Typical Girls

Morgan Lloyd Malcolm

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781350292161
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literatur
• Subtopic: Britisches Drama

In a mental health unit inside a prison, a group of women discover the music of punk rock band The Slits and form their own group. An outlet for their frustration, they find remedy in revolution. But in a system that suffocates, can rebellion ever be allowed? Written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm ( Emilia), Typical Girls is a funny, fierce and furious part-gig, part-play, co-commissioned by Clean Break theatre company.

A large breakout room in the Mental Health Unit of a female prison (PIPEs or similar). All round the outside are chairs. It is carpeted blandly. It has strip lighting. Along one wall are a few kitchen units. There isn’t much in them except some paper plates discarded long ago and some paper napkins. There are some old hand made posters on the wall from previous workshops with phrases like ‘kindness is a gift that returns’ and ‘count to ten’ and ‘breathe’. There are a variety of chairs of differing heights and a few moveable tables. As the audience comes in our players are already in position. They are playing an instrumental version of ‘Adventures Close to Home’. Munch, who would normally be on vocals, hits a cowbell or similar. They all watch as the audience comes in. They are a group of female inmates all living on the unit. They wear grey tracksuits. One who we will call Jane wears normal clothing – she looks like someone’s mum, she’s even wearing pearls. She is on drums. On the bass drum they have painted ‘Typical Girls’ on the skin. Another woman called Precious is on bass. Another called Geordie is on guitar. Another called Munch is on lead vocals. Another called Mouth is on keyboard (or second guitar if deemed better). They will be playing their own versions of songs by The Slits. This means that at times they may up the tempo, slow it down, add their own take on things. But very much inspired by. They are watched over by a Jo Eccles, Clinical Lead at the prison, who is friendly with them. When Jo isn’t there a Police Officer takes over and observes the women. Marie is also here. She isn’t part of the prison community but a workshop leader from the outside who has facilitated the performance. When the audience is settled they abruptly stop the music and Marie takes a seat and looks towards Munch. Munch doesn’t do anything so Marie nods at her.

Munch is visibly nervous. She’s shaking. She looks at the floor as if trying to work out if she will speak or run from the room. The rest of the band watch her. Eventually she brings her lips up to the microphone. The first thing we hear is her breathing into it. Her lips open then close then open again and finally she speaks.

Munch (mumbling and incoherent) Thank you for coming.

Mouth Louder!

Munch (still incoherant) Thank you for coming.

Mouth Louder!

Precious Mouth . . .

Mouth It’s a fucking microphone!

Munch (turning aggressively round) FUCK OFF.

Mouth That’s better.

Munch (under her breath but picked up by the mic) This feels weird is all.

Mouth Do it like we rehearsed it. You want me to do it?

Geordie Let her speak.

Munch (speaking clearer into the mic) Thanks for coming, yeh? I don’t know how to start this but like. A few months ago. Marie came to see us and most of us ain’t even picked up a musical instrument and no matter what happens now, instruments or no instruments; we’re a band. And for that we will always be grateful. //I guess it’s just a shame that . . .

Mouth (kisses her teeth) Fucksake get on with it//

Jane //Mouth will you just leave her alone?

Geordie //Yeh, you’re not helping.

Precious This is how you wanted it wasn’t it, Mouth?

Mouth They’re gettin’ bored, man!

Munch sings the song ‘In the Beginning’ by The Slits.

Silence.

Jo Eccles and Marie walk the corridors towards the workshop room. In this movement we have shifted back in time to before the women began their workshops to learn how to play.

Jo Eccles (into the microphone) So excited to have you here. I’m sorry it’s been such a ballache to confirm but now it’s happening it should be all plain sailing.

Marie No worries at all.

Jo Eccles I’ve been championing this project for months. The women are brilliant, it’s a lovely crowd you have signed up, I’m sure you’ll have a great time.

Marie Thank you.

Jo Eccles And we would like to explore the possibility of your workshops maybe providing us with an opportunity to reach out to the local community. We’re thinking of putting on a couple of showings for some members of the public. Art exhibition, short play maybe and we were wondering whether a couple of songs from whatever you manage to make could be part of that.

Marie Right well, yes. Yes that sounds like a lovely idea but of course I’ll have to see how it all goes with . . .

Jo Eccles I tried emailing you about this but it bounced back.

Marie Ah yes, I’m having some issues with the email they gave me at the organisation so I’ll just give you my personal email for now. They’re struggling a bit under workload so just direct all queries to me if that’s OK.

Jo gives Marie her clipboard so Marie can write her email down.

Jo Eccles And thank you for being flexible with your fee. I didn’t want to go wi...