The Bench Play
A one act about memory, nostalgia, and the small places that hold our lives together. As construction workers prepare to demolish an old field, people arrive to relive moments tied to a worn out bench, taking pieces of it with them as they say goodbye.
- A production of Company 157 at UCSD
- Written by: Claire McNerney
- Directed by: Katelin Shum
- Sound Design: Jerson Rivas
Project Overview
The Bench Play centers on a simple wooden bench that becomes the anchor point for stories of childhood, family, romance, and the passing of time. As two construction workers prepare to mark the area for demolition, different people return to reclaim memories tied to the space: a son remembering his father, sisters reliving old games, a couple revisiting the moment they fell in love.
My approach to the sound was subtle and story driven. My role involved shaping clear vocal performances that felt grounded in memory, etting the atmosphere of the story by creating sounds that represented the field, flashbacks, distant traffic, the rumble of construction, and a final moment of catharsis as the bench is taken away.
Listen
The Bench Play ending song
My Responsibilities
- Recorded and edited voice performances for offstage characters.
- Created natural ambient sounds for the environment.
- Added subtle emotional stingers during key memory transitions.
- Compose an ending song that feels nostalgic and brings that moment of catharsis.
Technical Notes
- DAW: Ableton Live (editing, cleanup, mixing), Reaper (recording, mix)
- Used light EQ & compression to balance sounds
- Environmental effects: layered wind, grass movement, distant machinery, trumpet playing.
- Maintained consistent sonic tone across present scenes and flashbacks.