Start Swimming

James Fritz

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2017
• eBook ISBN: 9781780019901
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

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.

Ideal for schools, youth theatres and amateur companies to perform, James Fritz's Start Swimming demonstrates an innovative playwright at the top of his craft.

W

Wo

Whu

Whuuuu

Wha

Wha wha wha wha

Wha wha what.

What?

What.

What ye

What yerrrrrr

What yeeee-errrrrrrrr

Ye-Oooooo

What yoooooo

What you?

D

D

Doeeee

What you doeeee

Ng ng

What you doeeeeeng

H

Ha

Heh

What you doeeing heh.

What you doing here?

Y

What you doing here?

Y

What you doing here?

Y

What you doing here?

Y

I’m?

X

What you doing here?

Um.

X

What you doing here?

I’m.

X

What you doing here?

Breathing?

X

What you doing here?

Blinking?

X

What you doing here?

Sweating?

X

What you doing here?

Standing?

YYYYY

What you doing here?

Standing.

Y

…

X

What you doing here?

Standing.

Why?

X

What you doing here?

Standing.

Where –

X

What you doing here?

Standing. Standing still standing alone standing up standing –

X

What you doing here?

Standing.

You can’t stand here.

Y.

Of course I can.

X

What you doing here?

Standing.

You can’t stand here. See that sign?

Y

What does it say?

Um.

X

See that sign. What does it say?

Keep off the grass.

Y

And where are you standing?

The grass?

You have to get off.

Y

What if I don’t?

Ten-pound fine.

X

One-hundred-pound fine.

Y

I got permission.

From who?

The owner of the grass.

And who’s that?

Mr… Grass?

X

What you doing here?

Standing.

On the grass.

That’s right.

Well, you’re not allowed.

Y

Why?

Because the sign says.

Y

It’s bad for the grass.

Y

Bad for the grass? Are my feet poisonous or something? You know how much I spent on these trainers? The grass should be thanking me. I’M SORRY GRASS AM I HURTING YOU ARE MY POISON FEET HURTING YOU?

X

You’re being aggressive

Y

How am I being aggressive?

You’re being aggressive and talking to me in a threatening manner.

Y

I’m calling the police

Y

Why you got to be like that? I’m just standing on the grass I’m not harming anyone.

The police are on their way. I’ve given you fair warning.

Y

What’d I do?

X

What did I FUCKING DO?

X

Okay okay okay.

What you doing here?

Standing on the grass.

Y

Why?

I work here…?

Y

I work here.

Why?

It’s very well paid and I really enjoy it.

X

It’s not that well paid.

Y

But it’s flexible.

X

It’s not very flexible.

Y

But it involves helping other people and that’s really important to me.

X

It’s not that well paid.

Y

The hours are awful.

Y

It takes me ages to get there. I don’t enjoy it at all.

YY

I don’t like my colleagues.

Y

My colleagues don’t like me.

Y

I never see daylight.

Y

My feet are covered in blisters. I could be sacked at any time I

Y

I um –

X

What you doing here?

Standing on the grass.

Why?

I work here.

You’re fired.

Y

That’s not fair.

You were late yesterday.

Y

My train got stuck.

Rules are rules.

YYY

I need this job. Fucksake.

X

Don’t swear ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Acknowledgements
• Original Production
• Note on Text
• Start Swimming
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information