Winchester Geese by Maggie Smith

Inspired by the history of the Crossbones Graveyard, this play tells the story of Avis, Cecily, and Bridget, three young women stuck on earth since their burials, all of whom spend their afterlives clinging onto the hope of one day being remembered.
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Winchester Geese

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Character Information

As a writer, I am dedicated to creating diverse worlds onstage. Some of the most defining moments of my life involve me seeing myself represented onstage, television, or in literature. Because of this, I highly recommend casting this play diversely in regards to race, gender identity, and disability. You won’t be depicting the real world if you ignore this request.

This is acknowledging, however, that some roles are specific in the way they must be casted. In this play, the following roles have these limitations:

| CECILY, AVIS, and BRIDGET must all be played as women.

  • AVIS
    Nineteen,
    Any Race
    Died unidentifiable on the street at 19 in 1801, guilt-ridden but hopeful she’ll see her family again
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • CECILY
    Twenty-Seven,
    Any Race
    One of the Winchester Geese, died in 1616 from syphilis at 27, bitter and believes she deserves better
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • BRIDGET
    Forty-Two,
    Any Race
    A member of the working poor, died in a workhouse accident that was covered up in 1746 at age 42, maternal, strong-willed but not optimistic
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • THE MOURNERS
    Any age,
    Any Race
    Those who enter the graveyard and put ribbons onto the gate; non-speaking roles
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Any age
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Any gender

Development History

  • Reading
    ,
    #FUCKZOOM Filmed Staged Reading Series
    ,
    2021