ETC. Fest 2025: 'A House Divided' by Ackash Kumar

If you’ve ever felt like the world was moving too fast and you were just trying to keep up, this play is for you.

When I first started writing this, I kept thinking about the friend groups I’ve had growing up. I’ve never had the best luck with people. But now, I’m surrounded by some of the most amazing, supportive, and genuinely cool friends I’ve ever known. That contrast taught me a lot about what friendship really means, especially in a world that’s constantly shifting and full of people who aren’t always what they seem.

If you’ve ever listened to a Conan Gray album and felt seen, or watched Fallen Angels or Happy Together and felt like someone finally understood you, this play is for you.

This play is about growing pains. It’s about first times in the city. It’s about every bad decision made just to feel something, every white lie told to get ahead, every tear shed over boys, girls, and everything in between. It’s about the quiet moments, the ones that hit hardest. The kind that sneak up on you in the middle of the night, or while opening a packet of Samyang ramen at a CU Mart.

If you’ve ever cried over a coming-of-age movie while eating instant noodles, this play is for you.

And yes, I’m chaotic. This play reflects that.

It’s not clean. It’s not linear. It’s grief, but not the kind you expect.

So pay attention. Look for the signs.

Because when it hits, you won’t be ready.