Diving Board

by Malena Pennycook

At the top of the 10 meter diving board, 17 year old Annie sees the face of a man ripple across the water and, subsequently, in everything she does. Joanna thinks its God. Tiernan's too busy trying to win states to pay attention. An athletic new play about the terror of young womanhood & the ways we cope with the thing in the shadows.

At the top of the 10 meter diving board, 17 year old Annie sees the face of a man ripple across the water and, subsequently, in everything she does. Joanna thinks its God. Tiernan's too busy trying to win states to pay attention. An athletic new play about the terror of young womanhood & the ways we cope with the thing in the shadows.

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Diving Board

Recommended by

  • Erin Malone Turner: Diving Board

    In this play, Pennycook beautifully explores the desperate yearning of that peculiar/fraught/lovely time right on the cusp of adulthood. These characters so deeply want to be seen, understood, accepted, & taken seriously. The tension, joy, & wonder of growing up are all incredibly palpable. An excellent piece!

    In this play, Pennycook beautifully explores the desperate yearning of that peculiar/fraught/lovely time right on the cusp of adulthood. These characters so deeply want to be seen, understood, accepted, & taken seriously. The tension, joy, & wonder of growing up are all incredibly palpable. An excellent piece!

  • Shaun Leisher: Diving Board

    A truly moving play about ambitious young women.

    A truly moving play about ambitious young women.

  • Nick Malakhow: Diving Board

    An original and compelling exploration of the lives of a few specific young women with broader and more widely sweeping implications and conclusions about what it means to go through life as a woman. The physicalization of terror and existential threat women and girls face in the form of the faceless men is unique and haunting. The dialogue rhythms are so on point. Finally, there's also lots of potential built in here for inventive theatricality. Pennycook provides a wonderfully drawn roadmap that would guide a creative production team while also leaving much room for individuality in...

    An original and compelling exploration of the lives of a few specific young women with broader and more widely sweeping implications and conclusions about what it means to go through life as a woman. The physicalization of terror and existential threat women and girls face in the form of the faceless men is unique and haunting. The dialogue rhythms are so on point. Finally, there's also lots of potential built in here for inventive theatricality. Pennycook provides a wonderfully drawn roadmap that would guide a creative production team while also leaving much room for individuality in interpretation.

View all 4 recommendations

Development History

  • Type Workshop, Organization Teatro Vivo's Austin Latinx New Play Festival , Year 2023
  • Type Workshop, Organization Crashbox Austin , Year 2022

Production History

  • Type Professional, Organization Seoul International Theater Festival , Year 2024

Awards