication of law enforcement. Clearly, things are about to take an unforeseen twist…
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
The President’s draw
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
In the only bar of a village emptied by rural exodus, the two owners and their few remaining customers create fake news stories to escape their bleak fate—some of which could become self-fulfilling prophecies.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
Of vegetables and Books
6 to 9 actors (or actresses)
The storefront of a grocery shop, which also serves as a bookstore, sets the stage for delightful exchanges between a philosophical grocer and his quirky customers, each in search of answers to their existential questions.
A philosophical farce that blends outrageous situations with reflections on the absurdity of life.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
10 CHARACTERS
The worst village in England
10 characters (males or females)
The last survivors of a dying village, forsaken by God and bypassed by the motorway, decide to take matters into their own hands and create an event that will drive traffic to their village. But it’s not easy to turn the worst village in England into the next must-see tourist attraction…
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False Exit
8, 9 or 10 actors (males and/or females)
Jack has organised a small gathering to honour the ashes of his recently departed grandfather. However, due to a mistake by the Funeral Services, his own name appears on the obituary…
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White Coats, Dark Humour
10, 11, 12 or 13 actors (males and/or females)
The hospital was almost perfect… The crime too. A darkly humorous detective comedy.
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Just like a Christmas movie…
9, 10 or 11 actors (males and/or females)
Kimberley inherits her grandmother’s renowned cookie recipe. On Christmas Eve, alongside her best friend Jennifer, Kimberley is on the verge of launching a tearoom at the base of the building where Granny Maggie lived. This endeavour is deeply meaningful to her, and she has poured all her savings into it. However, a ruthless real estate developer is determined to acquire her shop, demolish the building, and replace it with a luxury residence. Can Kimberley overcome these challenges and finally find love? A true Christmas movie plot… but worse.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
Christmas Eve at the police station
6 to 10 actors or actresses
On Christmas night, two inspectors are on duty, accompanied only by some lost souls no one is waiting for at home. In an unexpected turn of events, the Minister of the Interior makes an appearance at their police station to pay tribute to the dedication of law enforcement. Clearly, things are about to take an unforeseen twist…
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
Backstage Comedy
10 to 13 actors or actresses
Just before the opening curtain of the premiere, the actors go through one final rehearsal. However, an unforeseen incident jeopardizes the start of the show.
A cheerful farce about the small world of the theatre…
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The President’s draw
6 to 10 actors (or actresses)
In the only bar of a village emptied by rural exodus, the two owners and their few remaining customers create fake news stories to escape their bleak fate—some of which could become self-fulfilling prophecies.
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Reality Show
8 to 14 actors (or actresses)
The host of an obscure cable TV channel is tasked with promoting a politician.
But the interview won’t go as planned…
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12 CHARACTERS
Special dedication
12 actors (males and/or females)
In a small bookstore, a book signing event is being prepared. Charles has finally decided to publish his first novel. Everything suggests that it won’t be a bestseller. But in the era of the internet, a miracle is always possible…
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Backstage Comedy
10 to 13 actors or actresses
Just before the opening curtain of the premiere, the actors go through one final rehearsal. However, an unforeseen incident jeopardizes the start of the show.
A cheerful farce about the small world of the theatre…
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Blue Flamingos
12 actors (males and/or females)
The season begins poorly for Robert and Fanny, who have just opened a hotel called « The Flamingos » in the French village of Saintes Maries de la Mer. A strike causes a fuel shortage, leading to numerous cancellations. To save their hotel from bankruptcy, they must persuade the few stranded travellers to extend their stay and attract new guests. Luckily, the Camargue and its residents have plenty of charm, and the receptionist has a few tricks up her sleeve. This comedy is an irreverent homage to the this mythical French region: the Camargue.
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The House of our Dreams
10 characters (5 males and 5 females)
A couple has just bought the house of their dreams at a surprisingly low price. What could have happened in this house that caused it to remain unsold for so long? The previous owners died there under circumstances as dramatic as they were mysterious… A philosophical countdown about the tragicomic fate of humanity in general, and of the couple in particular.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
Reality Show
8 to 14 actors (or actresses)
The host of an obscure cable TV channel is tasked with promoting a politician.
But the interview won’t go as planned…
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The most beautiful village in France
12 or 13 actors (or actresses)
Beaucon-le-Château is about to be declared The Most Beautiful Village in France. At the same time, the second round of local elections might see a Populist Front candidate take over as mayor. At La Part des Anges, the village pub, the town’s key players are debating whether the current mayor or his opponent will win. A series of unexpected events then disrupt the election process, proving Winston Churchill’s famous assertion: Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.
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11 to 14 CHARACTERS
Miracle at Saint Mary Juana Abbey
11 to 14 characters (males and/or females)
The abbey’s gift shop, which funds the nuns’ charity work, is seeing a decline in sales: the abbey’s famous Saint Mary Juana’s Holy Elixir, a concoction claiming to cure all ailments, is no longer a best seller. That is, until an enterprising nun decides to improve the recipe with a mysterious plant. The potion’s renewed success is incredible. Could it be Saint Mary Juana’s latest miracle?
