Second Person Narrative
‘Off you go then and best of luck
It’s bound to be different this time though some of it might seem familiar
The big questions, we mean
The beginnings, middles, endings, et cetera
Still, not to worry, it’s all a work-in-progress’
You're born a girl. You grow up. You grow old. You die. But who is in control of your life story? Can you actually choose your destiny? And how do you forge your own identity along the way?
Second Person Narrative by Jemma Kennedy is part of Platform, an initiative from Tonic Theatre in partnership with Nick Hern Books aimed at addressing gender imbalance and inequality in theatre. Platform comprises big-cast plays with predominantly or all-female casts, written specifically for performance by school, college and youth-theatre groups.
‘Drama is an important tool for building confidence and empowering young people. Platform will give girls opportunity to access these benefits as much as their male counterparts.’ - Moira Buffini
Jemma Kennedy’s plays include The Gift, part of the Hoard Festival for the New Vic Theatre, The Summer Book and The Prince and the Pauper for the Unicorn Theatre, The Grand Irrationality for the Lost Theatre Studio (Los Angeles) and Don’t Feed the Animals for National Theatre Connections 2013.
Jemma was Pearson Playwright at the National Theatre in 2010 and part of the inaugural Soho 6 writing scheme with Soho Theatre Company in 2012.
Her novel Skywalking was published by Penguin/Viking in 2002.
Jemma has acted as a writing mentor and judge for the National Theatre’s New Views playwriting course and competition for young writers, and teaches playwriting at the National Theatre’s Clore Learning Centre. She has also mentored writers for the Koestler Trust.