Drip

Tom Wells, Matthew Robin, Matthew Robins

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781848428096
• eBook ISBN: 9781788501347
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

'My mam's always saying, the best thing to do with new things is just chuck yourself in at the deep end.'

Liam is fifteen and he's just signed up for Bev Road Baths' first ever synchronised swimming team. It's for his best mate Caz really. She needs to get a team together to win the annual Project Prize at school. She tries every year. She always loses. But Liam's an optimist, he's determined to help. There's just one problem. Liam can't swim…

A one-man musical comedy by award-winning duo Tom Wells and Matthew Robins, Drip was first seen as part of the Back to Ours programme for Hull UK City of Culture 2017. The play subsequently toured the UK in 2018, including runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Bush Theatre, London, in a production by Boundless Theatre and Script Club.

This edition includes Matthew Robins' original sheet music.

LIAM, fifteen.

He is trying to be a very optimistic person.

This is our presentation we’ve done – me and Caz (best-mate Caz) – for The Project Prize.

I’m presenting it now, in assembly, cos you have to.

Caz helped with making it, gave really good feedback and that.

And also, she inspired it actually.

Told me not to say that but, I have done. Boom.

Miss Barton’s on lights, from the back.

LIAM gives Miss Barton a thumbs-up.

And I know it’s not… Like us doing a project, actually putting time and energy into extra work over the holidays, handing it in at the start of Year 11, you probably think that isn’t that cool.

Cos, it isn’t.

Thing is: we’re not fussed.

Cos, thing is: we are actually mavericks.

Like decent, interesting people, with proper thoughts and voices and that. Stuff to say.

Who knew?

And if the world needs anything at the moment, it’s flipping, mavericks.

So this is our maverick presentation.

One last-ditch desperate go at winning The Project Prize for Caz (and also me, but mostly Caz) instead of being ignored, overlooked, missing out, like usual.

Stuff you should know:

LIAM strums his guitar.

Um. It’s a musical.

Four more things:

He sings.

Song – ‘Four Things (i)’

One. You’ll notice as we go along a bit

This project’s just a thing that we have made up in my room.

Don’t expect much.

Two. I haven’t got the hang of the guitar yet

It’s just a work-in-progress, I’ll mess up all the chords.

You know, like life.

Three. The characters are all just real people

I haven’t changed the names at all.

Four. We don’t mind losing

Just thought we’d have a go.

Reckon that’s everything.

Guitar strum.

Scene One

My bedroom is:

there’s my bed, it’s blue, my duvet cover and that;

my bookcase, with books (sci-fi) and comics;

on the top shelf, a clock, which is ticky, and some superhero action figures.

My favourite’s Spider-Man, obvs.

Sometimes I just look at him like: wow.

Sometimes I ask him for advice, sort of imagine he’s giving me advice.

Like if I’m worried or something.

‘It’ll probably be fine,’ he’ll say, in my head.

I’m trying to be more of an optimist, so.

It’s good advice.

This has been my bedroom for one year exactly, since I moved to Hull.

My mam started going out with a man called Barry, Barry from Hull.

It happens.

And after a bit they like fell in love properly, wanted to make a go of it, so me and my mam moved here, moved in with Barry.

He’s got like a job and that, a house, a Nissan.

I wasn’t sure at first. About him, or anything really.

Just sat in my room, didn’t say much, ate toast.

That’s all I do really.

I’m doing it now, at the start of this.

Mam says not to worry. Says it’s just my age.

Song – ‘Action Figures’

I am at that weird age

Half of me is all grown up

But I’ve still got action figures on a shelf

Near my bed

I am at a weird stage

I don’t really have a life

I just sit here writing little songs

Instead

I am at that weird age

All the stuff that should be easy

Isn’t easy, it’s been tough now

For a bit

I am at a weird stage

Half of me is scared, scared of being noticed

Just in case they notice

I’m shit

The other half of me is pretty good

Oh, the other half of me is full of hope

When half of me is struggling

The other half can cope

Fingers crossed

The other half can cope.

Doorbell.

This is actually quite a special moment.

I don’t realise it, but my life is about to literally change forever.

Guitar strum.

Scene Two

‘Alright Caz.’

It’s Caz, best-mate Caz at the door.

I flipping love Caz.

She’s fifteen, she’s hilarious, she’s got a Saturday job at Lush.

I go in for a hug, she dodges it. Classic Caz.

‘Liam, I’ll get to the point,’ she says.

The thing I love about Caz, she gets to the point.

‘What are you doing right now?’

Feel a bit on the spot. I can’t say I’ve been writing a song, she’d piss herself.

‘Nowt,’ I say.

‘Nice one,’ she says. ‘You’re coming with me.’

Guitar strum.

Scene Three

Miss Barton, let’s get proud.

Rainbow lights.

LIAM hands out Prid...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Original Production
• Dedication
• Characters
• Drip
• Music
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information