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White Coats, Dark Humour
10, 11, 12 or 13 actors (males and/or females)
The hospital was almost perfect… The crime too. A darkly humorous detective comedy.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
Just like a Christmas movie
9, 10 or 11 actors (males and/or females)
Kimberley inherits her grandmother’s renowned cookie recipe. On Christmas Eve, alongside her best friend Jennifer, Kimberley is on the verge of launching a tearoom at the base of the building where Granny Maggie lived. This endeavour is deeply meaningful to her, and she has poured all her savings into it. However, a ruthless real estate developer is determined to acquire her shop, demolish the building, and replace it with a luxury residence. Can Kimberley overcome these challenges and finally find love? A true Christmas movie plot… but worse.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
Neighbours’ Day
14 actors (males and/or females)
Alex has just inherited a splendid apartment in the upscale neighbourhoods of Paris from an old aunt whose existence he was unaware of. He takes a tour of the property with his friend Clara. However, family secrets are like corpses; they always end up resurfacing…
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Backstage Comedy
10 to 13 actors or actresses
Just before the opening curtain of the premiere, the actors go through one final rehearsal. However, an unforeseen incident jeopardizes the start of the show.
A cheerful farce about the small world of the theatre…
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
Reality Show
8 to 14 actors (or actresses)
The host of an obscure cable TV channel is tasked with promoting a politician.
But the interview won’t go as planned…
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
The most beautiful village in France
12 or 13 actors (or actresses)
Beaucon-le-Château is about to be declared The Most Beautiful Village in France. At the same time, the second round of local elections might see a Populist Front candidate take over as mayor. At La Part des Anges, the village pub, the town’s key players are debating whether the current mayor or his opponent will win. A series of unexpected events then disrupt the election process, proving Winston Churchill’s famous assertion: Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.
DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE OR BUY THE BOOK
14 to 17 CHARACTERS
Music does not always soothe the savage beasts
14 to 17 characters (males and/or females)
Mr. and Mrs. Camembert have just bought the dilapidated castle of Moulinrouge, and they have invited the local high society for a dinner concert. They hope this will gain them admission as members of the town’s highly exclusive Philanthropic Club. But soon, the pianist’s head appears floating in the pool. And to think we’re barely at the appetisers..
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SKETCH COMEDY
Him and Her
Interactive Monologue
One or several couples
About the exciting adventure of living together…
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Open Hearts
Many different characters (males or females)
In a café across the street from a hospital, a decidedly odd landlord serves and observes the fate of his customers looking for hearts to steal … for a transplant or even a relationship.
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Stories To Die For
Many different characters (males or females)
Sketches… to die of laughter
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Sidewalk Chronicles
Many different characters (males or females)
On the sidewalk of a street, strange stories unfold…
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Lost time Chronicles
Many different characters (males or females)
A sketch comedy about time, life, death, love, and the eternal cycle…
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Open Letters
Many different characters (males or females)
In the lobby of a building, between the mailboxes and the entry code panel,
strange characters cross paths without always understanding each other…
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Memoirs of a suitcase
Many different characters (males or females)
If an old suitcase could speak, it might have some funny stories to tell.
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At the bar counter
Many different characters (males or females)
At the counter, at the time for taking stock, a woman claiming to be an author shares significant moments of her life with the bar owner. These fanciful tales come to life on stage in the bar’s room.
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Enough is enough !
Many different characters (males or females)
A comedy made up of sketches that humorously tackle ever-relevant topics, starting from this tragicomic observation: when we stay still for too long, we eventually find ourselves somewhere else without realising it, because the world around us has changed…
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Nicotine
Many different characters (males or females)
To work or not to work, that is the question.
During a break for electronic cigarettes, a few workaholics exchange hazy remarks.
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Stage Briefs
Many different characters (males or females)
A theatre can also be the setting for funny stories where the theme… is the theatre itself. 28 very short scenes, each no longer than a page.
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For real and for fun
Many different characters (males or females)
While it can sometimes be hard to tell the real from the fake, there’s a certain mischievous pleasure in blending them together. For fun.
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Killer Sketches
Many different characters (males or females)
Hitman is a little-known profession, but one of public utility, and very much a career for the future, especially in times of crisis. At a café table, characters from this noble trade cross paths with clients whose motives are as varied as they are surprising. And you? If you could eliminate just one person on this earth with impunity, would you do it? And who would you choose ?
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Dramedies
Many different characters (males or females)
If the world’s a stage, the play is often little more than a flop. Its author remains unknown, and the supporting roles are the quickest to be forgotten. Between absurdity and farce, the tragicomedy of life unfolds. What matters is not missing your exit…
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Ethan and Eva
One or several couples
A man and a woman in their garden. Are they the first or the last? Are they even a couple? Only God would know if He weren’t already dead…
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MONOLOGUES
Like a fish in the air
Poetic, psychoanalytic, and humorous monologues
Without delving into philosophy or reclining on a psychoanalyst’s couch, during moments of idleness or sleepless nights, we all contemplate the meaning of life. Well, at least the meaning of our own lives. We ask ourselves small questions without substantial answers. Or even big questions without a tiny hint of an answer. Unless the daily routine suddenly derails, sending us, dizzy, to the edge of the unfathomable abyss of meaning. A troubled depth can then surface, revealing, amidst the waves, like a sea monster, a one-way street… which constitutes the tragicosmic essence of our everyday existences. A comical dive into the depths of our superficial lives…
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Happy Dogs
Tragicomic monologue
A man who lost his identification papers due to a simple misunderstanding sets off on a journey to reclaim his identity, but eventually resigns himself to becoming someone else. This short first-person narrative is tragically humorous and can be staged as a theatrical monologue.
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SHORT STORIES
17 short stories
The art of making a long story short…
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