Theatrefolk Featured Play – The Factory by Lindsay Price

Welcome to our Featured Play Spotlight. Get ready to challenge your students physically with the futuristic tale, The Factory by Lindsay Price.

The Factory is efficient. The Factory runs like clockwork. The Time to Begin song always begins at 7 am. The official Greeting always takes place at 7:02. The Factory workers follow the rules and do their jobs to the letter.

Why shouldn’t they? They are humanoid robots programmed to be efficient and follow the rules. Robots will always do their jobs better than real people. And rules are what make the Factory productive.

Or do they? Rules come with red tape. And red tape can act like a wrench in the works…

Why did we publish this play?
Any time we can offer a script that gives a different style of character, that’s a good thing for us to publish. And as we push further into the 21st century the notion of rules, when to follow them, why we follow them and when to break them continues to be a relevant issue. Students are always going to be pressured to conform and to explore that concept in a theatrical form offers a great starting point for discussion.

Let’s hear from the author!

1. Why did you write this play?
I had just come back from Japan, which while being an inspiring place, is also a place that has an interesting relationship with rules. I’m all about exploring interesting relationships. That was the starting point, and then I went down the road of exploring non-human characters as robots, typically, are programmed to stick to the rules.

2. Describe the theme in one or two sentences.
When conformity becomes consuming.

3. What’s the most important visual for you in this play?
That each character has a specific action related to the product the factory makes as well as a specific action that relates to their specific job,

4. If you could give one piece of advice for those producing the play, what would it be?
Physicality is key! It would be a mistake to put the characters in a straight line across the front of the stage. Lines are static, shapes are active. Put shapes into your staging.

5. Why is this play great for student performers?
Non-human characters give students the opportunity to be creative with physical gestures, and movements. Encourage students to extend and exaggerate their characters!