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The Cenotaph

Martin Paul Roche

Genre: Drama

Cast size: 2

Duration: 40 mins approx

Martin Paul Roche | Drama | One Act | 1m, 1m/f

Short synopsis

‘The Cenotaph’ tells of a quiet meeting at a war memorial between ‘Old’ Miles and ‘Young’ Jo. Their brief encounter reveals how open conversation and understanding, free of judgment, can build unexpected connections. This gentle story highlights that innocence and insight are not limited by age and shows the deeper meanings of winning and losing through new friendships.

‘Old’ Miles is on his regular trip to a quiet corner of his local cemetery, to visit the war memorial, “his cenotaph” and to remember. ‘Young’ Jo is only passing through and will be content to not ‘get done’ for just being there.
The story provides a glimpse into a brief meeting which arrived from nowhere but yet, could lead to somewhere. Where taking the time to chat, to explain and to understand without judgement can open doors which should never have been allowed to close. It illustrates that innocence is not the reserve of any particular age and appreciating what winning and losing really mean, can bring prizes beyond expectation: it can bring understanding.

'The Cenotaph' is a brief and gentle story of age, encounters and new friendships.

1m, 1m/f

  • Miles**: 50+, dressed smartly
  • Jo: Under 16* but again could be much younger. Casual dress.

* Jo can be male or female
** Miles could be Millie with a few slight adaptations though shown as male simply for ease of writing.

The ‘Voice’ has a line towards the end.
This can be pre-recorded or spoken off.

Type
Free

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The Cenotaph

Free
More information

This piece can be performed in an educational setting by young performers in both roles.

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

Frequently asked questions

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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.

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