Browse Scenes

Burke & Hare

by Piers Ashworth, Nick Moorcroft

Angus, a working-class narrator, addresses the audience directly to introduce the gritty and hypocritical world of 1828 Edinburgh. He establishes the contrast between the city's 'Enlightenment' reputation and the reality of its impoverished citizens and debauched medical students.

The Big Lebowski

by Ethan, Joel Coen

A mysterious narrator introduces the audience to Jeff 'The Dude' Lebowski, an exceptionally lazy man living in 1990s Los Angeles. The narrator sets the scene and tone of the story while the Dude performs the mundane task of buying milk with a post-dated check.

Richard III

by William Shakespeare

Richard gloats to the audience after successfully wooing Lady Anne over the literal corpse of her father-in-law, whom he murdered. He marvels at his own manipulative power and mockingly decides to invest in his appearance now that he has somehow 'crept in favour' with his victim.

As You Like It

by William Shakespeare

Rosalind breaks the fourth wall to deliver the play's epilogue, playfully acknowledging the conventions of theater and gender. She charms the audience by 'conjuring' both the men and women to like the play, using wit and a reference to her own cross-dressing disguise to secure their applause.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

by Tom Stoppard

Guildenstern confronts the Player about the artificiality of stage deaths versus the terrifying reality of non-existence. The Player defends the theatricality of the craft, recounting a darkly comic anecdote about a real execution that failed to move an audience. The scene highlights the existential dread of the protagonists as they grapple with their own impending disappearance from the narrative.

Iphigenia in Splott

by Gary Owens

Effie introduces herself to the audience with aggressive confidence, describing her friction with her grandmother and the decaying state of her neighborhood. She explores the tension between her hedonistic lifestyle and the bleak economic reality of Splott, revealing a defensive pride that masks deeper vulnerabilities.

A Study in Pink

by Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss

Sherlock and John discuss the psychology of a serial killer while navigating the streets of London. Sherlock explains that the killer's brilliance is fueled by a need for an audience, while they both puzzle over how the victims were abducted in plain sight.

A Complete Unknown

by James Mangold, Jay Cocks

Bob Dylan shares his philosophy on performance and fame with Sylvie, arguing that true artists must embrace being social 'freaks' to hold an audience's attention. He explains the delicate balance between being a spectacle that people can't look away from and making the audience feel safe in their own normalcy.

Invitation to a March

by Arthur Laurents

Camilla Jablonski introduces herself and the setting of the South Shore of Long Island to the audience. She reflects on her father's history with the land and the changing social landscape of the area.

Jake's Women

by Neil Simon

Jake, a novelist struggling with a failing marriage and his own sanity, addresses the audience about the 'fresher hell' of his intrusive thoughts. He recounts childhood traumas and the realization that his mother didn't have all the answers, illustrating his current mental spiral.

The Taming of the Shrew

by William Shakespeare

Petruchio addresses the audience to explain his psychological strategy for 'taming' Katherine. He compares his methods to training a falcon, intending to deprive her of food and sleep under the guise of caring for her well-being.

The Big Short

by Adam McKay, Charles Randolph

A fourth-wall-breaking explanation of how mortgage-backed securities transitioned from government-guaranteed bonds to risky 'subprime' private bonds. The character simplifies complex financial jargon for the audience while in a casual setting.