Blue

Joe Ward Munrow

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781788501057
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A disquieting and darkly funny play which shines a light on the state of mental-health services in modern Britain.

Set in a psychiatric unit, Blue looks at both sides of mental-health care – those who receive it, and those who give it. It explores the difficulties and complexities of life under observation, and shows how beautiful moments can be found even in the most fragile of circumstances.

Joe Ward Munrow's play Blue was first performed at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, in collaboration with the Royal Court Theatre, before performances at the Gate Theatre, London.

The Nick Hern Books Multiplay Drama series features large-cast plays specifically written to be performed by and appeal to young people.

1.

– Sits between

– The broken thighs

– Of a pretty song’s

– Attempts

– To fuck itself together.

– Meanders

– Gone

– Went

– Left

– Wending

– Through

– The basin and the river.

– And me and myself

– And the

– Child-proof safety catch.

– That rose

– And rises

– Left and went

– Upped and gone

– And went and left.

– But mainly gone.

– / Of rule words

– Rude worlds

– and weeps and breaks

– And breaks again.

– Shining spinning / sinning upwards

– Singing / upwards

– And sinning / upwards

– But singing / upwards

– And sinning / upwards

– Singing / upwards

– And sinning / upwards.

– Sits there

– A gleaming empty loss

– Crouched and hard

– Spinning

– As

– Unearthed / and

– Unvoiced threats.

– Turn

– And

– The empty bicycle

– Abandoned in the road

– Laughs at you.

– It sits there now,

– The end of the bed

– Like a short heavy cat

– Sits cold and heavy

– Like sheets when you were seven.–

– Ten.

– Eleven.

– Footsteps.

– Ten eleven.

– Footsteps.

– Ten or eleven.

– Footsteps.

– Running through your bones

– Running through your calcium.

– Running through your chalk.

– Ten or eleven

– Footsteps.

– Sits

– cold and heavy

– like

– sheets

– when you were seven.

– Ten.

– Eleven.

– Footsteps.

– Ten or eleven.

– The cat thinks what I thinks and what he thinks is

– The cat he thinks what I thinks and what he thinks is

– Running away

– Running away from him

– Running away

– from him

– running away

– running away

– running away

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away / and

– running away

– running away

– running away.

Silence.

2.

Nominally the staffroom.

Beat.

BOBBY. And there’s the kettle.

Pause.

ANNA. That’s it…?

Beat.

BOBBY. Well, that’s the kettle yeah… it’s. I mean it does look a bit shit but it does its job so…

ANNA. No, I mean, that’s it, that’s…

BOBBY. Oh yeah, sorry, I’m a dickhead, yeah, that’s the end of the induction yeah.

ANNA. Right…

Beat.

Is there anything else?

BOBBY. –

ANNA. I mean apart from where the fire exits are. And the, the kettle.

BOBBY. Erm.

You’ve done the PowerPoint, haven’t you.

ANNA. Yeah, I’ve done the PowerPoint.

Pause.

BOBBY shrugs, shakes his head.

Any… tips?

BOBBY. –

ANNA. I mean, I’m guessing you’re taking me on the induction because you’re experienced and…

BOBBY. I wouldn’t always bet on that.

ANNA. But you’ve been here a while.

BOBBY. Yeah, a bit, yeah.

ANNA. Longer than me…

BOBBY. Yeah.

ANNA. So any advice, like, personal advice?

Beat.

BOBBY. Mmm.

Make full use of the fist-bump.

Beat.

ANNA. The fist-bump.

BOBBY. Yes.

Pause.

BOBBY proffers fist.

Spud me.

ANNA reluctantly bumps fists with him.

Yeah, I can’t really pull off saying ‘spud me’ but yeah…

ANNA. I’m not being rude but, are you taking the piss?

BOBBY. Wha’?

ANNA. Are you taking the piss? I don’t mind if you are, it’s just…

BOBBY. No. No. Why?

ANNA. Well, I ask you for advice and you tell me to make full use of the fist-bump.

BOBBY. Yeah.

ANNA. Well, how is that advice? I mean how is that useful in any way…?

Beat.

BOBBY. Well firstly, for starters, you look cool.

Secondly, it’s safe, it means that no one can grab hold of your fingers or your hand.

And thirdly, the fist-bump guarantees that the only fecal matter on the palm of your hand is your own.

ANNA. –

BOBBY. And that’s not even a dig at the service users, some o...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Contents
• Introducing Multiplay Drama
• Original Production
• Thanks
• Dedication
• Characters
• Setting
• Blue
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information