Little Egg, Big World

As two sides of one life, Little Egg and Grown Uterus struggle to reconcile themselves as both a donor child and an egg donor. Along the way, they sort the unsortable thoughts with a host of real and imagined characters of life from parents, to geneticists, to google itself. As Little Egg searches for her father and Grown Uterus tries to come to terms with anonymous donation, the two navigate through trials of...
As two sides of one life, Little Egg and Grown Uterus struggle to reconcile themselves as both a donor child and an egg donor. Along the way, they sort the unsortable thoughts with a host of real and imagined characters of life from parents, to geneticists, to google itself. As Little Egg searches for her father and Grown Uterus tries to come to terms with anonymous donation, the two navigate through trials of identity, abandonment, betrayal, curiosity, love, and discovery.

A story about reproductive justice, inherited experiences, and family.
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Little Egg, Big World

Recommended by

  • Aly Kantor:
    29 Nov. 2023
    What is a sperm or egg donor's responsibility to a child born as a result of that donation? Rather than focusing on that story, we follow one such "donor kid" as she navigates her decision to donate eggs herself and perpetuate a process that, at times, harmed her. It's highly theatrical, with near-infinite possibilities for staging. It's complex and compelling and may change the way you see some of the people in your life. I found it incredibly cathartic and moving, and loved that it leaves audiences with positivity and a call to action.
  • Doug DeVita:
    12 Feb. 2022
    At times whimsical, at times sobering, Rachel Leighson gives us an inventively conceived look at the process of egg donation from the viewpoints of the donor child, an egg, and a uterus. Both funny and sad, it's a wonderfully theatrical work and I recommend reading it quite highly.
  • Vita Patrick Morales:
    23 Jan. 2022
    I just finished reading this play and it opened my eyes to the uneasiness experienced by donor children. It is funny and serious at the same time but thoroughly enjoyable.

Character Information

  • Sassy Egg
    Ageless,
    Any Race
    ,
    Genderless
    An experienced egg in the uterus. Sassafras, and ready
    to go. (Supporting)
  • Little Egg
    Child/Teen ,
    Any Race
    ,
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant)
    A child/teen to be played by an adult. Naive, excitable, passionate. A child of sperm donation searching for meaning in this world. (Lead)
  • Grown Uterus
    20s-30s,
    Any Race
    ,
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant)
    The adult version of Little Egg. Trying to hold it together while healing. An egg donor. (Lead)
  • Mom
    30s-40s,
    Any Race
    ,
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant) Female
    One of Little Egg's mothers. Inherently kind and open, but struggling to understand Little Egg.
  • Teacher
    Any Age,
    Any Race
    ,
    Any gender
    A relatively strict, traditionalist elementary school teacher (Supporting)
  • Nurse
    Any Age,
    Any Race
    ,
    (assigned female at birth - plot relevant) Female
    Kind hearted, but doesn't understand Grown Uterus' moral struggle. (Supporting)
  • Geneticist
    Any Age,
    Any Race
    ,
    Any gender
    A geneticist that lives in Little Egg's head. Ever-blunt. (Supporting)
  • Google
    Any Age,
    Any Race
    ,
    Any gender
    A physical manifestation of the search engine. (Supporting)
  • Half-Sibling
    20s,
    Any Race
    ,
    Any gender
    Little Egg's half-sibling. Very eager and impulsive. (Supporting)
  • Teenage Crush
    Teen,
    Any Race
    ,
    Any gender (but likely female)
    Little Egg's high school crush. A fellow donor kid. Smart, but semi-troubled. Very popular. (Supporting)
  • Future Egg
    A child,
    Any Race
    ,
    Any gender
    A child to be played by an adult. The future child of Grown Uterus. Nonjudgemental. (Supporting)
  • Fellow Uterus
    Any Age,
    Any
    ,
    Any

Development History

Awards

Second Rounder in the Playwriting Competition
,
Austin Film Festival
,
2023
Honorable Mention
,
Jane Chambers Award for Feminist Playwriting
,
Women and Theatre Program, ATHE
,
2022