Winchester Geese

by Maggie Smith

Inspired by the history of the Crossbones Graveyard, this play tells the story of Avis, Cecily, and Bridget, three young women stuck on earth since their burials, all of whom spend their afterlives clinging onto the hope of one day being remembered.

Content Warning: This play contains a brief discussion of suicide.

Inspired by the history of the Crossbones Graveyard, this play tells the story of Avis, Cecily, and Bridget, three young women stuck on earth since their burials, all of whom spend their afterlives clinging onto the hope of one day being remembered.

Content Warning: This play contains a brief discussion of suicide.

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Winchester Geese

Recommended by

  • Ken Love: Winchester Geese

    Like "Riders to the Sea" by John Millington Synge, Jean Paul Sartre's "No Exit", and the poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca & even Emily Dickinson, Maggie Smith's "Winchester Geese" is a play that takes a hard, nearly uncompromising look at the finality and tragedy of death. While the conundrum of death has been tackled and overdone by playwrights, novelists and poets ad infinitum, Ms Smith, fortunately, has the nerve and talent to add something unique to this well-worn topic. A must-read! And a must-see! Nicely done, Maggie!

    Like "Riders to the Sea" by John Millington Synge, Jean Paul Sartre's "No Exit", and the poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca & even Emily Dickinson, Maggie Smith's "Winchester Geese" is a play that takes a hard, nearly uncompromising look at the finality and tragedy of death. While the conundrum of death has been tackled and overdone by playwrights, novelists and poets ad infinitum, Ms Smith, fortunately, has the nerve and talent to add something unique to this well-worn topic. A must-read! And a must-see! Nicely done, Maggie!

  • J.S. Puller: Winchester Geese

    Smith has a remarkable ability to make these characters feel real and lived-in. In just a few pages, I feel I know their relationships. As they rage against their circumstances, their afterlife, their feelings for one another, I imagine a theatre absolutely trembling. This is such a perfect vehicle for powerful actors, waiting to take center stage.

    Smith has a remarkable ability to make these characters feel real and lived-in. In just a few pages, I feel I know their relationships. As they rage against their circumstances, their afterlife, their feelings for one another, I imagine a theatre absolutely trembling. This is such a perfect vehicle for powerful actors, waiting to take center stage.

  • Rachel Feeny-Williams: Winchester Geese

    The world of the dead is one often explored by creatives but I think that this is one of the most fascinating and emotive pieces I've read. No one really wants to consider what lies beyond but for these women they are stuck considering what lies beyond the beyond, an idea that is sure to get an audience talking in the pub afterwards. Maggie offers three amazing roles to chose between and frames them in a great story! Performers talk about Lady Macbeth being a dream role to perform, I'd happily play Avis, Cecily or Bridget instead!

    The world of the dead is one often explored by creatives but I think that this is one of the most fascinating and emotive pieces I've read. No one really wants to consider what lies beyond but for these women they are stuck considering what lies beyond the beyond, an idea that is sure to get an audience talking in the pub afterwards. Maggie offers three amazing roles to chose between and frames them in a great story! Performers talk about Lady Macbeth being a dream role to perform, I'd happily play Avis, Cecily or Bridget instead!

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Character Information

As a writer, I am dedicated to creating diverse worlds onstage. Some of the most defining moments of my life involve me seeing myself represented onstage, television, or in literature. Because of this, I highly recommend casting this play diversely in regards to race, gender identity, and disability. You won’t be depicting the real world if you ignore this request.

This is acknowledging, however, that some roles are specific in the way they must be casted. In this play, the following roles have these limitations:

CECILY, AVIS, and BRIDGET must all be played as women, though they do not need to be cisgender.
  • AVIS
    Died unidentifiable on the street at 19 in 1801, guilt-ridden but hopeful she’ll see her family again
    Character Age
    Nineteen
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • CECILY
    One of the Winchester Geese, died in 1616 from syphilis at 27, bitter and believes she deserves better
    Character Age
    Twenty-Seven
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • BRIDGET
    A member of the working poor, died in a workhouse accident that was covered up in 1746 at age 42, maternal, strong-willed but not optimistic
    Character Age
    Forty-Two
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race
  • THE MOURNERS
    Those who enter the graveyard and put ribbons onto the gate; non-speaking roles
    Character Age
    Any age
    Character Race/Ethnic Identity
    Any Race

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization #FUCKZOOM Filmed Staged Reading Series, Year 2021