Other Eden

by Zoe Senese-Grossberg

Waltham House is the perfect refuge found only in children's literature where six children are sent to weather the Second World War, looked after by the distant but loving “Uncle.” Set over the course of 3 decades, the six grow up, together, and apart as England evolves from its pre to post war identity. Through an exploration of genre across British literature, Other Eden tracks the six as they grapple with...

Waltham House is the perfect refuge found only in children's literature where six children are sent to weather the Second World War, looked after by the distant but loving “Uncle.” Set over the course of 3 decades, the six grow up, together, and apart as England evolves from its pre to post war identity. Through an exploration of genre across British literature, Other Eden tracks the six as they grapple with their place in the world and the nature of childhood, innocence, sexuality, and their love for one another.

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Other Eden

Character Information

Bash, Luke, and Peter should all be played by the same actor. All characters should be played by actors at their final age.
  • Elia
    From the beginning of the play when he is an isolated young boy, unable to comprehend the tragedy he is witnessing, to the end when he is a recently divorced father, he is always a little bit in the world but not of it.
    14, 24, and 34
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Millie
    She is the dreamiest and the least introspective of them all. By the end of her play she is hardened but she never loses her love and devotion to those around her, nor her belief in the fantasy of their lives.
    12, 22, and 32
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Dickon
    The youngest of the group and the most quietly troubled. He ages from little more than a baby to a lost man unable to find his footing in adulthood. Possesses more strength than anyone assumes.
    8, 18, and 28
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Arthur
    The perfect young British lad, when it falls apart for him the shrapnel embeds into everyone around him. This ability to turn his loved ones into collateral only feeds his self loathing.
    16, 26, and 36
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Sylvia
    She is the writer of the group and terrified she shall be doomed to be an observer but not participant in her own life. This anxiety leads her to deeply selfish decisions.
    14, 24, 34
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Agnes
    From the beginning of the play, the tragedy has already passed for her and she feels much older than the rest of the group. She tends to hold things in, especially her emotions, coming off of as composed and cruel.
    15, 25, and 35
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Uncle
    He was once as bright eyed a dreamer and passionate a lover as the rest of them but has mellowed in his old age. He is reminiscent of characters like C.S. Lewis's Digory Kirke but is unable to really live up to that fantasy.
    55, 65, and 75
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Sebastian "Bash" Cooper
    The new groundskeeper, a character in the fantasy of Forster's Alec Scudder or Lawrence's Oliver Mellors. He is played by the same actor as Peter and Luke.
    late 20s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Luke
    Millie's fiancé, he is a charismatic and dashing man of a privileged background, not thinking fully through the consequences of his actions. Played by the same actor playing Bash and Peter.
    late 20s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Peter
    The new groundskeeper in 1961, he is a classic young man of his era. Relatively carefree and reckless, he stands in sharp contrast to the rest of the characters. Played by the same actor as Luke and Bash.
    22
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man