Boudica

Tristan Bernays

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781848426863
• eBook ISBN: 9781780019628
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A brand-new ancient-history play in verse that tells the story of one of Britain's most iconic women: a queen, a warrior and a rebel.

'I ' d rather walk in blood than walk a slave
For he your Emperor!'

AD 61, Britannia. On the furthest outreaches of the Roman Empire – at the very edge of the known world – rebellion is brewing.

The King of the Iceni has died and his widow, Boudica, has tried to claim her rightful throne. For her insolence in defying Rome, the queen has been flogged, her daughters have been raped, and they have been banished from their homeland. But now, Queen Boudica has returned. And this time she has an army.

She will have revenge. She will have blood. She will make Rome quake in fear.

Boudica by Tristan Bernays premiered at Shakespeare's Globe, London, in September 2017.

Prologue

Enter ANDRASTE, Goddess of Victory.

ANDRASTE.

When first they came, their ships did cut the sea

Like gleaming scythes; their shining armour burned

Our native eyes, and filled our hearts with dread.

They came from Rome, an empire which reached

From smoky tips of Indian East unto

The Afric’ South of Egypt and toward

The cold Germanic North; and now its gaze

Was westward-fixed upon this little isle.

A seeming barren wasteland where they thought

No noble flower grew, but they knew not

That harsh environs breed a hardy weed

With thick strong roots – and so were the native clans.

A double dozen different warring tribes

Whose several kingdoms compassed this small isle.

The Celts and Picts, the monsters of the north;

The Belgics, fearsome soldiers, men of war

Whose blood and bravery was nonpareil;

The Trinovantes, skilled in word and trade,

Whose craft would make the god Hephaestus blush;

The Druids, shadow walkers, men of night,

Whose wisdom ran as deep as did the woods

Where gods like me and mine do darkly roam.

A hundred years, the Romans gave us siege;

A hundred times we tribes did drive them back

Through bloody battle and brave noble deed.

But we could not forever hold the tide

And soon the Romans claimed this isle as theirs

And we have since lain underneath their yoke

A broken, fractured isle of slaves and curs.

But many wore their slavish bonds with pride:

The client kings who made a pact with Rome,

Which in return for this did offer them

The Roman life of gilded luxury

And dazzled them with wine and song and wealth

Even as they robbed their kingdoms blind.

These client kings took Rome’s gold offerings

And thought themselves as equal with great Rome –

But a chain of gold is still naught but a chain

And they were no more free than were their subjects

Who heavy felt the conquering heel of Rome

Grind their faces down into the dirt.

Now here we witness this: the funeral

Of one such client king, Prasutagus,

King of the Iceni (a noble eastern tribe:

Masters of horses, carriers of the spear).

His fellow client kings have come to mourn

And celebrate his life in liquor; while

Already Rome’s imperial officer,

Catus Deciamus, has begun

To carve his lands and wealth up for great Rome.

But soon will come a figure to this scene:

The wife of Prasutagus, the Icenian Queen

Who comes to claim her kingdom – but perforce

Will come to claim the right of this whole isle

For those who live in it, and she will lead

These scattered, fractious tribes in unison

Against their tyrant masters. She will dip

Her javelin’s tip into their blood and write

Her name in history so all will know

The warrior queen who made the Romans fear.

PART ONE: THE COMING STORM

ACT ONE

Scene One

The city of Camulodunum.

The feasting hall of Prasutagus.

Drums and noise – a funeral wake is in progress.

Enter several TRIBAL KINGS alongside the Roman

Procurator, CATUS DECIAMUS.

They sing a drinking song for the dead – it’s loud and raucous.

THE KINGS.

When Death comes for me in my bed

Le...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Original Production
• Acknowledgements
• Dedication
• Characters
• Time, Place and Pronunciation Guide
• Boudica
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information