THE PHYSICS FOR POETS CLUB by Nora Louise Syran

(full length) Four teenage girls serving a detention for various misdemeanors discover that "we don't live in a clockwork universe, it's always breaking down." By exploring the lives of the female scientists, mathematicians and intellectuals of the Enlightenment and early Romantic period: Emilie du Châtelet, Mary Somerville, Nicole-Reine Lepaute, Sophie Germain, Mary Anning, Caroline...
(full length) Four teenage girls serving a detention for various misdemeanors discover that "we don't live in a clockwork universe, it's always breaking down." By exploring the lives of the female scientists, mathematicians and intellectuals of the Enlightenment and early Romantic period: Emilie du Châtelet, Mary Somerville, Nicole-Reine Lepaute, Sophie Germain, Mary Anning, Caroline Herschel, Ada Lovelace and Lady Mary Montagu, the four girls come to a better understanding of themselves.

A new full length version of the original one act.
https://newplayexchange.org/plays/1524436/physics-poets-club-one-act
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THE PHYSICS FOR POETS CLUB

Recommended by

  • Jacquelyn Floyd-Priskorn:
    27 Apr. 2024
    “ This is such a smart ensemble play. Educational and emotional at the same time, this is the way we encourage our young women to "be their own trumpeters" but also to use their creative brains and see a better future. There is a reason the arts & sciences are often lumped together, because they belong together. The audience as well as the whole cast and crew will leave this show much smarter and much more inspired. ”
  • Daniel Prillaman:
    6 Mar. 2024
    “ Women in STEM! Women in STEM!

    It’ll hit all of us at probably a different point in Syran’s weaving, history-spanning epic of four detentionees tasked with writing a fairly complex essay: “How far have the sciences progressed since the Enlightenment? And how far haven’t women’s rights?” At once a condemnation of this, and a celebration of the great and genius minds who broke through it all, this is a fantastic play for all audiences. Filled with depth (for the modern & historical characters alike), and evocative of the greatest human aspirations. Excellently constructed. ”
  • Claudia Haas:
    15 Feb. 2024
    “ A beauty of a play for students who missed the memo that women have always been involved in science and mathematics. Syran cleverly brings us some of the most influential women of their times and ties it to today’s world. This play is ripe for a teen cast in a high school or university setting. You’ll smile. You’ll laugh. And you’ll google these women. Because you should have known about them in your lessons. Syran rectifies their omission. Read. Produce. ”
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Character Information

  • Female 1: (modern teenager) Enya
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Female 2: (modern teenager) Iris
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Female 3: (modern teenager) Jade
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Female 4: (modern teenager) Brook
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      Teens, 20s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Female 5: (30-40s) Ms. Winthrop, Madame de Crequi, Frau Herschel, Oldest Germain Sister (Marie-Madeline), Mary Somerville
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Female 6: (30-40s) Madame du Deffand, Caroline Herschel, Madame Germain, Lady Byron, Lady Mary Montagu
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Female 7: (20-30s) Marie de Thil, Nicole-Reine Lepaute*, (teenager) Sophie Germain, Mary Anning, Miss Ogilvie
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Female 8: (20-30s) Emilie du Chatelet, Mademoiselle Goulier, (teenager) Youngest Germain Sister (Angelique-Ambroise), Ada Bryon Lovelace
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Female
  • Male 1: (30-40s) Head Guard, Voltaire, Alexis Clairaut, William Herschel, Monsieur Germain, Joseph Anning, Mr. Nasmyth, Charles Babbage
    Can be played by the female members of the Ensemble. Suggestions given in the script.
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      30s, 40s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Male

Production History

  • High School
    ,
    The One Act Version was produced at the Centre International de Valbonne (ASEICA)
    ,
    2021