Five great plays with dynamic duologues

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams

Cast: 2 females

Synopsis: A Streetcar Named Desire continues to be a widely studied and revived play, if you have two actors who are willing to give the southern accent a try, this duologue is both moving and dynamic. Set in New Orleans, Blanche turns up unexpectedly to visit her sister Stella hoping to confine in her about the loss of their family estate in Mississippi, only to find out that she has married a polish immigrant, Stanley Kowalski.

Why it's great: All the character's true colours are exposed throughout the play within the small and shabby apartment as Blanche has to adjust from her well-off upbringing to her sister's poor living conditions and questionable relationship. Scene four presents a gritty duologue for Stella and Blanche, as Blanche confronts Stella about the life she's chosen. What makes this duologue so compelling is the stark difference in both the sisters' perspective and emotional reaction. Stella is calm, content and happy with her life. Blanche is frantic, paranoid and anxious.

The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh

Cast: 2 actors

Synopsis: Set in a totalitarian state, Katurian is a writer being brought in to be questioned by two corrupt police officers accusing him of committing murders that are referenced in his own story books. This black comedy examines freedom of speech, the responsibility of an artist and has a great duologue for actors of any gender.

Why it's great: Act Two, Scene One sees Michael and Katurian (brothers) sitting in a cell waiting to be executed, when it is revealed that Michael has acted out Katurian's stories and murdered two children. The scene has a tragic end, as Katurian decides to turn himself in to the police and kill Michael, in the hopes that they would not burn his story books in return for his confession.

The Effect by Lucy Prebble

Cast: 1 male, 1 female

Synopsis: The Effect is set in a clinical trial for a new anti-depressant, we follow Connie (a psychology student from Ontario) and Tristian (a young man from London) as they take part in the drug test. In the exposition, their dynamic is playful and fast paced, but as they start getting feelings for one another paranoia creeps in. Is one of them on the placebo? Is their connection just a drug fuelled fling?

Why it's great: Much of the play is made up of duologues between the two of them and depending on the length and tone of the piece you are searching for, almost all of them could be performed by young actors. Prebble's dialogue is slick and as the stakes rise near the end of the play, the scenes between Connie and Tristian are full of interruptions and unfinished thoughts, which present a great challenge for young actors to perform.

A Number by Caryl Churchill

Cast: 2 males

Synopsis: A Number is set in the near future and explores the politics of human cloning and identity within a personal and moving narrative of Salter as a father and his sons B1, B2 and Michael. Salter's wife and son have passed away and in a desperate attempt to get his life back he clones his son's DNA, but not to his knowledge, the lab created multiple clones of his son who are now walking around with their own lives.

Why it's great: The play is made up of duologues between Salter, B1 and B2 as they try to connect and make sense of their situation. Perhaps my favourite duologue is Scene Five, prior to this scene B1 has killed B2 out of jealousy and then killed himself. Salter is now planning to meet with other clones and meets Michael. He is a happily married maths teacher with three children. He is completely undisturbed that he is a clone, which Salter finds odd. The duologue ends when Salter wants to know more about Michael, something personal, but Michael can only answer superficially, and their whole interaction is distant, unsatisfactory and they are no more strangers than father and son.

The Deep Blue Sea by Terence Rattigan

Cast: 1 male, 1 female

Synopsis: Set in one room and taking place over one day, the play begins when Hester Collyer's neighbours find her unconscious in what looks like and turns out to be a suicide attempt. Hester recovers from the incident, as we see her love life playout with a volatile affair with former RAF pilot Freddie and her failed marriage with a high court judge, William. Freddie seems to be a man about town, more worried about how his reputation may be affected if Hester had committed suicide than her welfare. Freddie leaves Hester to be a test pilot in South America without her. It becomes clear that Hester fears be alone, as she becomes both devastated and frantic at the news.

Why it's great: The duologue between Hester and Freddie at the end of Act Two is perfect for two young actors looking to exploring desire, rejection and tension.