R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots)
by Karel Čapek,
Adapted by William L. Walker Montgomerie
In a future ruled by Rossum Industries, humanity has created Robots to serve, laboring without emotion or desire. Helena Glory, the President’s daughter, is disturbed by the ethics of treating sentient beings as tools. As the Robots gain autonomy, they reflect humanity’s flaws, raising urgent questions about freedom, morality, and the cost of progress. Domin, the CEO, celebrates the rise of efficiency, while Helena and Nana confront the consequences of unchecked innovation. When human life teeters on the brink, Alquist, a broken engineer, must reckon with the legacy of Rossum’s creations. Helena, driven by conscience, fights for the Robots’ right to freedom in a collapsing world. As the Robots rise, humanity faces extinction, and a new order emerges—one shaped by the very beings once made to serve it.
- Cast Size: 8M 6F 4ANY GENDER
- Running Time: 90+ minutes
- Royalty Rate: $75 per performance
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About the Playwright
William L. Walker Montgomerie is a playwright and theatre artist with a deep appreciation for storytelling and the collaborative spirit of the stage. He holds a Master of Arts in Theater Management and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Directing and Acting and has spent several years teaching theatre at Paris Junior College, a Texas two-year institution, where he remains committed to nurturing creativity and building community through the arts.
With experience both on and off the stage, Montgomerie’s work is shaped by a love for character-driven narratives, thoughtful dialogue, and the unique alchemy that happens when artists and audiences come together. His plays often explore the humor, heartache, and quiet resilience of everyday lives, drawing on a wide range of theatrical traditions while remaining grounded in honest human experience.
Whether in the classroom, rehearsal hall, or writing desk, he values collaboration, curiosity, and the ongoing process of learning through the art of theatre.
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