The Words Will Come

New Plays from the RADA Elders Company

A C Smith, Deborah Bruce, Frances Poet, Nell Leyshon, Christopher William Hill

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781786825841
• eBook ISBN: 9781786825858
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Theatre

Bringing together five plays commissioned specially for the RADA Elders Company, this anthology provides a selection of dynamic and thought-provoking works for elders companies anywhere. The RADA Elders Company began in 2013 in order to provide opportunities for older people to experience the academy's training at its best. Each year, a playwright is invited to create a new piece for the company, encompassing a wide range of theatre disciplines and skills. This collection features five pieces that showcase the breadth and diversity of RADA Elders commissions: Broken Pieces by A. C. Smith
Our Father by Deborah Bruce
The Word by Nell Leyshon
Down the Hatch by Frances Poet
Of Blood by Christopher William Hill

DOWN THE HATCH

by Frances Poet

All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before rehearsal to Macnaughton Lord Representation, 3 The Glass House, Royal Oak Yard, London, SE1 3GE. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained.

Down the Hatch was first performed in the GBS Theatre at RADA on Friday 15 December 2017.

DIRECTOR – Vivian Munn

DESIGNER – Eleanor Field

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR – Angela Gasparetto

VOICE TUTOR – Caroline Kilpatrick

SINGING TUTOR – Philip Raymond

SUPPORT TUTOR – Ingrid Schiller

Cast

ANUSHKA – Norma Wilshaw

BRENDA – Vicki Edmunds

JONATHAN – Nigel Roberts

JULIA – Ruth Holleley

JAMES – Drew Paterson

PETER – Marek Urbanowicz

MARGARET – Catherine Herman

PAM – Paulette McLatchie

ELIZABETH – Leah Hoskin

GEORGE – Jim Mulligan

OSCAR – Martin Doolan

EDWARD – Charles Molloy

THE NURSE – Tisa Bateman

GIOVANNI – Mario El Mahjoub

MORVEN – Hilary Hodsman

ROGER – Neville Price

Production Team

STAGE MANAGER – Lucy Mason-Lockett

DEPUTY STAGE MANAGER – Lauren Ione

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER – Zarah Cooper

LIGHTING DESIGNER & OPERATOR – Joseph Thomas

SOUND DESIGNER & OPERATOR – Aiden Connor

WARDROBE ASSISTANT – Nicola Stimpson

SCENIC ARTIST – Aidan Carroll

GATHERING

The impressive dining room of a rather grand Highland retreat.

ANUSHKA is finishing setting the table. The sound of a Polish pop song bleeds out of her headphones. She sings along, not very well but joyfully uninhibited.

BRENDA enters, a little apprehensive. ANUSHKA hasn’t seen her so BRENDA, amused, watches her singing away for a while. She can’t resist copying her a little, picking up the tune and imitating ANUSHKA’s moves. ANUSHKA turns and sees her for the first time.

BRENDA stops abruptly. ANUSHKA gives BRENDA a scathing look and exits.

BRENDA wanders around the table. She sees something she doesn’t like, tuts, picks up a silver spoon and shines it. Satisfied, she returns it to the table. Her feet are killing her. She sits down. Nobody is looking so she slips her shoes off - that’s better.

JONATHAN enters.

JONATHAN: Hello.

We’ve met before, haven’t we.

BRENDA: We have, loads of times. Hello Jonathan.

JONATHAN: I thought a place like this would have its own staff.

BRENDA: It does. Just seen one of them staging her own little indoor rave.

JONATHAN: Why have Edward and Margaret got you up here then?

BRENDA: I’m a bloody guest, just like you.

JONATHAN: Oh, I’m so sorry.

BRENDA: They better not be expecting me to clean. I’ve only brought my best shoes.

JONATHAN notices her shoes for the first time.

JONATHAN: Oh they’re lovely. Smashing colour. And look at that heel. Very elegant.

BRENDA: Thought you worked in finance, not footwear.

JONATHAN: I just like beautiful things.

BRENDA: And yet you married Julia.

JONATHAN is too busy looking at BRENDA’s shoes to pick up BRENDA’s joke so she takes it further.

She’s a sour little thing, ain’t she? Face like she’s been sucking on a quarter of Acid Drops.

JONATHAN: (Not having listened.) Hmmm, yes.

BRENDA: Do you want to try them on or something?

JONATHAN: Much too small for me, I’ll bet. What are they? A seven?

BRENDA: Eight and a half, actually. What size are you?

JONATHAN : Eight and a half. How funny.

BRENDA: Go on, then. Try them if you want.

JONATHAN: No, I couldn’t.

It’s Barbara, isn’t it?

BRENDA: No. Try again.

JONATHAN: It’s definitely a B, your name.

BRENDA: Is it?

JONATHAN: Belinda?

She shakes her head.

Bethany?

She shakes her head.

Bryony?

BRENDA: Misery on a mo...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Introduction
• Broken Pieces
• Our Father
• The Word
• Down the Hatch
• Of Blood