words keep wolves at bay

chris j cluff

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The Big Break

The Big Break

A One-Act Play
by Chris Cluff

About the Play

The Big Break is a dark comedy about auditions, authority, and the quiet desperation of people trying to work in the arts without losing their minds.

When Mike accidentally walks into the wrong room, three directors seize the mistake as an audition. They don’t ask for a scene—they ask for truth. What follows is an escalating, absurd interrogation disguised as artistic mentorship, where buzzwords replace clarity and vulnerability becomes a test of endurance.

As the pressure mounts, Mike’s polite compliance cracks into a raw, funny, and unsettling monologue that exposes the invisible labour, precariousness, and emotional toll of creative work.

By turns ridiculous and painfully familiar, The Big Break asks who gets to define “truth” in the room—and what it costs when the audition never really ends.

Script Details

  • Cast: 4 performers (age- and gender-flexible)
  • Setting: A single room
  • Time: Present day
  • Length: Approximately 30–40 minutes
  • Style: Dark comedy / satire / contemporary theatre

Read the First Five Pages (Free)

I’m sharing the first five pages of The Big Break below as a free preview.

These opening pages establish the tone, rhythm, and central dynamic of the play. You’re welcome to read them, share the link, and pass them along to collaborators.

THE FIRST 5 PAGES ARE AVAILABLE 👉 HERE 👈

Read the Full Play

If you’d like to read the whole script, a PDF of The Big Break is available for $5 CAD.

This helps support the continued development of my writing and keeps the work independent.

How to Get the Full Script

  1. Send $5 CAD via Interac e-Transfer
  2. Include your email address in the message field
  3. Use the note: “The Big Break – full script”
  4. I’ll email you the PDF within 24 hours (usually much sooner)

E-Transfer Details

  • Amount: $5 CAD
  • Recipient Name: Chris Cluff
  • Email: chrisjcluff@gmail.com
  • Security Question (if needed): Big Break
  • Answer: Theatre

(If your bank doesn’t require a security question, you can ignore this step.)

Production & Reading Inquiries

If you’re interested in:

  • producing the play
  • staging a reading or workshop
  • classroom / educational use
  • festival submission questions

please reach out.

📧 chrisjcluff@gmail.com

The Big Break © 2025 by Chris Cluff is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Content Notes

This play includes themes of:

  • audition pressure and workplace power dynamics
  • artistic gatekeeping and performative “truth”
  • burnout, anxiety, and emotional manipulation (played for satire)
  • strong language and dark humour
  • references to self-harm (in a comedic/absurdist context)

Thank You

If you’ve ever walked into a room hoping to be seen—and left feeling like you were being measured, dissected, and rebranded… this play is for you.

Thanks for reading.
— Chris

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