Slow Dating

by Adam Szudrich

When an elderly lady tries speed dating it leads to a night with a charming stranger and a heartbreaking revelation about her husband. A one woman show which explores the beauty of holding on and the vulnerability in letting go.

Slow Dating has been selected for 45+ festivals and won multiple awards. A same sex version also available on request.

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Slow Dating

Recommended by

Hugh MacKay: Slow Dating by Adam Szudrich

“

What a fantastic play. Using light humor and heart, Adam has written a wonderful piece about love, sex, desire, and aging.

What a fantastic play. Using light humor and heart, Adam has written a wonderful piece about love, sex, desire, and aging.

”
Enid Cokinos: Slow Dating by Adam Szudrich

“

Adam Szudrich has crafted a touching monologue sprinkled with just the right amount of humor, ending with an unexpected twist that pulls at the heartstrings. SLOW DATING will take audiences on a lovely emotional roller coaster ride.

Adam Szudrich has crafted a touching monologue sprinkled with just the right amount of humor, ending with an unexpected twist that pulls at the heartstrings. SLOW DATING will take audiences on a lovely emotional roller coaster ride.

”
Claudia Haas: Slow Dating by Adam Szudrich

“

Sharp monologue about sex, love, comfort and yearning in those elder years. Those years largely forgotten in theatre but come to us all - if we are lucky,.

Sharp monologue about sex, love, comfort and yearning in those elder years. Those years largely forgotten in theatre but come to us all - if we are lucky,.

”

View all 17 recommendations

Character Information

Ester

Character Age

60-90+

Character Gender Identity

Female
Can be played by:
- Actor Age
  
  60s,
  
  70s+
- Actor Gender Identity
  
  Woman

Production History

Type Community Theater, Organization Hindsight 2022 Short Play Festival, Left Edge Theatre (USA) , Year 2022
Type Community Theater, Organization Winters Theatre Company (USA), Year 2022
Type Community Theater, Organization Crash Test Drama, Melting Pot Theatre Bundanoon (AUSTRALIA), Year 2021
Type Community Theater, Organization One Acts, Ridgefield Theatre Barn (USA), Year 2021
Type Community Theater, Organization TTS Fringe 2, Thornhill Theatre Space (USA), Year 2021
Type Professional, Organization Broadway On Demand Short Film Festival (USA), Year 2021
Type Community Theater, Organization “And, We’re Back”, Bread and Roses Theatre (UK), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Almost Adults, Short Play Reading Series (USA), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Atlanta Fringe festival, Atlanta Fringe Audio (USA), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Hand to Mouth Sound Theatre Podcast (UK), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization LifeLouges, Small Steed & Thematic Theatre, October (UK), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Lost Souls Monologues (UK), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Scribe Stages, Connection (USA), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Shakespeare In Italy, Short Drama Competition (UK), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Silent Echo Theater Company, Now You’re Talking…One Acts 2020, Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization World Monologue Games Regional Livestream (AUSTRALIA), Year 2020
Type Community Theater, Organization Coming Out Play Festival (USA), Year 2019
Type Community Theater, Organization Company Theatre (NEW ZEALAND), Year 2019
Type Community Theater, Organization Grand Center Theatre Crawl, The Q Collective (USA), Year 2019
Type Community Theater, Organization Radio Theater Project (USA), Year 2019
Type Community Theater, Organization Small Roads Theater Festival, Small Roads (IRELAND), Year 2019
Type Community Theater, Organization Summer Shortcuts IX, The Open Eye Theater (USA), Year 2019
Type Community Theater, Organization Ten X 10 Play Fest, Wagga School of Arts (AUSTRALIA), Year 2019
Type Community Theater, Organization Short and Sweet Hollywood (USA), Year 2018
Type Community Theater, Organization Short and Sweet Illawarra (AUSTRALIA), Year 2018
Type Community Theater, Organization The Q Collective (USA), Year 2018
Type Community Theater, Organization Xposed - Disclosure Theatre (LONDON), Year 2018
Type Community Theater, Organization Queer Shorts 2.1 (USA), Year 2017
Type Community Theater, Organization Seymour Centre (AUSTRALIA), Year 2017
Type Community Theater, Organization TheatriVasles 10 minute play festival (FRANCE), Year 2017
Type Community Theater, Organization 10-10 Festival (USA), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization Cabaret of the Cow Festival (AUSTRALIA), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization Club Sapphire (AUSTRALIA), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization Garnet Station Tiny Theatre (NEW ZEALAND), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization Short and Sweet Canberra (AUSTRALIA), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization Short and Sweet New Zealand (NEW ZEALAND), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization Short and Sweet Sydney (AUSTRALIA), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization The Alive Festival (USA), Year 2016
Type Community Theater, Organization The Subject (UK), Year 2016
Type Fringe, Organization New York New Works Festival (USA), Year 2016

