Tristen Canfield

Tristen Canfield (she | they ), was the playwright in residence at Stage Left Theater in Spokane, Washington for the 2023-2024 season. Her first short play, The Window, won the Audience Choice Award in the Spokane Civic Theatre's Playwright's Forum Festival in 2015. Perspective tied for Audience Choice in that same festival in 2022. Her first full-length, An Aviary for Birds of Sadness, was selected as the inaugural piece for the Spokane Playwrights' Laboratory workshop experience in 2021, and premiered at Stage Left Theater on August 11th, 2023. Tristen's work has been performed across the country, adapted for radio, and filmed as internet shorts.

Tristen Canfield (she | they ), was the playwright in residence at Stage Left Theater in Spokane, Washington for the 2023-2024 season. Her first short play, The Window, won the Audience Choice Award in the Spokane Civic Theatre's Playwright's Forum Festival in 2015. Perspective tied for Audience Choice in that same festival in 2022. Her first full-length, An Aviary for Birds of Sadness, was selected as the inaugural piece for the Spokane Playwrights' Laboratory workshop experience in 2021, and premiered at Stage Left Theater on August 11th, 2023. Tristen's work has been performed across the country, adapted for radio, and filmed as internet shorts.

Scripts

An Aviary for Birds of Sadness

by Tristen Canfield

Cast Size
4
Genre
dark comedy,
drama

A found family story of love and humor in the face of mental illness.

A found family story of love and humor in the face of mental illness.

Brothers Before

by Tristen Canfield

3
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
drama

Two brothers get together to toast their deceased father's birthday.

A link to the Spokane Public Radio adaptation of this piece is provided under "music samples."

Two brothers get together to toast their deceased father's birthday.

A link to the Spokane Public Radio adaptation of this piece is provided under "music samples."

Coffeegate

by Tristen Canfield

2
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy

Morning at the desks of Woodward and Bernstein. Disclaimer: This play is not based on actual events.

Morning at the desks of Woodward and Bernstein. Disclaimer: This play is not based on actual events.

Don't You Know What 'Ther' Means?

by Tristen Canfield

1
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy

Skyler is ill while social distancing from Lewis, who would like to take care of her.

Skyler is ill while social distancing from Lewis, who would like to take care of her.

At Home with Saint Elmo

by Tristen Canfield

1
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy

10 Minutes. Two friends enjoy an evening in with a film neither of them particularly likes.

10 Minutes. Two friends enjoy an evening in with a film neither of them particularly likes.

I Don't Know What's Wrong With Me

by Tristen Canfield

2
Cast Size
2
Genre
drama

One partner only wants to be well, the other is playing mind games.

One partner only wants to be well, the other is playing mind games.

A Matter of Vida and Morty

by Tristen Canfield

1
Cast Size
2
Genre
dark comedy,
fantasy

Vida is full of spit, vinegar, and life. Morty is socially awkward but cosmically important, and he has some bad news.

Vida is full of spit, vinegar, and life. Morty is socially awkward but cosmically important, and he has some bad news.

Matthew Weaver and Tristen Canfield Are in a Terrible Play

by Tristen Canfield

5
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy

Friends and playwrights Matthew Weaver and Tristen Canfield are in a play together, forced to determine what direction they will take their plot and how to navigate conflict.

Friends and playwrights Matthew Weaver and Tristen Canfield are in a play together, forced to determine what direction they will take their plot and how to navigate conflict.

Millstone

by Tristen Canfield

Cast Size
2
Genre
drama

In a world where no one ages, two friends get together to celebrate endings, beginnings, and a bittersweet milestone.

In a world where no one ages, two friends get together to celebrate endings, beginnings, and a bittersweet milestone.

The Niche Interest

by Tristen Canfield

Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy,
drama,
science fiction

In a spacefaring future, two friends meet for a drink. One of them has earth-shattering news.

In a spacefaring future, two friends meet for a drink. One of them has earth-shattering news.

Perspective

by Tristen Canfield

2
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
drama

An American Tourist purchases a painting without understanding its true value.

An American Tourist purchases a painting without understanding its true value.

Pullman's Progress

by Tristen Canfield

Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
young audiences

Close friends Pullman and Moss clash over their conflicting viewpoints on beauty, nature, and self care while hiking together toward a distant goal.

Close friends Pullman and Moss clash over their conflicting viewpoints on beauty, nature, and self care while hiking together toward a distant goal.

Road to Hell

by Tristen Canfield

1
Cast Size
2
Genre
drama

A man and a woman explore a father and daughter's relationship from opposite sides of birth and death.

A man and a woman explore a father and daughter's relationship from opposite sides of birth and death.

Slice of Life

by Tristen Canfield

2
Cast Size
3
Genre
comedy

Clotho and Lachesis spin and measure the threads of life, while Atropos fills the time waiting for her turn to cut.

Clotho and Lachesis spin and measure the threads of life, while Atropos fills the time waiting for her turn to cut.

Stays

by Tristen Canfield

Cast Size
1—2
Genre
drama

Edith is preparing for a boudoir photography session that she isn't pleased to be having.

Vimeo link: Stays starts at 1:21:10

Edith is preparing for a boudoir photography session that she isn't pleased to be having.

Vimeo link: Stays starts at 1:21:10

Up to Speed

by Tristen Canfield

4
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
fable/folktale,
fantasy,
political

The Tortoise and the Hare have some concerns that the race they have been running for two thousand years is rigged in the Tortoise’s favor. From within a story over which both of them have limited control, they must work together to fight against injustice.

The Tortoise and the Hare have some concerns that the race they have been running for two thousand years is rigged in the Tortoise’s favor. From within a story over which both of them have limited control, they must work together to fight against injustice.

The Window

by Tristen Canfield

26
Cast Size
2
Genre
comedy,
satire

Cat longs for intellectual stimulation while Fish is hopeful that perhaps the gravel at the bottom of the bowl is edible. Confined together with no influence over the outside world, Cat and Fish must find meaning in their lives through their interactions with one another.

Cat longs for intellectual stimulation while Fish is hopeful that perhaps the gravel at the bottom of the bowl is edible. Confined together with no influence over the outside world, Cat and Fish must find meaning in their lives through their interactions with one another.