The Trench

by Dan West

ONE-ACT (~35 Minutes): Nobody knows how long Hector and Anthony have been in the trench. The medics are coming — they have to be coming. When a luminous figure appears and tells them one must go with her or both will be doomed, they do what soldiers do: they argue, they bargain, they look for a third option. A third soldier arrives — cleaner than he should be, wearing the wrong uniform for this or any war — and...

ONE-ACT (~35 Minutes): Nobody knows how long Hector and Anthony have been in the trench. The medics are coming — they have to be coming. When a luminous figure appears and tells them one must go with her or both will be doomed, they do what soldiers do: they argue, they bargain, they look for a third option. A third soldier arrives — cleaner than he should be, wearing the wrong uniform for this or any war — and suddenly nobody's choices are as simple as they seemed. A one-act war drama about two men who refuse their fate, and the darkness that keeps rising around them whether they accept it or not.

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The Trench

Recommended by

  • Donald Loftus: The Trench by Dan West
    “

    I remember as a kid, I was always fascinated by the trenches in WW II movies. These memories were brought back with "The Trench", a gripping war drama by Dan West. Using a simple battlefield as the setting, Mr. West explores faith, fear, sacrifice, and the desperate human instinct for survival. A compelling, thought-provoking psychological thriller, supernatural allegory, and anti-war drama. The play leaves the audience with haunting questions long after the lights fade.

    I remember as a kid, I was always fascinated by the trenches in WW II movies. These memories were brought back with "The Trench", a gripping war drama by Dan West. Using a simple battlefield as the setting, Mr. West explores faith, fear, sacrifice, and the desperate human instinct for survival. A compelling, thought-provoking psychological thriller, supernatural allegory, and anti-war drama. The play leaves the audience with haunting questions long after the lights fade.

    ”
  • Julie Grixlen: The Trench by Dan West
    “

    A fantastic play in which the reader/audience is more than just a spectator. One is immersed in the trench with its characters, alongside them as they question faith, reality and morality. Is it the sacrifice of oneself, the stranger or the vulnerable that’s better for the greater good? I thoroughly enjoyed reading the piece. Very good.

    A fantastic play in which the reader/audience is more than just a spectator. One is immersed in the trench with its characters, alongside them as they question faith, reality and morality. Is it the sacrifice of oneself, the stranger or the vulnerable that’s better for the greater good? I thoroughly enjoyed reading the piece. Very good.

    ”
  • Trey Everett: The Trench by Dan West
    “

    A gripping, atmospheric play that blends realism with eerie supernatural elements. Dialogue is raw and authentic, immersing the audience in the psychological strain of war. The tension between Hector and Anthony is riveting, especially as they grapple with an impossible moral dilemma. The mysterious figure adds a haunting ambiguity: is she salvation or doom? Kept me engaged, questioning reality, and faith. Visceral and thought-provoking, this piece lingered in my mind long after reading.

    A gripping, atmospheric play that blends realism with eerie supernatural elements. Dialogue is raw and authentic, immersing the audience in the psychological strain of war. The tension between Hector and Anthony is riveting, especially as they grapple with an impossible moral dilemma. The mysterious figure adds a haunting ambiguity: is she salvation or doom? Kept me engaged, questioning reality, and faith. Visceral and thought-provoking, this piece lingered in my mind long after reading.

    ”

Character Information

  • Hector
    Late 20s to 30s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s
  • Anthony
    Late teens - early 20s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
  • Rick
    Any
    Male