Outlier

Malaika

• Publisher: Salamander Street Ltd.
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781914228339
• eBook ISBN: 9781914228322
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Music Biographies
• Index: Literature

"The sky was painfully big, but our worlds were small, our lives little. So when we found each other in the muddle of it all, that feeling of belonging was addictive."

Mal, Ama, Lewis and Oskar have grown up together; hedonistically charging through life – and any house party going – in rural Devon. They're railing against the stories that have been written for them as they stand at the precipice of adulthood. But all the space can be suffocating, and it's tough sometimes – feeling so low in a place so beautiful.

The powerful poetics of Malaika Kegode and soaring music of Bristol band Jakabol combine in this autobiographical gig-theatre show directed by Jenny Davies.

Genre-defying and emotional, Outlier explores the impact of isolation, addiction and friendship on young people in the often-forgotten places.

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"the spirit of Kerouac reaches the West Country in superb drama"
The Guardian

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"Stark, touching, witty… it is nothing short of brilliant"
Stage Talk

"Outlier is raw, tender and funny but perhaps most of all: timely"
Wheelie Stagey

"A poetic gem perfect to use as stimulus for those aged 16 and above"
Drama & Theatre

CAST: 6 (3 female, 3 male) plus chorus

PREQUEL

MAL: When I think about it now, it doesn’t feel like a dream.

It feels real still, as though I could turn around a corner

and just find myself back there.

As though time and place were the same thing.

And my phone might start ringing, and it’s one of them,

so I’d walk down the lane to meet them,

we’d pick up where we left off

and keep on walking…

There’s not much else to do but walk around here.

The sky is painfully big, but our worlds were small, our lives little.

So when we found each other in the muddle of it all,

found some quiet understanding in the grey and green

that feeling of belonging was addictive.

In all this space and sky and sheep and grass

and dearth of people, when you find someone you know

within seconds of meeting them, you cling on tight

’cause it’s rough sometimes, feeling so low in a place

that could be the cover of a chocolate box.

Where you could walk out of your house

and within minutes be far, far away from another human being

but somehow not feel lonely.

It was the small towns that always made me feel lonely,

with faces that taught me familiarity was not a synonym for friendliness;

balding, beer bellied men who clung to the side of the bar every night,

that girl who went crazy and poured kettle water over her brother,

who everyone knew sold drugs to the kids down the rec.

These places aren’t so idyllic after you’ve been around them for a little while.

But we found somewhere.

It was shabby, but it was ours.

That’s the thing about love, isn’t it?

Sometimes it’s not in great nick,

the edges are frayed and you’ve

spilled wine all over it

and it’s gross and rundown.

But it’s still yours,

so you hold on even tighter.

Ama, Oskar, Lewis and Me.

Ama, Oskar, Lewis and Me.

It was like a mantra,

The one thing that fell into place like we’re told things are supposed to.

I want to tell you about them.

And to tell you about them I have to go back.

GIG SPACE

MAL: Hiya. How are you?

My name’s Mal, and I want to tell you a story. It’s a true story. It happened to me and to my friends. Sometimes this story is hard to tell, so I’ve brought some friends with me to help me tell it. This is Jakabol!

Now, we’re not actors, but, and the people we're talking about are real – so we're going to do things a little differently. These guys aren’t going to go full method, they’re not going to act or become other people… they’re just kind enough to be lending their voices to help our story come alive. I’ll introduce you.

This is Maz on violin – she will be the voice of HOLLY.

Here we have Owen on the drums, Owen’s going to be LEWIS.

This is Emmy on the harp and flute, she’s AMA.

And finally, on guitar, this is Joe. He’ll be taking on OSKAR.

JOE: Uh – just so you know I do have a drama degree sooo…

MAL: Oh, nice. How’d you do?

JOE: Cheeky little 2:1.

MAL: Nice. So that means you can multi-role right? Lovely stuff. So, Joe will not only be our guitarist, he will be the voice of OSKAR and miscellaneous party people. We also have animations by the brilliant CHRIS HARRISSON.

Now, to tell a story we need a time and a place.

So… Devon. 2011. I’m eighteen – think I can still pull that off.

(The band humour MAL.)

So… Joe, what does a party sound like in 2011?

(Joe plays something unexpectedly raucous.)

MAL: No no no no, no! More chilled. More like…everyone is just sitting around, smoking t...

Table of contents

• Front cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Cast
• Creatives
• Bristol Old VIC
• Notes on the Original Production
• Acknowledgements
• Chapters