Our Blog / Script Spotlight: The Sprocket-Maker by Frank Amaya
Script Spotlight: The Sprocket-Maker by Frank Amaya
In Frank Amaya’s carefully structured half-hour drama, a man named Gary makes sprockets at a factory all day and then comes home to his wife every night. Gary struggles to find meaning and purpose in the endless routine of his days, but eventually finds new insights about himself and the point of his life.
Amaya has self-published a growing collection of novels and has more recently started writing for the stage. We asked him a few questions about “The Sprocket-Maker.”
Where do you live, and how long have you been writing plays?
I live in Canada, where the long winters offer plenty of time for reflection—and for writing. I began writing plays a few years ago as a natural extension of my fiction. I wanted to explore how language lives and breathes when spoken aloud, and the stage provided the perfect arena.
The dialogue in “The Sprocket-Maker” is carefully structured and poetic. What was your intention in giving the characters such formal language?
The formal, almost mechanical quality of the language mirrors the world of the play—a place where routine, gears, and tradition rule. I wanted the characters’ speech to feel like it was part of the machinery they inhabit, and yet, as the story unfolds, we begin to hear the human fragility beneath the polished surface.
Who do you think is the ideal audience for your play?
“The Sprocket-Maker” is for those who love speculative fiction, philosophical questions, and beautifully odd little worlds. I think it will resonate especially with thoughtful viewers who appreciate metaphor and layered storytelling—students, dreamers, and creators of all kinds.
The Sprocket-Maker
By Frank AmayaThe Sprocket Maker's Life tells the story of Gary, a hardworking man who feels trapped in a dead-end job and a monotonous life. He lives in a small town with his wife and spends most of his time making sprockets at a factory. Despite his wife's encouragement and support, Gary can't shake off the feeling that his life lacks meaning and purpose. As the play progresses, we see Gary dealing with various ups and downs, both at work and in his personal life. He faces pressure from his boss to increase productivity, which only adds to his stress and dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, he struggles to connect with his wife and feels increasingly isolated and alone. However, through his struggles and setbacks, Gary begins to see the potential for change and growth. He starts to question the expectations and norms that have shaped his life and begins to explore new possibilities. Ultimately, the play ends on a hopeful note as Gary takes steps to break free from his old life and embrace a new, more fulfilling path. Overall, The Sprocket Maker's Life is a poignant and relatable exploration of the challenges and opportunities that come with living a mundane existence. It invites audiences to reflect on their own lives and consider how they might break free from the limitations that hold them back.
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The Last Laugh of the Hallow Crown
By Frank AmayaIn a crumbling kingdom ruled by fear, the only man allowed to speak freely is the court jester—a limping, half-painted fool believed to be harmless. But behind the jokes hides a shattered noble, bent on revenge after his family was executed by royal decree. As the tyrant King spirals into paranoia and his Queen grows dangerously quiet, the Jester begins a rebellion not with swords, but with performance, poetry, and truth. From whispered rumors to public mockery, he turns the kingdom’s laughter against its throne. Allies rise from the ashes: a guilt-ridden general, a circle of courtiers hungry for justice, and the people themselves—ready to stand. At the heart of it all lies the Book of Blood, a ledger of every sin the King has buried. This play script is a dark political tragedy about masks, memory, and the moment fear loses its voice. In the end, even a jester can topple an empire.
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