Tapped (NHB Modern Plays)

Katie Redford

• Éditeur: Nick Hern Books
• Année: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781788505383
• Sujet: Literature
• Sous-sujet: British Drama

Gavi wants to inspire his community. Which is tricky when everyone wants to just stay at home and watch Bake Off. But, determined to succeed, he starts hosting amateur motivational meetings from his garage.

With the help of daily mantras, goal-setting and repeatedly listening to Spandau Ballet, he believes he can change lives for the better. However, when the only attendees are his two colleagues from the Co-op – bickering mother and daughter Dawn and Jen – it's not quite the enlightening experience they were all hoping for.

Katie Redford's play Tapped is a witty and sensitive portrayal of managing mental health within a family, highlighting the barriers we put up in order to put on a brave face. It was first performed at Theatre503, London, in April 2022.

'A play with a sweet, romantic centre... raises urgent questions about mental health... the characters tug at our heartstrings' - Guardian

'A likeable big-hearted new seriocomedy' - The Times

ACT ONE

Summer

1

GAVI’s garage.

A variety of chairs are placed in a semicircle, accompanied by a rusty garden table, a kettle, a few mugs, a plate that’s constantly piled high with Club biscuits and a flip chart that has ‘Week 1 – Go Get It!’ written on it.

GAVI stands in front of the empty chairs, adrenaline pumping through him.

DAWN and JEN are sitting amongst the chairs, wearing oversized T-shirts that say, ‘Go Get It!’

The three of them wait in silence. DAWN unwraps a biscuit and eats it. It’s all a bit tense.

DAWN. To be fair, I think Bake Off starts tonight.

Beat.

JEN. Doesn’t start until eight though, does it?

GAVI. No.

DAWN. No.

Maybe we should just start? Can always recap when everyone else gets here.

DAWN picks up a bucket and gives it a little swing.

DAWN. When you said we’d be doing bucket lists, I didn’t think you meant literally!

GAVI. They’re on standby. You know my bathroom floor? Yeah, it’s sort of not really there any more.

DAWN. Bloody hell.

GAVI. Dodgy shower, few leaks… what you gonna do?

JEN.…Call a plumber?

GAVI. Nah it’s cool –

DAWN. Just ask Stu –

GAVI. I’ll sort it.

GAVI jumps around a bit, taking short, sharp breaths – getting himself into the zone.

Right! Let’s do this, shall we?

His big moment. He speaks with passion and enthusiasm – he’s clearly rehearsed it.

Ladies and… welcome to Go Get It! Stapleford’s very own motivational meetings. A haven, a family, a community. Here to inspire, create and motivate. Let me ask you, how would you like a life that is rich with possibilities, excitement and opportunities? Life is precious, so be honest with yourself, do you spend your days truly embracing it? Or do you spend your days comparing yourself to others? Aimlessly scrolling through social media whenever you – ?

DAWN’s alarm goes off, a harsh and unpleasant horn-like sound.

DAWN. Sorry, I thought I’d switched that…

She turns it off.

Sorry Gavi.

GAVI. No worries. So do you, do you…

He loses track.

JEN. Scroll.

GAVI. Do you aimlessly scroll through social media whenever you get a minute to yourself? We’re becoming like robots. We are going through life forgetting our purposes, our passions, our raison d’être. Yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future, today is a gift and that, my friends, is why they call it the present.

DAWN. I’ve got that on a fridge magnet.

GAVI. So that’s why together – and this is the exciting bit – we’re gonna change that here at Go Get It. Right here. Right now.

He fist-pumps the air again, whooping. He turns the flip chart over to a page that says ‘GOALS’.

So today, we’re gonna tackle the big G… Goals! Dawn, when was the last time you pushed yourself out of your comfort zone?

JEN. Last week she did her big shop at Morrisons instead of ASDA.

DAWN. I can live out of my comfort zone.

JEN. When?

DAWN thinks.

DAWN. Went to that Latin dance class on my own.

GAVI. Yes Dawn! And did you enjoy it?

DAWN. Hated it.

GAVI. But you went alone! That says a lot about you.

JEN. Only ’cause Stef dropped out at the last minute. Dad literally had to shove her out the door.

DAWN. And when was the last time you put yourself out of your comfort zone?

JEN. Every day since living back with you.

GAVI enthusiastically taps the board.

GAVI. Dawn, here at Go Get It, I’d like you to achieve something that scares you, that inspires you, that challenges you. So, by the end of our first term in six weeks’ time, what is the one thing you’d like to achieve?

She goes to speak but hesitates.

This is a safe space.

DAWN takes a deep breath and stands up.

JEN. What you standing up / for?

DAWN. I want to start a little… group.

JEN hangs her head.

Forget it.

GAVI. No, go on! What sort of group?

DAWN.…A paranormal one.

GAVI. Paranormal…? Right. Great!

Sorry, when you say ‘paranormal’, what exactly does that involve?

JEN. Absolute nutters.

DAWN. Oh, I’m not talking about it. Not whilst she’s here. (To JEN.) You’re just like your dad.

JEN. What, sane?

DAWN. Small-minded.

JEN. Ever since Mum went to see Psychic Sandra at The Feathers Tavern, she’s convinced our house is haunted. Even though it was built in 1981.

DAWN. It’s not the age, it’s the energy. (To GAVI.) See? This is what I have to put up with day in, day out. My dreams being shattered by her and Stu.

JEN rolls her eyes.

Every night for the last few weeks, at around 2.30 a.m., I’ve been woken up by this tugging on the covers… Otis would always tug at the covers when he wanted to go out. And what time did he die? 2.30.

GAVI. Otis as in your –

JEN. Dead cat.

DAWN. Explain that.

GAVI.…Right, okay, so with this paranormal group, what can we do to help you?

DAWN. Turn up?

GAVI. I meant more in terms of resources.

DAWN. Well, I’d need a venue. And people. I’ve got all the tools already.

GAVI. Tools?

DAWN. Yeah, to contact them.

GAVI. Them?

JEN. The spirits Gavi, come on, keep up.

GAVI writes on the flip chart ‘Dawn – Goal – Paranormal Group’.

GAVI. Okay! Dawn, you have six weeks to achieve your goal. And if you don’t, you need to pledge ...