by Jenifer Toksvig
Extract - Two people. A space with nothing in it, with two adjoining areas out of view. An audience. Line switches do not necessarily happen after stage directions.
This is your space.
Mine?
This is your space.
Do you mean it's my space?
This is your space.
Are you telling me this is my space?
I'm saying that this...
(Demonstrates.)
... is your space.
(Looks.)
There's nothing in it.
No.
(Thinks.)
Can I have something?
Yes.
What kind of thing can I have?
Anything. This is your space. Here.
(Offers catalogue.)
Great!
(Flicks through catalogue.)
Can I have one of these?
(Shows.)
You can have anything.
I want one of these.
(Gets something that requires balance from offstage.)
There you go.
Oh, that's just what I wanted!
(Looks at it. Goes to try it.)
I'll help you.
Okay.
(Helps.)
It's all about balance.
Balance?
Not tipping too much one way or the other. I'll help you.
Okay.
Ready?
Ready.
Go.
(Does it with help.)
That's great.
It's wobbly!
Keep going. I've got you.
It's really wobbly!
You're alright. Keep going, a bit faster.
(Goes faster.)
I'm doing it!
You're doing it!
I'm doing it!
I'm going to let go now.
No! Don't let go!
Okay, okay. Keep going. I've got you.
(Lets go.)
Look at you, you've got it!
(Claps.)
I've got it!
(Notices.)
You let go!
But you're doing it all by yourself!
I know! How do I stop?!
Just slow down. Careful... slower... there.
(Stops.)
I did it!
I'm proud of you.
I went all around my space!
Yes, you did.
I went here, and over here, and right up to here!
You did.
Next time, I'll go out there!
(Points at audience.)
That's not your space.
What?
This is your space.
Yes, I know this is my space. Next time, I'll go into that space.
That's not your space, is it?
No.
(Pause.)
Is this your space?
This is your space.
But you're in it.
Yes. I help you.
I need help?
Sometimes.
(Beat.)
Have you got a space?
Yes.
Can we go there?
This is my space too.
I thought it was my space?
It is, but it's also mine.
So it's ours?
No, it's your space. I'm here to help you.
I'm glad you helped me.
It's called sharing.
We share this space.
Yes.
What about that space?
(Points to audience.)
That's someone else's space.
Who?
Them.
There's lots of them. Do they share?
They each have their own little space in the big space.
Do they share their little space?
They try not to.
This play is used to demonstrate the process of workshopping new material with actors.
