Aristotle’s Poetics explores the lives of people who live with pain, whether physical or psychological. At the centre of the narrative is the struggle of Rob Kingsley, a middle-aged poet suffering from severe diabetes, which leaves him in constant pain and affects his ability to write. He begins to teach a literature class at a local high school and soon finds that he is not the only one in pain. Each of the students in his class suffers from their own internal strife and each is forced to explore their methods of coping over the course of their classes with Mr. Kingsley.
Told both through traditional narrative and more abstract means, Aristotle’s Poetics presents a frank and honest portrayal of the effects pain has not only on the sufferers but on those around them. Dark themes are explored unflinchingly without trepidation as the story delves into flawed personalities and brings up a raw reflection of its characters’ struggles.
Keywords: Teenagers, Pain, Drugs, Poetry, Education, Teacher, Stress, Youth
Running Time: 110 minutes
Male Cast: 6
Female Cast: 10
Doubled Cast: 16
Musicians: 1
Suitable for School Productions: Students Age 14+
Maximum Number of Roles: 24
Minimum Number of Roles: 16