This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Not sure where to start? Discover all our scripts

Talk to one of our experts here

Thank you for purchasing with Stagescripts

Shopping basket 0

Sorry, looks like we don't have enough of this product.

Products

Need help? Contact our team here

Pair with
Subtotal Free
Shipping, taxes, and discount codes are calculated at checkout
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Dayshift

Darren Donohue

Genre: Absurd

Cast size: 6

Duration: 80 mins approx

Darren Donohue | Absurd | Mid-length | 3m, 2f with doubling

Short synopsis

Rich in humour, ‘Dayshift’ follows the adventures of a certain Mr Day as he takes up a new position within a vast, complex organization. But, from the moment he wakes, he appears out of harmony with both his surroundings and the people he encounters. As he struggles to understand the inner workings of the organization, we're drawn into an innovative re-imagining of society and the high cost of its value system.

With sharp wit and playful absurdism‘Dayshift’ pays tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, and our ability to grow and flourish even when we are placed in the harshest of terrains. 

Mr Day gets up, has breakfast and gets ready for his first day at work. But immediately, he finds himself experiencing a Kafkaesque situation, an absurd dimension from which unfortunately, he can’t escape. Mr Day is a smart person and works on an assembly line but, he will not be able to weave any relationships with the people he meets because - in one way or another – they are disfigured by the system in which they live.

These characters include a filing clerk trapped inside his office, a young lady with a key to the hidden Complaints Department, a woman singing to the city, a man cautiously transforming his office into a garden centre, and the elusive Mr Bul, upon whom Day’s hopes of salvation are pinned. As Mr Day struggles to make sense of his position and the inner workings of the organisation, we’re drawn into an innovative reimagining of society and the high cost of its value system.

3m, 2f with doubling

The cast can multi-role.

  • Day - late 20s, the hero of the play as we follow him taking up a new position within a vast, complex organisation (m)
  • Miss List - early 60s, speaks with a thick Polish accent (f)
  • Mr Bell - late 20s, an old school friend of Day (m)
  • Receptionist - early 30s (m/f) 
  • John - early 30s, John from filing (m)
  • Mr Rivendale - early 60s (m)  
  • John Markus Rivendale Jr - 10, Mr Rivendale’s grandson (can be played by an adult actor taking on the characteristics of a child) (m)
  • Woman - a young woman (f)
  • The Janitor - early 60s (m)  
  • Cathy - late 20s/early 30s (f)
  • Secretary - mid 30s (f)   
  • Mr Olive - early 60s (m)

"It speaks of a world in which economics and labour dynamics are collapsing on themselves because they are unable to look at man as a person, as value, and as an end. Fascinating show." - www.saltinaria.it

Type
Free

Applying for and paying royalties

To apply for royalties, please complete the form on our apply for royalties page.

To pay for fixed fee royalties having received your Quotation from us, please go to this payment form.

[{"variant_id":"55516079751554" , "metafield_value":""}]

Dayshift

Free
More information

If you require any additional information regarding this script, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.

Frequently asked questions

Can we try before we buy?

Of course! All our plays and pantomimes have a free Preview Script available for download as an A4 pdf file that contains 60-75% of the full script. If you like what you read then you can buy an inexpensive e-script of the entire play (typically less than half the cost of a traditional printed script) which is licensed to you for your personal use. Purchasing a script copying licence allows you to make just enough copies to support rehearsals and performances.

All our musicals are included in our perusal service. Through this, representatives of producing organisations can request a USB Stick of perusal material  which comprise the script/libretto and piano/vocal score as PDF files; a Cast (or Studio) Recording as MP3 files and (where available) an MP4 file video of either the premiere production or of a subsequent production.

Some titles have the facility to read the entire script online on our website.

Do we need a Licence To Perform?

The simple answer is, yes.

Under the international laws of copyright, you must be in possession of a valid, unexpired licence before performing any piece of theatre unless the owner or managers of the copyright has waived their rights.

Why do you insist on providing a formal royalties quotation?

When you request a quotation, it is logged in our system, it forms part of an orderly queue and protects your place in that queue should multiple licensing requests occur for the same show.

Need help?

Contact us

If you need help with our scripts, please contact our customer service team, we would be more than happy to help.

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

Established for over 25 years

Unearthing future talent


Stagescripts is a trusted licensing company run by theatre professionals with decades of experience on and off stage. Our curated catalogue includes over 1,000 carefully selected plays, musicals, and pantomimes — from fresh, undiscovered writing to well-loved classics.

We’re passionate about helping theatre-makers at every level discover scripts that inspire, challenge, and connect with audiences. Whether you're staging a village hall production or leading a professional company, our team offers expert advice, flexible support, and a responsive, personal service to help your next performance shine.