Deluge (NHB Modern Plays)

By Fiona Doyle

A deeply provocative thriller set in a blighted landscape where nature is fiercely taking its course, Deluge is a gripping drama from the Papatango Prize-winning author of Coolatully.
Winner of the 2014 Eamon Keane Full-Length Play Award
There's something uncanny going on at Joe and Kitty's farm. Precious feed is mysteriously disappearing from the hay shed and prized livestock is being slaughtered at night whilst sinister shadows lurk in the darkness.
With fodder running out and no money left, Joe and Kitty, like their desperate neighbours, will stop at nothing to protect themselves and their cherished land. But at what cost?
Fiona Doyle's Deluge premiered at Hampstead Downstairs, London, in April 2015.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: May 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781780016047

Fiona Doyle

Fiona Doyle is a playwright whose work includes: So Gay, winner of the 2013 Play for the Nation’s Youth; Deluge, winner of the 2014 Eamon Keane Full-Length Play Award; and Coolatully, winner of the 2014 Papatango New Writing Prize. Her short plays include Rootbound and Rigor Mortis (Arcola Theatre) and Two Sisters (Southwark Playhouse).

Book preview

Fiona Doyle

DELUGE

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Characters

Deluge

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Deluge was first performed at Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, London, on 16 April 2015. The cast was as follows:

Acknowledgements

With huge thanks to Will Mortimer, Edward Hall, Greg Ripley-Duggan, Philippa Sutcliffe and all at Hampstead Theatre; Anna Ledwich, Moi Tran, James Frewer and Elliot Griggs; Camilla Young and John Burgess; Neil Flynn and Catriona Fallon; Billy Roche, Eilish Wren and the family of Eamon Keane; Nick Hern and all the team; Peggy Ramsay Foundation; Tom Hopkins, Amy Conroy, Judith Ryan, Declan Mills, Elaine Cassidy, Edward MacLiam, Gary Lilburn and Charlotte Randle.

And a very special thank you to Jocelyn Abbey for her faith in this play.

For John Burgess and Tom Hopkins

Characters

JOE, early forties

KITTY, late thirties

FLAN, late sixties

INTERVIEWER, late thirties

BARMAN

VOICE

Note on Text

Set somewhere in rural Ireland. Time period is ambiguous.

The actor playing Joe also doubles as Barman.

In Scene Eight, the man Kitty speaks to is unseen. We only hear a voice.

The song Kitty hums in Scene Eighteen should be the same one she hums in Scene Three and Scene Seven.

The card game played in Scene Thirteen is Rummy.

The sound in this play, like the sound of rain or the dogs barking outside somewhere, is particularly important.

A forward slash ( / ) marks the point where the immediately following dialogue or action interrupts.

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

Scene One

Day three. Darkness. We hear rain. Lights fade up to reveal a drab interview room. There is one small window positioned high up. KITTY is waiting. A lock turns and the door opens. INTERVIEWER enters and sits. Her hair is a little wet and she carries a small red umbrella which she places on the ground near the table. Door is closed and locked behind her by an unseen person. As she speaks, she pulls a notepad, pen and little Dictaphone from her briefcase.

INTERVIEWER. Sorry I’m late. Hold-up at inspection. Well, not a… ‘hold-up’ in that sense. (Laughs.) Someone didn’t have their ID. (Pulls a deep voice.) ‘No ID, no entry.’ Pointless trying to… then there was a problem with the second set of electronic doors so…

She smiles at KITTY who remains expressionless.

Pause. INTERVIEWER ties back her wet hair.

Raining again. Weatherman says it’ll be on and off for the rest of the week. Can’t catch a break can we. (Pause.) How are you? (Pause.) You seem calmer today. (Pause.) Did you sleep last night? Warden says you don’t sleep. But… sure we have to sleep. We’d die otherwise. (Pause.) I’ll keep coming. Can’t get out of it see. It’s my job.

Silence. INTERVIEWER starts arranging her items on the table.

KITTY. How old are you?

INTERVIEWER. Thirty-four. (Beat.)