For The Grace Of You Go I (NHB Modern Plays) E-Book

Alan Harris

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

Jim's writing messages. In pepperoni. On top of pizzas. His life is going nowhere. But after watching the film I Hired A Contract Killer, Jim's found a solution – he'll just put out a hit on himself. What could possibly go wrong? Alan Harris's play For The Grace Of You Go I is a darkly funny, quick-witted, fast-moving comedy. It premiered at Theatr Clwyd, Mold, in June 2021, directed by James Grieve.

Leseprobe

Alan Harris

FOR THE GRACE OF YOU GO I

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Original Production Details

Epigraph

For The Grace Of You Go I

About the Theatre

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

For The Grace Of You Go I was commissioned by Theatr Clwyd and first performed at the Emlyn Williams Theatre, Theatr Clwyd, Mold, on 12 June 2021. The cast was as follows:

IRINA

Remy Beasley

MARK

Darren Jeffries

JIM

Rhodri Meilir

Director

James Grieve

Designer

Jacob Hughes

Lighting Designer

Katherine Williams

Sound Designer

Dominic Kennedy

Video Designer

Daniel Denton

Theatr Clwyd Carne Trainee Director

Francesca Goodridge

Producer

Ric Watts

Production Manager

Jim Davis

Company Stage Manager

Harriet Stewart

Deputy Stage Manager

Anna Hunscott

Wigs, Hair and Make-up Supervisor

Liz Armstrong (Wigs Up North)

Video Capture

Crayg Ward

For Theatr Clwyd

Artistic Director

Tamara Harvey

Executive Director

Liam Evans-Ford

With thanks to all the team at Theatr Clwyd, Llyr Evans and Huws Gray (Flint).

It is work that sometimes stresses us out, and work that causes anxiety; but it is also work that can absorb us and take us out of ourselves until the clouds have gone. If work is the cause, it is also part of the cure. It was with work that Churchill pitchforked off his depression. And what was true for Churchill is basically true for all of us: that to a very large extent we derive our self-esteem from what we do. It is often from our jobs that we get that all-important sense of satisfaction. We can chase away those Black Dogs, boost the economy and save money, all at once.

Prime Minister B. Johnson

Characters

JIM

IRINA

MARK

Notes on Text

/ indicates a slight pause (these can add up)

– near or at the end of a line indicates an interruption

This ebook was created before the end of rehearsals and so may differ slightly from the play as performed.

Jim

JIM AS DIRECTOR. Okay, okay, this is the set. I know – it doesn’t look like much but don’t worry we’ll green-screen everything in later on. We’ve got the basics and all the special-effects wizardry can happen later. I know. Fantastic. No, no, it’s actually cheaper than building everything. We’re shooting this in a linear timeline – think something like Tangerine, you see that? No? Okay. We’ve got the three cameras, so feel free to move around the space – I know we’ve rehearsed but don’t be afraid to follow your instincts if something feels ‘right’, know what I mean? Okay. You all set? Everyone on set all set? Jim – I’m going to give you very little direction, you just do what you do. Great, Jim, maybe take that as a starting position. Maybe a bit further left. Perfecto. And maybe put your hands in your pockets? No. You’re right – why is the actor always right? – hands out of pockets. Oh and I keep the camera rolling after the dialogue has ended, so you just keep doing what you’re doing, yeah? It’s a director thing. All set on set? Standby. Action.

Irina / Jim

That was. That was, I must admit. I was surprised.

/

Jim?

/

Give me something. You okay?

/

That was. Jim?

/

I couldn’t believe the questions in there. Thanks for allowing me to sit in, to witness. She was, she had no idea you were uncomfortable. And the room-divide thing – we could hear, could you hear everything that poor woman was saying next door? Then the sobbing, we could actually hear her sobbing. That’s not right. You know, when you went to the loo, I asked about the, and the assessor said it’s not usually like this but they divided the room because there’s a shortage of computer screens – does that even make sense? How you feeling Jim?

/

Asking. Do you wash yourself in the morning and then when I said ‘of course he washes himself in the morning’ she actually tut-tutted. Did you hear her tut? You do wash yourself in the mornings, Jim? Course you do. Can you walk to the front door? Do you use public transport? Do you have any pets? I asked the assessor, after, about the washing-machine question – can you use one, how! – and she said if it’s ‘in the affirmative’ it means you can handle modern technology. I felt like telling her…

/

You okay, Jim?

/

They’re all trick questions.

What?

If you say yes, then they don’t give you any points.

But you answered yes to all those questions.

Except the pets one.

/

They don’t understand you can have issues while still being able to put a quick wash on.

/

Sorry, who are you again?

Irina. I told you. Before. Yes?

/

My company – well, not my company, it’s Mr Mazio’s company, has been asked to be part of a pilot, a new scheme to get people back into work.

Sorry?

And the best way to identify people – quickly, sans red tape – is to sit in on PIP interviews.

The government pays your company to get people off benefits?

There is a financial incentive but that’s not why we’re doing it, why I’m doing it.

Sorry, I’m a lost cause.

No! Look, you answered all their questions ‘in the affirmative’ – let’s take that to its conclusion – why not do something else?

What?

Be part of our scheme. Work can set you free, Jim.

You know who said that?

Boris Johnson?