Breathe

Synopsis

An institutional room with a single bed

Jun, a 14-year-old British Chinese girl, and Amy, a 15-year-old white girl with long blonde hair, are the central characters in Vivienne Franzmann’s powerful and unsettling play “Breathe.” Set in an institutional room with plain walls and minimal personal items, the play delves into the lives of these two teenage girls as they explore their identities, grapple with mental health issues, and navigate the complexities of their burgeoning friendship. Through raw and intense dialogue, the girls reveal their deepest fears, desires, and vulnerabilities, leading to a climactic exploration of their thoughts on life, death, and connection.

The play explores themes of identity, mental health, and teenage angst. It is a drama with a linear narrative that unfolds in a confined setting, enhancing the sense of isolation and introspection. The interactions between Jun and Amy are marked by candid and often disturbing conversations, capturing the raw emotional landscape of adolescence. The minimalist setting focuses the audience’s attention on the intense psychological and emotional dynamics between the characters.