LUMIN

by Emma Gibson

The pigs are stressed, Liv won’t eat, and Ma wants everyone to follow the Constitutions. Set in a modern-day commune on the outskirts of the Chihuahuan desert in Texas, this new play about our need for community, asks why the line between delusion and what the rest of us believe, is getting blurrier than ever.

The pigs are stressed, Liv won’t eat, and Ma wants everyone to follow the Constitutions. Set in a modern-day commune on the outskirts of the Chihuahuan desert in Texas, this new play about our need for community, asks why the line between delusion and what the rest of us believe, is getting blurrier than ever.

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LUMIN

Recommended by

  • Andrew Kramer: LUMIN

    A masterclass in tension and psychological depth. LUMIN truly knows what it is; the play reveals itself to us by seamlessly weaving together the intense, unsettling atmosphere of the best A24 thrillers with a narrative horror that resonates deeply with contemporary anxieties of our modern world. I couldn't put it down.

    A masterclass in tension and psychological depth. LUMIN truly knows what it is; the play reveals itself to us by seamlessly weaving together the intense, unsettling atmosphere of the best A24 thrillers with a narrative horror that resonates deeply with contemporary anxieties of our modern world. I couldn't put it down.

  • Zach Barr: LUMIN

    As perfectly paced a thriller as you can find, LUMIN is a tense and rich play about taking "what's best for the community" to its logical extreme. To Gibson's immense credit, what seems like a straightforward moral divide muddies brilliantly as it goes, and by the final scenes the ending feels both earned and wholly unexpected. Deserving of a production yesterday.

    As perfectly paced a thriller as you can find, LUMIN is a tense and rich play about taking "what's best for the community" to its logical extreme. To Gibson's immense credit, what seems like a straightforward moral divide muddies brilliantly as it goes, and by the final scenes the ending feels both earned and wholly unexpected. Deserving of a production yesterday.

  • Playwrights Foundation: LUMIN

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced LUMIN as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were intigued how the play hits an artery of what society fears right now, written in a form of a true crime form that audiences have a strong appetite for. The play is clear and well-paced as it draws the reporter into the world of Lumin, and has the potential to dig into timely questions. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production....

    The community of National Committee readers for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival advanced LUMIN as a Semi-Finalist at Playwrights Foundation. We were intigued how the play hits an artery of what society fears right now, written in a form of a true crime form that audiences have a strong appetite for. The play is clear and well-paced as it draws the reporter into the world of Lumin, and has the potential to dig into timely questions. We hope this play is considered for further development and investigation, and finds dedicated collaborators in this play’s journey towards production. #BAPF46

View all 11 recommendations

Character Information

  • Liv
    Character Age
    14
  • Clancy
    Character Age
    33
  • Julian
    Character Age
    40 - 50's
  • Ma
    Character Age
    60-70
  • Chorus (if used)
    Character Age
    any

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Refracted Theatre Company, Year 2025
  • Type Reading, Organization Laboratory Theatre of Florida, Year 2025
  • Type Reading, Organization Curtis Theatre, Year 2023
  • Type Reading, Organization Valdez Theatre Conference, Year 2023

Awards

  • Louise Wigglesworth Award
    Laboratory Theatre of Florida
    Winner
    2025
  • Top 1% (of 4643 entires)
    BBC Writers Room open call
    2024
  • Create Theater and Prism Theatre New Play Development
    Create Theater and Prism Theatre Company
    Finalist
    2023
  • Finalist
    Women's Prize for Playwriting
    Finalist
    2023
  • Amabassador Theatre Group Playwriting Prize with Platform Presents
    Runner Up
    2023
  • Top 35 (from 1468 entries) - New Writing Prize
    Papatango
    2023
  • NAP Series
    Normal Ave
    Finalist
    2023
  • Princess Grace Award /Fellowship at New Dramatists
    New Dramatists
    Finalist
    2023
  • Festival
    From Page to Stage: That's what she said
    Selection
    2023
  • New Play Conference
    Valdez Theatre Conference
    Selection
    2023
  • New play conference
    Seven Devils Playwrights Conference
    Finalist
    2023
  • Theatre 503 International Playwriting Award - shortlist
    Theatre 503
    2023