Awards

Best Play Judges Choice

5th Annual Aery Theatre Company One-Act Festival, USA

Winner

2021
People's Choice Winner for Best Play

Lane Cove Theatre, AUSTRALIA

Winner

2019
Best Play - Week 1

Short and Sweet Hollywood

Audience Choice

2018
Best Play - Week 1

Short and Sweet Hollywood

Judges' Choice

2018
Best Writer

Short and Sweet Hollywood

Winner

2018
Best Drama

TheatriVasles 10 minute play festival

Winner

2017
Judges Choice for Best Production

Short and Sweet New Zealand

Winner

2016
Best Script

Short and Sweet New Zealand

Winner

2016
Gala Finals

Short and Sweet Canberra

Finalist

2016
People’s Choice Showcase

Short and Sweet Sydney

Finalist

2016
Bartell Theatre Award for Best Writing

Bartell Theatre

Winner

2017

Genre

comedy,

drama,

romantic comedy,

tragedy

Subject Matter Keywords

mature,

elderly,

heartbreak

Length

ten minutes

Cast Size

Age of Intended Audience

ages 18 and up

Narrative Attributes

Centers Female Characters,

Centers LGBTQ Characters

Reviews

London Pub Theatres

“
This is a beautifully written monologue with the subtle and yet mighty performance of Wendy Fischer. I’ll never forget the line, and the way she said it: “As this tornado of guilt inside my head loses its breath, I let go…I let go… I let go”.
”
Theatre Review

“
It’s a beautiful script and an exceptional performance and the marriage of the two takes us on a journey that we will remember for a long time to come
”
Dykie Girl

“
‘Slow Dating’ is a finely nuanced script fully realised by fine acting and sensitive direction
”
Luke's Rant

“
Audiences were interested in this piece from beginning to end, with one even saying it was the best monologue he’d ever seen
”
Nightwrites

“
Slow Dating by Adam Szudrich, a stand-out performance of the night, which saw Nicole Smith monologue a clever encounter at a speed-dating event that instigates a reflection on her marriage
”
Sydney Arts Guide

“
Heaps of laughter, perfectly paced and the forever memorable, quite delicious and delightful dialogue was expertly delivered. A crowd please
”
Planet Nation

“
Enlightening, inspiring and also a little sad. I really enjoyed this performance, the story it tells about love, lonliness, desires and new experiences
”
Ask the Ushers

“
Adam Szudrich‘s piece is so dextrously written, it expertly contrasts the prudish and sentimental nature of the character, with the giddy sensation of a whirlwind romance and sends this 70-something on vital journey of self-discovery
”
Patch

“
If I had to choose, "Slow Dating" by Adam Szudrich would be my favorite piece
”
Theatre Weekly

“
For the second time, my personal favourite was written by Adam Szudrich. Slow Dating sees an elderly lady try speed dating with very unexpected consequences, not only was the writing superb, Tessa Hatts performance was gloriously funny and pitch perfect.
”
Arthur's Seat

“
Writer Adam Szudrich takes a truly hilarious, unique situation and makes it totally tangible, which – when combined with a stunning performance from Tessa Hatts – had the audience laughing heartily right up to the bittersweet twist at the end.
”
Broadway World

“
A rhapsodic tour de force so passionate and emotionally close to the bone it prompted one audience member to reflexively exclaim, “Bravo!” when she finished Mr. Szudrich’s beautifully written, heart-breaking yet liberating soliloquy about a 70-something woman looking for a dignified way to move on with her life
”
Picuki

“
Slow Dating both made me laugh out loud and broke my heart
”
Londontheatre1

“
Sometimes an actor is described as being a triple threat – the perfect type of actor – well, without a shadow of a doubt Slow Dating is the triple threat of the play world. This play has it all, an awesome script, a superb actor and fantastic direction.
”