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Vespertilio

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  2m

Barry McStay

Inspired by the incredible true story of the last greater mouse-eared bat living in Britain, Vespertilio explores the tender romance between introverted bat-enthusiast Alan and Josh, the charming young runaway he meets in an abandoned railway tunnel.

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Vespertilio

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2m
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary

“So there’s a theory that we all have a finite number of heartbeats. We all have a billion heartbeats to live. Humans, cats, dogs, rats – all our hearts beat at different speeds but we all have the same amount. A clock with a billion ticks.”

Inspired by the incredible true story of the last greater mouse-eared bat living in Britain, Vespertilio explores the tender romance between introverted bat-enthusiast Alan and Josh, the charming young runaway he meets in an abandoned railway tunnel. As their relationship develops, these two damaged men might fix one another. If only a little. Vespertilio is a story of love, loneliness and bats, an exploration of the difference between merely surviving and truly living.

History

Vespertilio received its world premiere on 20th February 2019 in The Cavern at the VAULT Festival, Waterloo, London and was performed at Dublin Fringe Festival (Smock Alley –  the  Boys  School),  17th–22nd  September  2019.

Cast Attributes
Keywords

ALAN – 39ish

JOSH – 19ish

RADIO VOICES

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • Strong Language

Media

“...effortlessly engaging two-hander.” – The Irish Times

“...there’s a wistful charm that pulls the audience in...” – The Irish Times

“... Barry McStay’s script is very funny...” – The Reviews Hub

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Barry McStay

Barry McStay

Barry McStay is an Irish writer and actor based in London.

His debut play, Our Island (dir. Maisie Lee) ran at the Project Arts Centre at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2015. It was nominated for 5 Dublin Fringe Awards and shortlisted for a Writers Guild of Ireland Award. Vesper ...

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