The Hunger Waltz

Sheila Callaghan’s The Hunger Waltz is an exploration of a woman’s search for identity over a period of 600 years. The play takes place in three acts, in three time periods: the 18th century, the 20th century, and the 22nd century. Gwen, the protagonist, is searching for a personal freedom she cannot name. She attempts to discover its nature through interactions with her female lover and her abusive husband. Elements of the supernatural intervene and guide her on her quest. The play investigates a woman’s decisions in relation to societal pressures and self-imposed barriers. It also navigates the breakdown of the tools of communication over time, as the language slowly truncates itself.