Snowflake (NHB Modern Plays)

Mike Bartlett

• Éditeur: Nick Hern Books
• Année: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781788501354
• Sujet: Literature
• Sous-sujet: British Drama

'Because Christmas. Well… That's when they say people come home.'

Andy loves nostalgic television, pints down the pub, and listening to the whole album from beginning to end. His daughter, Maya, wears good shoes, likes good arguments, and has a secret plan to bring down the government.

The trouble is, three years ago Maya left home, and they haven't spoken since. But this Christmas, she might be coming back. Andy knows she's going to stay. Maya knows she's not.

Mike Bartlett's play Snowflake is an epic story about generational conflict, fathers and daughters, and whether we're living in the best or worst of times. It premiered at the Old Fire Station, Oxford, in 2018, and was revived at Kiln Theatre, London, in 2019, directed by Clare Lizzimore.

'A winner: warm and funny, but also bracing… Christmas for grown-ups. Excellent stuff' - The Times

'A masterfully written generational clash lies at the heart of this timely story rich in insight, poignancy and optimism… a seasonal show with a heart and mind' - Guardian

'Like a really good Christmas film, in play form, with a strong emotional arc… a heart-warming, topical Christmas show for grown ups, constructed with care and craft' - The Stage

'Terrific, often funny, occasionally heartbreaking' - Theatrecat

ACT ONE

A church hall in an Oxfordshire village on 24 December 2019. The usual things are there: a stage, curtains, wooden floor, possibly wooden walls, fold-away chairs and an air of being trapped in time since the 1940s.

A doorway to a small kitchen to one side.

The lights are dim. On the stage of the village hall, the curtains are drawn. Leading up behind the curtains are wires – a power lead. Also a piece of tinsel.

In front of the curtain is arranged a banner that says ‘Welcome Home’.

In the hall itself are empty boxes for the decorations, the hall Christmas tree and a few decorations left over…

As clearance is given, ANDY emerges from behind the curtains. He’s about to descend, when he forgets something and goes back. Fiddles with it. Then he comes into the hall, tidies up a few of the boxes, and stands with his phone.

ANDY	So when you arrive, I’ll be here
	well I won’t be here I won’t be just standing up waiting staring at the door that would be a bad first impression I’ll be sat on a chair or on that, or through there in the kitchen with a coffee, but not on my phone that wouldn’t look right too casual you should know that this is my focus, that this matters and I’ve made an effort which I have by the way.
	That should be obvious.
	So no phone but I can’t just be doing nothing so I’ll… have my book, reading my book and then when you knock on the door you won’t knock on the door I’ll have the door open you can just walk in so okay, when you do I’ll put the book down, stand up, you’ll survey the scene and notice that I’ve been reading and that’ll make it seem like I’m fresh and healthy and cultured and normal and not watching TV on my phone all the time like you probably imagine I am.
	So you come in, book down, stand up, go over and greet you but at a distance.
	The distance is important so it’s clear I’m not expecting a kiss or hug ‘don’t worry’ it needs to say ‘I get it. Been a while’, actually I’ll say hi before I welcome you in so
	Start again. You come in, book down, then as I stand up, ‘Hi’, a few steps towards, a deliberate stop and I say something maybe like ‘come in’.
	Casual. ‘come in’
	I thought this place rather than the house because it’s neutral ground.
	And you know, it’ll be more of a thing…
	After I say ‘come in’ you’ll probably walk a bit further into the room and...