Comment is Free & Start Swimming (NHB Modern Plays)

Two Plays

James Fritz

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781780019796
• Topic: Littérature
• Subtopic: Théâtre britannique

Two plays by award-winning writer James Fritz, each asking urgent, pointed and complex questions of the times we live in.

Ideal for schools, youth theatres and amateur companies to perform, these versatile and incisive plays demonstrate an innovative playwright at the top of his craft.

In Comment Is Free, a journalist forms the centre of a devastating media storm. After being staged by Old Vic New Voices in 2015, the version published here was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016, winning both the Tinniswood and Imison Awards for Audio Drama.

Start Swimming is a play about occupation, revolution and what the future holds for today's youth. One step away from disaster, there's only one thing left to do: start swimming. First staged by the Young Vic Taking Part department, Start Swimming was also performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017.

'both a caustic critique of contemporary society's treatment of young people and an exploration of the role of language in the perpetuation and justification of the practices under critique' - Exeunt Magazine on Start Swimming

'theatrical and fun... radiates a puckishness and sense of mischief that mocks control systems even as it articulates their bleakness' - Time Out on Start Swimming

'raw and vivid... a powerful indictment of the situation in which many people find themselves' - Scotsman on Start Swimming

'a brilliant piece... It took my breath away' - Telegraph on Comment is Free

COMMENT IS FREE

Acknowledgements

With thanks to Alex Ferris and all at Old Vic New Voices, and Kate Hewitt, Martha Rose Wilson and the wonderful cast of our reading.

And Becky. Here’s to making lots more noise together.

J.F.

This version of Comment Is Free was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 5 October, 2016, with the following cast:

HILARY	Rachael Stirling
BEN	Tobias Menzies
EMMA WATKINS	Alice Kirk
POLICE OFFICER	Alison Belbin
EDITOR	Jolyon Jenkins
Director, Producer & Dramaturg	Becky Ripley

The news was read by Neil Nunes, Susan Rae, Zeb Soanes and Ritula Shah, with Jonathan Dimbleby hosting Any Questions.

‘The Noise’ was voiced by Natasha Cowley, Luke MacGregor, Clare Perkins and Gavi Singh Chera, alongside hundreds of crowdsourced contributors from across the country.

Note on Text

This is a text featuring hundreds of voices.

It should feel noisy – things should overlap, and not everything needs to be heard.

A line with no full stop at the end indicates an unfinished thought.

A dash at the end of a line indicates an interruption.

The journalist and political commentator

Alistair Cooper today sparked controversy –

Alistair Cooper/Alistair Cooper said/I hate

Alistair Cooper/I hate Alistair Cooper so much.

What’s he said now?

Awful views. Awful man.

God I hate Alistair Cooper.

ALISTAIR Hello, you’ve reached Alistair Cooper. I’m not available right now but please leave me a message and I’ll get back to you.

HILARY Alistair it’s me. Can you pick something up on your way home, I’m going late at work again sorry love you bye.

Alistair Cooper and wife

Alistair Cooper, wife alongside him

Alistair Cooper’s wife Hilary sports gorgeous halterneck dress as she attends

Alistair Cooper’s wife Hilary looks stylish alongside her husband as he collects

Not hard to see why she married him is it?

She doesn’t need his money, she’s posher than he is.

She’s a QC apparently.

If she was my barrister I’d question her judgement.

Alistair Cooper pictured with his wife Hilary and their two-year-old daughter Agnes.

That poor child.

Imagine having Alistair Cooper as a father.

Oh god he’s spawned.

People like him shouldn’t be allowed kids.

ALISTAIR Hello, you’ve reached Alistair Cooper. I’m not available right now but please leave me a message and I’ll get back to you.

HILARY Hiya it’s me just to remind you Agnes has her vaccination appointment but I’m having lunch with my brother so can’t take her. Love you bye.

Alistair Cooper today sparked outrage with fresh comments on

Comments on immigration

After referring to union leader Ken McNeil as a cockroach

Cooper, appearing on The Daily Politics argued that

Have you seen this?

Have you seen what Cooper’s said this time?

JONATHAN DIMBLEBY

Hello and welcome to Any Questions from the Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House, London. On our panel this week is political commentator Alistair Cooper

Not him again.

How can the BBC give a platform to a moron like him.

He’s a carbuncle on the backside of civilised society and he needs to be removed permanently.

Everybody hates you Alistair Cooper so just hurry up and die.

JONATHAN DIMBLEBY

Alistair Cooper – Your response?

Alistair Cooper’s latest comments have sparked outrage on social media with ‘ShutUpAlistair’ trending for a large part of the day.

ShutUpAlistair.

Hahaha love that ShutUpAlistair’s trending worldwide.

ShutUpAlistair/ShutUpAlistair/ShutUpAlistair ShutUpAlistair I hate you. Now go away.

BEN Heard Alistair on the radio.

HILARY Was he good?

BEN You didn’t listen?

HILARY Never do.

BEN He really went for it.

HILARY Always does.

BEN He’s getting worse. You really didn’t listen? Some of the language he used –

HILARY Why do you listen if he annoys you so much?

BEN A lot of people are very upset.

HILARY Oh they’re always upset about something.

BEN Maybe you should talk to him. Get him...