Homewreck by Rhoma Spencer

Commissioned by Don O'Shaughnessy

Inspired by numerous COVID Confessions

Artist Statement

The COVID Confessions was a unique opportunity to create art during my 14 days isolation having just returned from Trinidad... after spending five weeks.

The task set out by Convergence Theatre was plausible and as a theatre practitioner and comedian I was tossed into which medium I would want to create in.

After reading and listening to all the confessions, I made notes of what stood out for me in each confession and made an asterisk on the ones that was cause to inspire. At the end, I had nine asterisks. However, I needed one story to be my starting point. The one that spoke to me was one similar to my own circumstance. ‘Coming out of a toxic relationship’.

The portal to begin writing was made easy because I had a lived experience that was motivating the text. The other eight stories became supporting ideas and text to embellish my monologue.

As an actor, I chose to write a monologue and though I am of the baby boom generation, I wanted to write for and about a millennial. I was very careful to write a narrative that is true to that generation and was always vigilant to not cross generations in the writing. That to me was my biggest task and I feel accomplished.