The Red Helicopter (Multiplay Drama)

By Robin French

A thrilling, epic story about innocence, community and the dangerous power of unquestioning belief.

It’s 2072. Following a cataclysmic economic and social decline, the UK has been abandoned by its inhabitants in a mass exodus. Almost everyone got out. Almost.

In a disused office somewhere in the ghost city of London lives a group of twenty abandoned young people. At the top of a ruthless hierarchy is sixteen-year-old ‘Daddy’, who has taken control of the only Internet connection, promising that one day they will all be lifted to safety by a red helicopter.

But when a stranger from the North arrives looking for a girl who disappeared from the group a year ago, nothing can ever be the same again….

The Red Helicopter was first performed at the Almeida Theatre, performed by the Young Friend of the Almeida LAB Company.

Multiplay Drama is an exciting new series of large-cast plays, specifically written to be performed by and appeal to older teenagers and young adults.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Apr 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781788501071

Robin French

Robin French is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. His first play, Bear Hug, won the Royal Court Young Writers’ Festival and was produced at the Royal Court, where it earned an extended run. Subsequent productions include Gilbert is Dead (Hoxton Hall), The Red Helicopter (Almeida), Heather Gardner (Birmingham Rep), The Get Out (Royal Court), and Musical Differences (National Theatre Connections). His new play Crooked Dances will be produced by the RSC in summer 2019, followed by another new play Rebel Music at Birmingham REP in September. Robin’s short film Crocodile won awards at Cannes, Encounters and Guanajuato Festival in Mexico, and was BIFA-nominated for Best British Short. Alongside his friend Kieron Quirke, Robin co-created and wrote five series of the hit BBC sitcom Cuckoo, starring Greg Davies, Andy Samberg, Taylor Lautner and Andie MacDowell. Cuckoo was BBC3's biggest-rating comedy launch and garnered nominations both at BAFTA and the British Comedy Awards. Their credits also include creating and writing thirteen-part US sitcom series Roommates (ABC Family) and eight-part mystery drama Trinity (ITV2). Robin is currently writing a feature film about David Bowie and Iggy Pop, as well as developing new drama projects for television. When not writing, he enjoys working on his indie/samba band Sugarcane.