Camp Contrition

by Hadley Shipley

Dramaturg - Brenden Kyer

Four campers attend Camp Contrition for Girls as part of a special focus cabin struggling with ‘godly womanhood and sexuality,’ only to discover eggs that don’t hatch, cocoons that don’t open, and an odd form of flower-based vomit that all point to something more concerning under the carefully curated image of summer camp. If their two cagey camp counselors aren’t giving straight answers, achieving the coveted...

Four campers attend Camp Contrition for Girls as part of a special focus cabin struggling with ‘godly womanhood and sexuality,’ only to discover eggs that don’t hatch, cocoons that don’t open, and an odd form of flower-based vomit that all point to something more concerning under the carefully curated image of summer camp. If their two cagey camp counselors aren’t giving straight answers, achieving the coveted rank of Violet Camper seems to be the only option for these four queer outsiders.

read more
  • Inquire About Rights
  • Recommend
  • Download
  • Save to Library

Camp Contrition

Recommended by

  • Erin Malone Turner: Camp Contrition by Hadley Shipley
    “

    Camp Contrition is an ambitious piece about teens at a Christian summer camp - although quite different from other plays of this nature that I've read &/or seen. The comedic, tense, awkward, and heartwarming moments bounce and converge on each other, as is real life; the speculative-fiction, mystery, and horror aspects lend an intriguing edge to the storyline. It explores the ideas of authenticity vs perfection and how to thrive rather than just survive.

    Camp Contrition is an ambitious piece about teens at a Christian summer camp - although quite different from other plays of this nature that I've read &/or seen. The comedic, tense, awkward, and heartwarming moments bounce and converge on each other, as is real life; the speculative-fiction, mystery, and horror aspects lend an intriguing edge to the storyline. It explores the ideas of authenticity vs perfection and how to thrive rather than just survive.

    ”

Character Information

  • Avery
    NB (AFAB - misgendered in script). Teens. Returning Camper. #1 Hater. Bullied. Younger Sibling to Becca. Brave.
    Sun: Scorpio. Moon: Scorpio. Rising: Pisces.
    Avery’s TRUNK: has a peeling layer of gray paint over a layer of pink and their stickers toe the line of what a conservative parent would allow their rebellious teen. There’s a few places where stickers have clearly been torn off - paper-based ones, the messy kind.
    Teens
    Non-binary,
    Non-binary -- assigned female at birth,
    Genderqueer,
    Gender non-conforming,
    Gender non-conforming or genderqueer,
    Genderqueer, non-binary, or trans,
    Genderqueer, non-binary, or agender,
    Genderqueer or trans,
    Genderqueer or non-binary,
    Non-binary or trans man,
    Non-binary, genderqueer, or trans,
    Non-binary or gender non-conforming,
    Non-binary or agender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Becca
    F. Teens. Returning Camper. Almost the perfect camper. Almost. Older Sister to Avery. Brave.
    Sun: Cancer. Moon: Capricorn. Rising: Virgo.
    Becca’s TRUNK: a larger trunk that ideally has modge-podged sheets of music, possibly glitter, neatly decorating it. It’s not brand-new but it’s visibly better taken care of than everyone else’s, except maybe Bethany’s.
    Teens
    Female,
    Female or genderfluid,
    Femme,
    Female or non-binary,
    Female or genderfluid or non-binary,
    Female or gender non-conforming,
    Female or genderqueer,
    Female or intersex,
    Female, non-binary, or gender non-conforming,
    Femme or non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Hannah
    F. Teens. Repeated Contrition Camper. Formerly beloved cool kid at camp. Slight southern accent. Brave.
    Sun: Capricorn. Moon: Cancer. Rising: Leo.
    Hannah’s TRUNK: well-loved and covered in stickers that are dirty and peeling; stains and scuffs litter her chest from years of propping dirty shoes on top of it. There are significant dents in it - you see this trunk and wonder how the hell it stays together.
    Teens
    Female,
    Female or gender non-conforming,
    Female or genderfluid,
    Female or genderfluid or non-binary,
    Female or genderqueer,
    Female or non-binary,
    Femme,
    Femme or non-binary,
    Female, non-binary, or gender non-conforming,
    Female-presenting or non-binary,
    Female or intersex,
    Futch
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Sarah
    F. Teens. Repeated Contrition Camper. Homeschooled. Anxious. Sheltered. Brave.
    Sun: Pisces. Moon: Virgo. Rising: Gemini.
    Sarah’s TRUNK: dark-brown, tired, almost certainly a hand-me-down from a male family member — overall relatively masculine if not for the flowers that are (amateurishly) painted on it. Maybe a Bible Verse or two as well, possibly her name.
    Teens
    Female,
    Female or gender non-conforming,
    Female or genderfluid,
    Female or genderfluid or non-binary,
    Female or genderqueer,
    Femme,
    Femme or non-binary,
    Female-presenting or non-binary,
    Female or non-binary,
    Female, non-binary, or gender non-conforming,
    Female or intersex
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Bethany
    F. 18. The Perfect™ Camp Counselor. Former Camper. Enthusiastic micro-manager and one of
    the most driven women you will ever meet; type-A who takes every leadership role she can. Brave.
    Sun: Virgo. Moon: Pisces. Rising: Capricorn.
    Bethany’s TRUNK: Has “BETHANY” on it in a hyper-femme font (probably Curlz MT or some shit) along with Bible Verse stickers.
    Teens
    Female,
    Female or gender non-conforming,
    Female or genderfluid,
    Female or genderfluid or non-binary,
    Female or genderqueer,
    Female or intersex,
    Female or non-binary,
    Female-presenting or non-binary,
    Female, non-binary, or gender non-conforming,
    Futch
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Gaby
    F. 18. Camp Counselor. Former Camper. Chill guitar-playing worship leader and softball coach
    vibes; if you didn’t know she’s a counselor, you’d think she was a stoner bordering on Butch. Brave.
    Sun: Gemini. Moon: Sagittarius. Rising: Libra.
    Gaby’s TRUNK: is heavy-duty; it could be fully submerged, fall down a waterfall, and survive purely out of spite. It’s also ugly as sin. Old stickers stuck all over — mountains, waterfalls, and hikes, Christian Rock or Folk bands, and past camp stickers.
    Teens
    Female,
    Female or gender non-conforming,
    Female or genderfluid,
    Female or genderfluid or non-binary,
    Female or genderqueer,
    Female or non-binary,
    Female or intersex,
    Female, non-binary, or gender non-conforming,
    Femme,
    Futch,
    Femme or non-binary,
    Female-presenting or non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman,
      Non-binary
  • Coach Chastity (Voiceover)
    VOICEOVER ROLE.
    40s-70s
    Female,
    Cis female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Production History

  • Professional, SheDFW, 2025