I Build Giants

by Ryan Stevens

An Engineer successfully designs the world’s first operational, large-scale, humanoid mech, naming it a Gossamer (GOSMR — Greater Outer Self-Manual Reach). She hopes they will change the world. She hopes they’ll revolutionize industry and how we interact with building things and the very concept of the self, machines, and existence. But for others, this breakthrough is a chance to make huge money and sell...

An Engineer successfully designs the world’s first operational, large-scale, humanoid mech, naming it a Gossamer (GOSMR — Greater Outer Self-Manual Reach). She hopes they will change the world. She hopes they’ll revolutionize industry and how we interact with building things and the very concept of the self, machines, and existence. But for others, this breakthrough is a chance to make huge money and sell armored titans to the highest bidder.
To some, the Engineer’s Gossamers are terrifying. A Technician is looking to create not just new machines, bur new people. An Astronaut is hired to take the Gossamers to the stars. But the same powers-that-be that love the Gossamers are not as welcoming to this technology that can’t be turned into profit.
As the Engineer’s earnest joy turns to hubris, and the Gossamers get more varied and specialized, the Engineer must reckon with the world she has helped to create. A story about ego, the burden of dreams, and why giant robots are just so damn cool to us.

"...an epic poetic feminist science-fiction allegory..." -- Chicago Reader

"In a play about 400-ton robots, the kaiju fights in “I Build Giants” are between ideas, not machines." -- New City Stage

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I Build Giants

Recommended by

  • Kenjiro Lee: I Build Giants by Ryan Stevens
    “

    Had the absolute pleasure of seeing The Plagiarists' production of this in Chicago. A wonderfully engaging take on the giant robot genre... AND IT'S A PLAY! Just how many science fiction plays are there out there? Not enough, but I Build Giants really makes itself stand out.

    Had the absolute pleasure of seeing The Plagiarists' production of this in Chicago. A wonderfully engaging take on the giant robot genre... AND IT'S A PLAY! Just how many science fiction plays are there out there? Not enough, but I Build Giants really makes itself stand out.

    ”
  • Kyle J. McCloskey: I Build Giants by Ryan Stevens
    “

    MECHS!!!!! THE WAR PROLIFERATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR!!!!!! QUESTIONS OF NATIONALISM!!!!! I mean genuinely what else more could you want? I am so excited to see this in person but will settle for the EXCELLENT audio recording on Spotify. Read and produce this play!!!!

    MECHS!!!!! THE WAR PROLIFERATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR!!!!!! QUESTIONS OF NATIONALISM!!!!! I mean genuinely what else more could you want? I am so excited to see this in person but will settle for the EXCELLENT audio recording on Spotify. Read and produce this play!!!!

    ”
  • Ky Weeks: I Build Giants by Ryan Stevens
    “

    As a huge fan of stories about Giant Humanoid Mechs, I absolutely loved what Stevens did with their take on the concept. Unlike most mech stories which typically follow the pilots (er, seams) this play instead tells the story of the one building the mechs, and from there explores the meaning and impulse behind the act of building a large mechanical version of ourselves. The detail of how the Gossamers were built not as weapons, but as means to help people, were well done, and lends weight to the painfully inevitable conclusion.

    As a huge fan of stories about Giant Humanoid Mechs, I absolutely loved what Stevens did with their take on the concept. Unlike most mech stories which typically follow the pilots (er, seams) this play instead tells the story of the one building the mechs, and from there explores the meaning and impulse behind the act of building a large mechanical version of ourselves. The detail of how the Gossamers were built not as weapons, but as means to help people, were well done, and lends weight to the painfully inevitable conclusion.

    ”
View all 5 recommendations

Character Information

  • The Engineer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • The Technician
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • The Ace
    Doubles as Member of the Chorus
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • The Volunteer
    Doubles as Member of the Chorus
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • The Astronaut
    Doubles as Member of the Chorus
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • The Monitor
    Doubles as Member of the Chorus
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • The Executive
    Doubles as Member of the Chorus
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Workshop, Northwest Campus Auditorium Theatre, 2020

Production History

  • University, Shakespeare Company at UCLA (adapted for radio), 2020

Awards

  • Neukom Literary Arts Award
    Vox Theatre
    Finalist
    2020