Midsummer Mischief

Four Radical New Plays

Alice Birch, Timberlake Wertenbaker, E.V. Crowe, Abi Zakarian

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781783191574
• eBook ISBN: 9781783196562
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Social Sciences

A volume of four new plays as part of the RSC's Midsummer Mischief by Alice Birch, E. V. Crowe, Timberlake Wertenbaker and Abi Zakarian.

The writers had the famous quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, "Well-behaved women seldom make history" as an initial provocation and each writer has responded to this line in a unique and distinctive way.

Contents:

The Ant and the Cicada by Timberlake Wertenbaker

A mysterious investor has set his sights on a prime piece of Greek real estate. Owned by two sisters whose lives and beliefs are at odds, and with debts rising all the time, the property's future is uncertain. In a Greek tragedy, everybody loses.

Through the struggle between two very different sisters for control of their family home, Timberlake Wertenbaker's new play explores why we are willing to let the home of art and democracy crumble as the rest of Europe looks on.

Revolt. She said. Revolt again. by Alice Birch

You are expected to behave…

Use the right words

Act appropriately

Don't break the rules

Just behave

This play is not well behaved

Alice Birch examines the language, behaviour and forces that shape women in the 21st century and asks what's stopping us from doing something truly radical to change them.

Winner of the George Devine Award for Most Promising New Playwright 2014

I can hear you by E.V. Crowe

Tommy is dead. It's always tragic when they die young.

People have posted loads of nice stuff on his Facebook page. His sister Ruth has returned for the funeral and wants to get it just right. Proper cutlery and a good spread. The send-off he deserved, and certainly better than they managed when mum died.

The following Sunday Ruth's plans to leave again are interrupted as the doorbell rings and in walks a still very much dead, Tommy.

E.V. Crowe's naturalistic supernatural play examines what the possibilities are for the women in Tommy's family, and questions if it's as easy for everyone to reveal what it is they want.

This is not an exit by Abi Zakarian

You wake up, tied to a radiator. Your hands are bound and there is a bag over your head.

You know you should fight, but you don't know how or against whom. But you can't have it all: where would you put it?

Abi Zakarian's new play is a funny and ferocious drama about the absurdity at the heart of modern womanhood, and what really stands in the way of fulfilment.

REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN.

ALICE BIRCH

All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LE; T [phone], F [phone]; E [email protected]. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.

For my Mum.

The first revolutionary I knew

It wouldn’t have come out the way it has without many women, but namely:

Susan Brownmiller

Helen Goalen and Abbi Greenland

Nina Power

Valerie Solanas

Erica Whyman

I want to thank the RSC – Mark, Claire, Réjane, Collette, Pippa and Sarah

Giles and Sam.

Consider the idea that offstage should be as visible to the audience as possible. ‘The actors’ are another set of characters. Shoes – particularly high ones – should be taken off and on, lipstick removed and reapplied. If any vomiting, crying or shouting needs to happen offstage, the audience should be able to glimpse it at the very least.

There shouldn’t be any set. The play should be performable without any props.

Ideally, the play should be performed by a cast of six.

There should be at least one female character (that should probably be played by a female actor) in every scene.

If a woman has to get a bit naked at any poin...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• The Ant and the Cicada
• Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.
• I Can Hear You
• This is Not an Exit