Our entry for the 2026 Maidenhead Drama Festival is I'm Still Breathing by Mav Davies and Helena Mansir

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Director – Zoe Toynton

Choreographer – Kiera Grimsdale

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This project is a collaborative piece written by Mav Davies and Helena Mansir, who has composed music exploring mental health and suicide. Mav and Helena are looking for actors/dancers that would be interested in supporting roles to explore movement. These roles would suit anyone who enjoys movement and interpretation from spoken words and music.

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Important Dates

Auditions - 16th February 7pm @ All Saints Junior School

​Festival Dates - 21st April – 25th April 2026 @ Norden Farm Centre for the Arts

Eastern Area Final (If we were to go through to the next round) - 24th May 2026 @ Barn Theatre, Oxted

Rehearsals – Mondays initially with Wednesdays added closer to the performance week

 

Synopsis

When a decision is made to end life, it is not as quick and easy as it seems. Morrigan has made her decision, only to find herself locked in limbo between her old life and the oncoming fate. Trapped within a moment of time, that can be the difference to going through with her choice or a chance for an old face to change her mind.   

 

Characters

Auditionees will need to be 16 years old or over. 

Shadows (3 F or M): A representation of one’s guilt of past experiences, exploring physical movement in reaction to spoken words and music.

Mum (F): A representation of disapproval and disappointment. A stern up right figure, gives off cold feelings and distant emotion.

Dylan (M):  Representations of vile and unwanted acts. Requires Physical body movement, presence that is unnerving and controlling.

 

Audition details

• Please bring with you a water bottle and wear comfortable clothing

• Please email zoepenny@aol.com if you have any questions

• The audition will take place as a group so that we can see how you move and interact with each other

• Tasks will consist of an ice breaker, learning and repeating a short sequence, improvisation and movement

• If cast, you will need to join MDG as a member

• Please arrive at 7:00pm for a 7:15pm start

 

Task order

• Icebreaker

• Learn and repeat a short sequence

• Improvisation task

• Movement task

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Preparation

Take some time to think about your reactions and movements for the following extract, it does not need to be a complete sequence. At the audition you will work together and react to each other as this is read.

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(The dancers coming more forward and become more animated with their behaviour. Christian's attention switches between Morrigan and the dancers)

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Christian: Seriously, why? What makes it so difficult to talk about?

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Morrigan: I have always been the outsider, that one kid left out of most things for being different to the rest. My mum calls it ‘fringe of society’. It started when I first moved to a new school.

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(The dancers body postures and movements change, acting more child-like, imitating childish antics and playground bullying behaviour. Exaggerated whispering, shoving and pointing to laugh)

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Christian: Don’t all kids get bullied for being new?

 

Morrigan: They bullied me because I had an American accent. It’s fascinating isn't it. Kids will find that one small insignificant thing about someone and attack it.

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Christian: Children can be cruel.

 

Morrigan: Children can be monsters and those monsters grow up to be adults.

 

(The dancers slowly morph into a more stiff and straight adult like presentation)

 

Christian: So when you lost your accent, the bullying didn't stop?

 

Morrigan: They just found more reasons. Made me feel small. Feel isolated. Feel like nothing. It was ……

 

Christian: Hell on earth?

 

Morrigan: You could say that.

 

(The dancers collapse to the floor, twitching and jittering, like puppets that have lost their strings)

 

Christian: My time was not much better. I don't think I had a single day without being treated like shit. Did I ever tell you how I nearly got blinded by some dickhead shoving a glue stick in my eye?

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Morrigan: I am really sorry to hear that man.

 

Christian: It’s in the past. What I am saying is, we have all had similar experiences. Nearly everyone has to go through rough times just to find out who we are as people by the end.

 

Morrigan: I bet you did not become exactly like them.

 

Christian: What do you mean?

 

Morrigan: They picked on me everyday. Never stopping. Anger and resentment just built up inside me.

 

Christian: So what did you do?

 

Morrigan: I became them. I turned into a bully. Picking on anyone smaller or lesser than myself.

 

(The dancers slowly rise to their feet. This time they mimic Morrigan's body language and posture)

 

Christian: (Half laughing) So you became a dickhead?

 

Morrigan: (Half laughing) A mega dickhead.

 

(Morrigan turns to face Christian, horrified to see the dancers)

 

Morrigan: What the fuck?

 

Christian: Do you feel regret?

 

Morrigan: What?

 

Christian: Do you feel regret?

 

(The dancers morph together and move slowly as one towards the pair, step by step, slowly reaching out

with their hands as if trying to stretch across the stage)

 

Morrigan: Behind you!

 

Christian: Don't worry about them.

 

Morrigan: What?

 

Christian: Just answer me. Do you, deep down, feel regret?

 

Morrigan: Yes! Of course I do!

 

Christian: And why?

 

Morrigan: Because I do!

 

Christian: But why?

 

Morrigan: Are you seriously doing this again?

 

Christian: Then maybe you don't regret it.

 

(The dancers getting closer and closer, almost in touching distance of Christian)

 

Morrigan: Mate!

 

Christian: I think you enjoyed it. Being the one that holds power over others. Making them feel small.

 

Morrigan: That's not true!

 

Christian: You said it yourself. You felt isolated. So you wanted others to feel the same.

 

Morrigan: Fuck you, man.

 

Christian: That's why you can't say you regret it, because you don't.

 

(The dancers reach Christian but do not touch him. clawing at the air around him, desperately reaching for Morrigan but dare not step closer)

 

Morrigan: Why are you doing this?

 

Christian: Because I’m your friend.

 

Morrigan: Some friend.

 

Christian: Real friends call you out on your bullshit. Real friends care.

 

Morrigan: Real friends don’t abandon you when you need them the most.