Nerds

by Debra Oswald

Comedy / Sixteen-year-old Gillian is a nerd, a misfit, totally uncool who sees herself as fat, ugly and a social cripple. Throughout this play, commissioned by the Canberra Youth Theatre specifically for teenagers, Gillian takes us on a funny, excruciating journey through the world of adolescent anguish and awkwardness. She finds it hard to cope with her bright gung-ho sister, who is not only totally together physically but also has a bouncy, positive mental attitude; her gossipy girlfriends; her addiction to chocolate; and her desperate quest to be beautiful and popular. So when she develops a crush on the school heartthrob and finds herself on a blind date with a mega-nerd, Gillian feels pushed to the edge. But in a surprise ending, Gillian triumphs with an exhilarating moment of self-awareness and confidence. ( 4m., 6w. ~ 1m., 4w. with doubling)

Paperback

Published January 1, 2000

About the author

Debra Oswald is a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. She is a two-time winner of the NSW Premier's Literary Award and author of the novels Useful (2015), The Whole Bright Year (2018) and The Family Doctor (2021). She was creator/head writer of the first five seasons of the successful TV series Offspring.

Her stage plays have been performed around the world and published by Currency Press. Gary's House, Sweet Road and The Peach Season were all shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Award. Debra has also written four plays for young audiences—Dags, Skate, Stories in the Dark and House on Fire. She has written three Aussie Bites books and six children's novels, including The Redback Leftovers.

Her television credits include award-winning episodes of Police Rescue, Palace of Dreams, The Secret Life of Us, Sweet and Sour and Bananas in Pyjamas.

Debra performed her one-woman show Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? at the Griffin Theatre in 2021 and a month-long season at the Ensemble in 2023.