War, nuclear, revolution, Middle East, society, politics, government, Iran, Britain, explosions, activist, protest, 21st century, leadership, soldier, ignorance, repetition, dreams, fantasy, future, large cast, inevitability
Play Length 1 hour, 45 mins
Time 2000’s
Accents Various London Accents
Place Various locations in London, Trafalgar Square, a park, possibly speakers corner at Hyde Park, Number 10 Downing Street.
Set Flexible. The Writer specifies that the play should be done in the round.
Specicify/accent is the play specific to a certain place/dialect/gender/age, or can this be tailored to the actor(s)?
Characters (25. 13 male/ 12 female)
John-30-45
Dennis 35-50
Liam 25-45
Martin 25-45
Amir 20-35
Paul 30-45
Terry 25-35
Stephen 35-50
Mark 35-45
Zia- 20-35
Martin 35-45
Rob 20-35
Sir Christopher 50-60
Sarah 35-50
Ruth 40-50
Carol 25-45
Rachel 25-35
Ruby 11
Holly 18-22
Sally 30-45
Esther-25-35
Alice 25-35
Edith 60-75
Shanoon 20-35
Fiona 25-35
Synopsis
The play evolves itself around London and the on going unrest in society. There is much disillusionment regarding, the economy, politics, terrorism and nuclear war.
The play climaxes in a heated conversation between Ruth, the Conservative Prime Minster, on the verge of sending troops to Iran and John, here activist opposition who has the general public on his side. John has a radical and new ideas that go with more peaceful solutions and tries to convince the PM (also mum to his friend who has past away) to try other tactics. In the end, she disagrees and sends troops to another pointless war in the Middle East.
There is confusion. At the end of Act One there is a massive Nuclear explosion that suggests the world has ended. The play continues, is it the case the rest of the play is a flashback, or the survivors of the Nuclear bomb or some sort of after life? Either way Londoners after the attack are all presented with similar dreams and life is has changed.
Monologues and duologues etc...
Page 13-14
Key words
Length 1 min
Character(s)
Type Monologue
Synopsis Stephen is a university lecturer. His monologue is the start of a lecture and posses questions around Gods existence and choice.
Snippet
Stephen: I have here a box. Inside is the Lord Almighty himself. You have a choice. Do you open it?...burn in his omnipotence...don’t open the box...live a life of horror and worship.
Page 29
Key Words speech, hard work, politics, Conservatives, change, future, cohesion
Length 1 min
Character(s) Ruth, British Prime Minister
Type Monologue
Synopsis
Ruth, the Prime minister delivers a speech aimed at raising moral in Britain. The economy and employment are at an all time low. The imminent threat of yet another Middle Eastern war has added tension to society and more problems that Ruth needs to address.
Snippet
Ruth: I’m not an old Etonian, I’m not one of the boys. My Father was a postman...we stand for opportunity...that’s what I’m all about. Nothing was handed to me on a plate.
Page 63
Key Words ideals, belief, society, leadership
Length 1min. 15secs
Character(s) John
Type Monologue
Synopsis John is slowly becoming a public activist and is developing a following. He talks publicly about change and what he believes needs to happen.
Snippet
John: There are things we want... We want to narrow the gap between rich and poor...this is just not how the world works anymore...we sleepwalk from weekend to weekend...We want you to remove the barriers...All that’s needed in the end is belief.
Page 79-80
Key Words War, Iran, speech, biased opinion
Length 1min, 15secs
Character(s) Stephen
Type Monologue
Synopsis
Stephen, no longer a lecturer has taken to pubic speaking. He is in favor of the inevitable war with Iran. Stephen takes the opportunity to public condemn the atrocities going on in Iran.
Snippet
Stephen: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Iranian regime is, simply put, brutal. They have clung onto power, rigged elections, kidnapped, tortured, repressed and murdered their own people in their thousands.
Pages 91-92
Key Words Peace, speech, love, advice, hope, togetherness, cohesion, revolution
Length 2 min, 30 secs
Character(s) John
Type Monologue
Synopsis
John speaks of radical change in British society, it is revolutionary, asking the public to stand up and change in peaceful, effective ways. John also appeals to the people of Iran to stand up to the oppression that they face by their government, in the hope that this will prevent other countries involvement.
Snippet
John: Men and women of Britain!...There can be no progress without belief. Belief in the capacity of mankind, belief that we can be better...Today we say to the government that storming in with troops and taking over a country is not how we do things anymore...in our name we can demand freedom for Iran.
Pages 99-100
Key Words Confusion, cheating, death, loss, prayer, future, regret, lack of self respect, mistakes
Length 1 min, 20 secs
Character(s) Mark
Type Monologue
Synopsis Marks talks about his complete lack of self respect and his desperate need for something meaningful to step in to give him hope.
Note: There is a very small piece of interjecting dialogue from John
Snippet
Mark: I’m not sleeping, I’m not working, in fact I’m not doing anything at the moment...So like basically my whole life is basically, fucked...I’m talking about not speaking to my dad because of an argument and then him dying. I’m talking about the love of my life who I cheated on.
Pages 122-124
Key Words Tough decisions, conscience, protection, judgement, leadership, war, nuclear, Iran, Britain
Length 2 mins, 15 secs
Character(s) Ruth, Prime Minister
Type Monologue
Synopsis Ruth discusses the reality of making hard decisions with the knowledge that with her 'go ahead' it will inevitably mean that people will die. But it will save more lives overall in preventing nuclear war.
Snippet
Ruth: You know what I believe in?...The grey area, the bit in between...Nothing is on earth is completely pure...Good and evil?. No. Children’s Words...The Golden rule. Look after your own first... As the elected representative of this government, it is my first duty to protect the people of this country...Tonight we begin and that’s it.
Pages 133-135
Key Words War, snap decisions, soldier, mother, Iran, suicide bomber, death, gunfire, army, loss
Length 2 mins, 40 secs
Character(s) Rob
Type Monologue
Synopsis Rob, a soldier delivers a touching and heartfelt about his decision he has had to make as a soldier. Having to shoot a women who was suspected to be a suicide bomber.
Snippet
Rob: Decision made, we were sent in...there’s this women and she’s coming towards me and she’s wearing this fucking massive black thing...I’m under orders to not let anyone near this because you they might be suicide bombers...I opened fire and shoot her across the chest and one goes in her head...turned out she didn’t have a bomb.
Links to writer
My Child, Cock, King Charles III
If you wish to purchase ‘13’ you can do so at Amazon or Bloomsbury Methuen Drama.
ISBN: PB: 978-1-408-17191-2
Written by Joshua Ashley-Smith
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