What We Were

by Blake Hackler

Set in East Texas over a span of 20 years, What We Were traces the lives of three sisters, Nell, Tessa, and Carlin, whose adult lives have all been impacted by a childhood of abuse.

After disappearing 17 years ago, Tessa, the youngest sister, resurfaces. It seems she has spent her adult life on the run, moving from state to state and foster family to foster family, pretending to be a teenage girl. When Nell...

Set in East Texas over a span of 20 years, What We Were traces the lives of three sisters, Nell, Tessa, and Carlin, whose adult lives have all been impacted by a childhood of abuse.

After disappearing 17 years ago, Tessa, the youngest sister, resurfaces. It seems she has spent her adult life on the run, moving from state to state and foster family to foster family, pretending to be a teenage girl. When Nell gets word that Tessa, now 35, has finally been found out, Nell must decide how much of her past she’s willing to face in order to save her sister.

Weaving scenes from the past and present, What We Were is a meditation on responsibility, on what we do to cope, and on the very difficult work of healing.

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What We Were

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: What We Were by Blake Hackler
    “

    An incredibly moving exploration into the fractured family bonds following abuse and the dream for restoration. Beautifully done.

    An incredibly moving exploration into the fractured family bonds following abuse and the dream for restoration. Beautifully done.

    ”
  • Rachael Carnes: What We Were by Blake Hackler
    “

    "Have, not got." - this space between what is supposed to be, and what is, is explored with deep intelligence and a well of emotions in this unique and resonant play. Hackler's story spans decades and sets us up to see the broken and the beautiful in these characters, whose richly-detailed world shifts and bends under the weight of memory. A wonderful work, with strong roles for women. No wonder this play's so highly regarded. With its time machine leaps, this would be a rewarding and exciting challenge for a creative team. I would love to see this onstage.

    "Have, not got." - this space between what is supposed to be, and what is, is explored with deep intelligence and a well of emotions in this unique and resonant play. Hackler's story spans decades and sets us up to see the broken and the beautiful in these characters, whose richly-detailed world shifts and bends under the weight of memory. A wonderful work, with strong roles for women. No wonder this play's so highly regarded. With its time machine leaps, this would be a rewarding and exciting challenge for a creative team. I would love to see this onstage.

    ”
  • Eugene O'Neill Theater Center: What We Were by Blake Hackler
    “

    It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Blake Hackler and their play What We Were as a finalist for our 2018 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one of 53 finalists out of more than 1,4200 submissions, the strength of its writing has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process.

    It is the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's pleasure to recommend Blake Hackler and their play What We Were as a finalist for our 2018 National Playwrights Conference. The play rose through a competitive, anonymous, multileveled selection process that took nearly nine months to execute. As one of 53 finalists out of more than 1,4200 submissions, the strength of its writing has allowed this work to prosper in such a competitive selection process.

    ”
View all 7 recommendations

Development History

  • Workshop, Ashland New Play Festival, 2017

Awards

  • Finalist
    O'Neill Playwriting Conference
    Finalist
    2018
  • Judith Royner Award
    ATHE
    Finalist
    2018
  • _
    BAPF Bay Area Playwrights Festival
    Finalist
    2018
  • Finalist
    Ashland New Play Festival
    Winner
    2017