SYNOPSIS

Back from a raid on a foreign land, the Viking Sven visits his estranged friend Bretl, high on a mountain. When his welcome is not well met, Sven pleads for Bretl to witness his newest and greatest treasure: Kevin, a regular guy in torn jeans and T-shirt who has taught not only Sven, but the entire village of Vikings to abandon their toxic notions of what a man should be. Can Bretl be convinced or will his anger towards Sven for a past wrong keep him set in his ways?

PLAYWRIGHT’S BIO

Matthew McLachlan was born in Scotland, raised in Florida, and currently survives in New York City. He is a Dramatist Guild Member, current Artist in Residence with Abingdon Theatre Company and a two-time ScreenCraft Stage Play Finalist. His plays include: The Demand of Avarice, This God Damn House, Jack & Melissa, Orion, and The Place We Are Meant to Be, among others. His plays have been presented by Abingdon Theatre Company, Nylon Fusion, The Chain Theatre, The NOW Collective, The Farm Theater, The PIT, Thespis Theater Festival, The Midnight Factory, and performed regionally in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, New Jersey, & Florida. Other credits include: Nominated for Best Writer of a Web-Series (ADULTish), The Roast of Michael Musto (Head-Writer), & his published works A Collection of One-Acts & Other Things You May or May Not Enjoy and full-length play Orion are available now at The Drama Bookshop and on Amazon.

A BIT ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

1. When did you start writing plays? If you had a moment where you realized you wanted to write, what was it?

I was an actor taking a one-person show writing class. By the time it came to perform for an invited audience what we had written, I really just wanted to watch someone else perform it as I had realized creating it was more thrilling and dangerous than anything I had ever done as an actor. And…that…is when I knew. Cue music.

2. How did you come to write your OOB play? Was there a particular inspiration behind its creation? How has it developed?

I was watching the show Vikings and in it, there is a scene where a priest who was taken as a slave eventually befriends the main Viking. Years into their friendship, the Viking invites the priest to go with his family to this rare gathering to convene with the gods. Little did the priest know, he was being brought as a sacrifice. Then, it didn’t work out for some reason and then they just NEVER talked about it. I took that idea and mixed it with all of the toxic masculinity I saw on the show and noticed how there are still so many similarities in real life to those same toxic traits. I wanted to create a piece that is funny, but also has a good point. I mean, if a Viking can be convinced to change his ways, so can the men today right? RIGHT?!

3. What are 5 words that describe who you are as a playwright?

Funny, unexpecting, inclusive, charming, verisimilitude

4. What/who are some of the major influences on your writing?

Brenden Jacobs-Jenkins

Martin McDonagh

Dominque Morisseau

Neil Gaiman

David Bowie

Elliott Smith

5. What’s one fact someone would never guess about you?

I was a Park Ranger for 3 1/2 years. You’re welcome.

6. What are some of your favorite plays?

Behanding in Spokane

Gloria

Sex With Strangers

Pillow Man

7. Any new projects you’re working on or shameless plugs?

I am currently writing a play about a young woman who owns a comic book shop when her 10-year-old inner child shows up and only she can see her.