Year: Upcoming - World Premiere with Neptune Theatre in May 2027
Length: 95 mins, no intermission.
About the play: When Carlos, a young Mexican musician building a life in Newfoundland, learns that his mother is flying in for his graduation recital - booked as a “surprise” by his well-meaning Newfoundland boyfriend, Phillip - his worlds are suddenly on a collision course. What follows is a tender and chaotic whirlwind of cultural misunderstandings, language barriers, clashing family expectations, and the universal hope that the people we love will accept us as we are. Warm, witty, and full of heart, this bilingual comedy-drama invites audiences to reflect on belonging, bravery, and the messy, miraculous work of loving across distance—geographical, cultural, and emotional.
Staging Requirements: Casting Breakdown (2 M; 2 W)
-CARLOS: a mid-twenties man from Mexico. Music graduate student. He has lived in Newfoundland and Labrador for over 6 years. He came to study and decided to stay. He is emotional and passionate, but remains grounded and objective in tough situations -or he thinks. He is happy in NL, despite all the… things.
-PHILLIP: a mid-twenties man from Newfoundland and Labrador. Carlos’ partner. An interior designer. Kind, dramatic, and socially awkward. He overcompensates his insecurities by acting as though he knows it all. He is very in love with Carlos.
-MARÍA: Mid-late 50s. Carlos’ mother. Caring, dramatic, warm Mexican mother. She loves Carlos. She wants to see him happy. She misses him deeply, but hides her true feelings. Only speaks Spanish.
-MARY: Mid-late 50s. Phillip’s mother. A traditional Newfoundland and Labrador matriarch. She has no filter and speaks her mind. Well-intended, but gets upset when corrected. She is supportive of her son, but feels like their relationship is not the same as it used to be.
Production History: Seis Grados en Mayo was originally conceived through Paprika 19th Festival’s Playwriting Unit in Toronto, ON, in 2020, under the guidance, dramaturgy, and support of Zaiba Baig. Seis Grados en Mayo was in development at Rising Tide Theatre in Trinity Bay, NL, under the guidance, dramaturgy, and support of Donna Butt from 2020-2022. Santiago received the Senior Dramatic Script Award at the Newfoundland and Labrador 2024 Arts and Letters Awards for this play.
Get the script: To receive a copy of the script, please contact Santiago directly.