Galatea by David Templeton

Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award - Citation Winner 2022
San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Awards - Winner Original Script
Will Glickman New Play Awards - Honorable Mention 2021

GALATEA is an award-winning science-fiction mystery/thriller about robots, therapy, secrets and truths, and what it really means to be human. Think of it as a cross between "May Fair Lady" and...
Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award - Citation Winner 2022
San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Awards - Winner Original Script
Will Glickman New Play Awards - Honorable Mention 2021

GALATEA is an award-winning science-fiction mystery/thriller about robots, therapy, secrets and truths, and what it really means to be human. Think of it as a cross between "May Fair Lady" and "Agnes of God," but set on a space station. In 2167, high above the Earth, robotics-specialist Dr. Margaret Mailer conducts a series of sessions with the synthetic Seventy-One, the only surviving member of a crew once assigned to the Galatea, a legendary deep-space transport vessel which disappeared over 100 years ago - with more than a thousand organic passengers aboard. Through a series of exercises designed to improve her social skills and human-like characteristics, Seventy-One learns what it means to smile, shake hands, tell jokes and laugh, though it is clear that Seventy-One is carefully guarding a secret. As Mailer slowly peels away layer after layer of the reluctant synthetic's protective programming, she begins to suspect something that could change the future of humankind, all while seeking the answer to a century-old question: what, exactly, happened on the Galatea?
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Galatea

Recommended by

  • Deborah Yarchun:
    25 Jul. 2022
    “ I LOVED Galatea! The twists are genuinely surprising and powerful. I nearly jumped out of my seat with a pivotal reveal in this play. This is a theatrical and moving exploration of what it means to be human that deserves to be produced and seen by more audiences. I’m not at all surprised this play has won so many accolades. ”
  • Patrick Wylie:
    16 Jan. 2022
    “ I saw this about 5 months ago in Sonoma County. Intelligent; humane (including the robots); surprising. Raises intriguing questions about the future of humanity. Well worth seeing, even if you have to travel a ways. ”

SEVENTY-ONE: (lead) Female; identifiably robotic; reasonably fit, strong; Age range late 20s to early 30s; any ethnicity (diversity encouraged).
Dr. MAILER: (lead) Female; motherly/grandmotherly; warmly, genuinely pleasant but imposing; age range mid-40s and up; any ethnicity (diversity encouraged).
Dr. HUGHES: (supporting) Male; professorial, funny; age range mid-40s and up; any ethnicity.
TWENTY-NINE: (supporting) Male; extremely robotic; very fit; age range 20s-30s; any ethnicity.

Development History

  • Commission
    ,
    Spreckels Performing Arts Center
    ,
    2020

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Spreckels Theatre Company
    ,
    2021
  • Professional
    ,
    Spreckels Performing Arts Center (production originally set for March 20, 2020, canceled on Oct. 13 due to COVID closure of theater)
    ,
    2020

Awards

Winner
,
Overall Production/Bay Area: SFBATCC Excellence in Theatre Award
,
The San Francisco Theatre Critics Association
,
2022
Finalist
,
Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award
,
The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust/American Theatre Critics Association
,
2022
Winner
,
Citation in 2022 Steinberg/ATCA New Play Awards
,
The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust/American Theatre Critics Circle
,
2022
Winner
,
Original Script: SFBATCC Excellence in Theatre Award
,
The San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Association
,
2022
Honorable Mention
,
Will Glickman Award
,
Theatre Bay Area/Will Glickman Foundation
,
2021