Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads

Roy Williams

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781350249318
• eBook ISBN: 9781350249349
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

A fierce and excoriating portrait of British racism, Roy William's Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads premiered in 2002 at the National Theatre. Set in a south-west London pub during the 2000 England vs. Germany match, tempers are running high. As England lose again, their supporters in The King George lose it too – at full time, patriotism has become unapologetic racism. This Methuen Drama Student Edition of the play includes commentary and notes by Gemma Edwards, University of Manchester, UK, which explore the production history of the play as well as the historical, social and cultural contexts that surround it, such as the rise of Nationalism and far-right groups in the UK. Also featuring an interview with Roy Williams about the play and its relevance 20 years on, this edition is a must-have resource for any student exploring Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads.

Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads

Characters

Jimmy, white, mid-fifties	Sharon, black, early thirties
Alan, white, late forties	Becks, white, late twenties
Lawrie, white, mid-thirties	Barry, black, early twenties
Phil, white, mid-thirties	Jason, white, early twenties
Gina, white, early thirties	Duane, black, early teens
Lee, white, early thirties	Glen, white, early teens
Mark, black, early thirties	Bad T, black, early teens

Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads premiered at the Loft, National Theatre, on 29 April 2002 with the following cast and creative team:

Gina	Jane Hazlegrove
Jimmy	Gawn Grainger
Mark	Kolade Agboke
Duane	Oladapo Tijani
Bad T	Marvyn Johnson
Lawrie	John Marquez
Becks	Callum Dixon
Lee	Alex Walkinshaw
Phil	Gary Oliver
Alan	Paul Copley
Jason	Sid Mitchell
Barry	Freddie Annobil-Dodoo
Sharon	Kay Bridgeman
Glen	Billy Seymour
Director	Simon Usher
Sound designer	Rich Walsh
Lighting designer	Steve Barnett

Act One

King George public house, south-west London. This section of the bar area is decorated with flags of St George. Windows, walls, tables, etc. A huge TV screen is draped in the corner. Jimmy is assembling rows of stools and chairs in front of the TV screen. Gina, his daughter, is writing names on stickers with a felt-tip pen and sellotaping them on the stools, one by one.

Gina There had better not be any trouble.

Jimmy Lee will be here.

Gina Lee?

Jimmy He’ll sort ’em out.

Gina Lee is juss as bad as they are.

Jimmy He’s a copper.

Gina Yer point being?

Jimmy He’s a copper, Gina, nuff said.

Gina Get a few pints down him, you’ll see. I should know.

She looks at her dad, who has the remote for the TV.

You awright over there, Dad?

Jimmy Can’t get this fuckin thing to work.

Gina Well, I don’t want to hear that, do I?

Jimmy (looks at screen) Fucking static.

Gina Leave it to me. (Takes the remote.) Wat you done?

Jimmy Nuttin, I was…

Gina Pissin about.

Jimmy Oi!

Gina presses the button on the remote. The screen becomes all blue.

Jimmy Piece of shit.

Gina You finish with the names, I’ll do this.

Jimmy You put Lawrie at the front?

Gina Yeah. On second thoughts, stick him near the back. He’ll only piss about. (To TV.) Come on, come on!

Jimmy Ain’t workin.

Gina The satellite signal ain’t comin through. Dad do me a favour, check that the cable for the dish is plugged in.

Jimmy Have already.

Gina What about the dish outside?

Jimmy Done that.

Gina Then what is its fucking problem? Where’s the instruction manual?

Jimmy Behind the bar.

Gina Well, giss it.

Jimmy hands over the manual.

Gina If I said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times.

Jimmy Oh, don’t start.

Gina Becks is nuttin but a little thief. You should know better.

Jimmy It was a steal.

Gina Here we go. Come on, baby, come on, come on! (A picture comes on.) Yes!

Jimmy It’ll be typical if they called the match off. It’s pissing down. We ain’t gonna win.

Gina That’s patriotic.

Jimmy Kevin Keegan is a fucking muppet. Have you seen his line-up? (Holds up paper.) Tosser!

Gina A bit of faith, Dad.

Jimmy Bollocks. He oughta fuck off back to Fulh...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Contents
• Chronology
• Introduction
• SING YER HEART OUT FOR THE LADS
• Notes to the play
• Copyright