The Centipede King

by Peter Floyd

Something bad happened when Rachel was a teenager. Now an adult, she relates the story of her little sister Lily, who was haunted by the mysterious and possibly dangerous entity called the Centipede King. But as Rachel’s narrative unwinds, it takes on a life of its own, independent of her, and she learns that there are some things more frightening than monsters. The limits of truth, storytelling, and memory are...

Something bad happened when Rachel was a teenager. Now an adult, she relates the story of her little sister Lily, who was haunted by the mysterious and possibly dangerous entity called the Centipede King. But as Rachel’s narrative unwinds, it takes on a life of its own, independent of her, and she learns that there are some things more frightening than monsters. The limits of truth, storytelling, and memory are all exposed in this tale of the horror that lies within one family.

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The Centipede King

Recommended by

  • National New Play Network: The Centipede King by Peter Floyd
    “

    This play was developed at The National New Play Network MFA Playwrights Workshop. This program, conducted annually in conjunction with The Kennedy Center and the National Center for New Plays, provides a graduate–level student playwright with an NNPN-affiliated director and dramaturg, a professional cast for a week of script development, and an introduction to the Network, its Membership, and programs.

    This play was developed at The National New Play Network MFA Playwrights Workshop. This program, conducted annually in conjunction with The Kennedy Center and the National Center for New Plays, provides a graduate–level student playwright with an NNPN-affiliated director and dramaturg, a professional cast for a week of script development, and an introduction to the Network, its Membership, and programs.

    ”

Character Information

  • Rachel
    The actress playing Rachel should be an adult woman, not a teenager, to emphasize that the play depicts the memories of a grown woman regarding her younger days, and therefore is not an objective depiction of those days.
    Seen at 16 and 30
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Lily
    The playwright recommends that Lily be played by an actress of 10 -12 years who can "play younger."
    8
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Child,
      Teens
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Mother
    Early 40s
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Eddie/The Centipede King
    Eddie and the Centipede King should be played by the same actor.
    16 (as Eddie)
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male

Development History

  • Reading, North Shore Theatre Reader's Collaborative, 2016
  • Reading, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, 2015
  • Workshop, Kennedy Center, 2012
  • Reading, Vagabond Theatre Group, 2012