The Wakers

by Guy Newsham

To sleep, perchance to dream, but can too much sleep be a bad thing?
Set in the near future, where humans take a hibernation pill to save the planet's resources, but not everyone wants to sleep their life away.

To sleep, perchance to dream, but can too much sleep be a bad thing?
Set in the near future, where humans take a hibernation pill to save the planet's resources, but not everyone wants to sleep their life away.

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The Wakers

Recommended by

  • James Perry: The Wakers by Guy Newsham
    “

    Blending quiet humor with emotional and philosophical weight, this play offers rich, grounded material for actors while leaving audiences with a haunting question: is survival enough if you’re not truly living?

    Blending quiet humor with emotional and philosophical weight, this play offers rich, grounded material for actors while leaving audiences with a haunting question: is survival enough if you’re not truly living?

    ”
  • Evan Baughfman: The Wakers by Guy Newsham
    “

    A futuristic story that doesn’t feel too farfetched. An easy-to-stage play that will have audiences thinking, laughing, and discussing in the lobby afterwards!

    A futuristic story that doesn’t feel too farfetched. An easy-to-stage play that will have audiences thinking, laughing, and discussing in the lobby afterwards!

    ”
  • Samantha Marchant: The Wakers by Guy Newsham
    “

    I had the pleasure of directing this play as part of FESTIVAL OF TEN at SUNY Brockport. The actors and I had a blast diving into this complex (but maybe not so far off) world Newsham created. The characters jump of the page as they toss and turn and pull and tug for what they believe is right and for each other. A crowd favorite and an idea that will stick with you for a long time.

    I had the pleasure of directing this play as part of FESTIVAL OF TEN at SUNY Brockport. The actors and I had a blast diving into this complex (but maybe not so far off) world Newsham created. The characters jump of the page as they toss and turn and pull and tug for what they believe is right and for each other. A crowd favorite and an idea that will stick with you for a long time.

    ”
1F, 1M
Alternate gender casting may be employed, with appropriate modifications to text.

Production History

  • Community Theater, Otherworld Theatre's Paragon Festival (Chicago, USA), 2025
  • Community Theater, Santa Cruz Actors' Theatre 8 Tens @8 Short Play Festival (Santa Cruz, USA), 2025
  • Community Theater, Lantern Theatre's The Shorts event, Sheffield, UK, 2024
  • Community Theater, Ottawa Fringe Festival's Undercurrents Festival, Ottawa, ON, Canada, 2024
  • Community Theater, Shouting in the Evening Theatre (S. Korea) (radio version), 2024
  • University, SUNY Brockport's Festival of Ten (Brockport, USA) (Audience Favorite 3rd Place), 2024
  • Community Theater, Murmuration Theatre (Out of the Wings series) (New York, USA), 2023