All We Know Is Not Enough

by Darcy Parker Bruce

In a seedy pay-by-the-hour motel Romeo fights to stay alive. Romeo is trans, running from a hate crime, his sister Charlie is taking care of him. An ocean away- Nasrin, a refugee, is lost at sea. Linking their stories and their voices are Charlie’s ham radio and a mysterious white dragon. All We Know Is Not Enough is a play which explores what it means to be searching for home and somewhere to call safe.

In a seedy pay-by-the-hour motel Romeo fights to stay alive. Romeo is trans, running from a hate crime, his sister Charlie is taking care of him. An ocean away- Nasrin, a refugee, is lost at sea. Linking their stories and their voices are Charlie’s ham radio and a mysterious white dragon. All We Know Is Not Enough is a play which explores what it means to be searching for home and somewhere to call safe.

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All We Know Is Not Enough

Recommended by

  • Andrew Lee Creech: All We Know Is Not Enough by Darcy Parker Bruce
    “

    This is a wildly imaginative and powerfully important play. Somebody produce this!

    This is a wildly imaginative and powerfully important play. Somebody produce this!

    ”
  • Cheryl Bear: All We Know Is Not Enough by Darcy Parker Bruce
    “

    A gorgeous play about surviving trauma through a magical lens that transforms the experience into one that connects so powerfully. Beautiful!

    A gorgeous play about surviving trauma through a magical lens that transforms the experience into one that connects so powerfully. Beautiful!

    ”
  • Hayley St. James: All We Know Is Not Enough by Darcy Parker Bruce
    “

    Powerful, inclusive, gorgeous magical realism that centers trans representation, refugee representation, and that great human desire for connection. It left me utterly speechless. More theatre like this, please.

    Powerful, inclusive, gorgeous magical realism that centers trans representation, refugee representation, and that great human desire for connection. It left me utterly speechless. More theatre like this, please.

    ”
View all 13 recommendations

Character Information

  • The Dragon
    The Dragon may be portrayed by anyone/thing as long as it has hands with which to take things.
    Any
    Any
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • Romeo Quentin Christopher Benjamin
    Trans. Horrible guitar player. Writes fantastically bad love songs. Has that one lock of hair that’s always in his eyes so he can play with it every five minutes and then you remember his eyes are kind of nice or whatever. Sort of mysterious, also sort of in a lot of trouble with the law.
    early 20s
    Any
    Trans man
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Charlie
    Amateur radio enthusiast, explorer, really bad at talking to girls. Currently looking after her older brother Romeo.
    early 20s
    Any
    Cisgender Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Nasrin
    A Syrian refugee. A teacher. A ham radio operator.
    early 20s
    Syrian
    Cis female or genderqueer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Casey
    Overnight desk clerk at the Shady Pines motel. Has glasses. Reads a lot.
    early 20s
    Any
    Cis female or genderqueer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Reading, Out Front Theatre Company, 2019
  • Workshop, 2cents Theater LA, 2018
  • Reading, Smith College, 2016
  • Workshop, Sewanee Writer's Conference , 2016
  • Reading, Third Space Theatre, 2016
  • Reading, Playwright's Collective, 2016

Awards

  • Blue Ink Playwriting Award
    American Blues Theatre
    Semi-Finalist
    2019
  • Trustus Playwrights' Festival
    Trutus Theatre
    Finalist
    2018
  • Huntington Theatre Playwriting Fellowship
    Huntington Theatre
    Finalist
    2017
  • Eugene O'Neill NPC
    Eugene O'Neill Center
    Semi-Finalist
    2017
  • ATHE Award of Excellence in Playwriting
    Association for Theatre in Higher Education
    Semi-Finalist
    2017
  • Semi-Finalist
    Gulf Shore Playhouse
    2016
  • Runner Up
    WomenWorks
    2016
  • Finalist
    Seven Devils Playwrights Conference
    2016