Heroine (NHB Modern Plays)

By Nessah Muthy

Young soldier Grace, following a medical discharge from the army, faces a daunting return to the UK. She struggles to find her place, her people.
Post-conflict and in search of the friendship she's lost, Grace volunteers at a local community centre, bonding with other women. As her trust in the women grows, so does her confidence. She hasn't laughed like this for as long as she can remember, and she almost forgets she has a secret to keep.
But as the group starts taking action, Grace's secret becomes harder to hide, and the trust she has built begins to fray. Forced to question the very foundations of her beliefs, Grace finds herself back on the front line, but who is she fighting?
Patriotism, nativism and modern Britain collide in Nessah Muthy's devastating exploration of the UK today.
Heroine premiered at HighTide Festival 2017.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Oct 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781780019635

Nessah Muthy

Nessah Muthy is a writer for TV and theatre. She has written for Cardboard Citizens, National Youth Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre. For screen, Nessah has written for Holby City, following successful completion of the show’s shadow scheme and has previously written for EastEnders: E20.

Book preview

Nessah Muthy

HEROINE

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Original Production

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Characters, Setting, Time, Note on Text

Heroine

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Heroine was producd by HighTide and Theatr Clwyd and first performed at the HighTide Festival, Aldeburgh, on 13 September 2017, with the following cast:

Heroine then transferred to the Sherman Theatre from 19–23 September, then HighTide Festival Walthamstow from 27 September–8 October before transferring to Theatr Clwyd from 18 October–4 November.

Acknowledgements

With eternal loving thanks to my family: Martin Mallon, Willow Mallon, Lee Parvin-Cooper, Hannah Parvin-Cooper, Carol Lacey, John Lacey, Andrew Mallon, Debra Mallon, Michael Mallon, Steven Mallon, Lana West, Tommy, Annie, Bella, Angel, Buffy, Spike and Darla.

Thanks to the incredible staff and teachers of The Beacon School who inspired me towards the arts and encouraged me to question the world: Jules Becker, Laine Bennet, Stuart Butcher and Adrian Penfold.

Thanks to my dearest friends and greatest supporters over the years: Helena Bell, Bobby Brook, Georgia Christou Dixon, Hasan Christou Dixon, Mona Goodwin, Debbie Hannan, Carissa Hope Lynch, Jen Holton, Trilby James, Helen Matravers, Fiona Skinner, Laura Turner, Nina Ward and Ria Zmitrowicz.

Thanks to those who’ve helped develop and given generously of their time to Heroine: Steven Atkinson and all at HighTide Theatre, Tamara Harvey, Bobby Brook, Abigail Gonda, Carissa Hope Lynch, Arts Council England and the Peggy Ramsay Foundation.

With extra-special thanks to the fantastic cast: Asmara Gabrielle, Maggie McCarthy, Wendy Morgan, Lucy Thackeray, Hannah Traylen and all the phenomenal actresses who’ve contributed to workshops/readings: Victoria Alcock, Debra Baker, Amelda Brown, Mona Goodwin, Lauren Lyle, Remmie Milner, Fiona Skinner and Ria Zmitrowicz.

N.M.

For my mum,

Elizabeth Carol Parvin-Cooper

Characters

GRACE, mixed race, twenty-five

WENDY, thirty-five

CHERYL, fifty-four

BEVERLEY, sixty-eight

SHELLEY, twenty-one

And Esme, two months

Setting

A community centre.

Croydon, South London.

Time

2017.

Note on Text

A dash (–) indicates an interruption.

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

Scene One

A hall.

Thick curtains, an eighties print.

At one end is a kitchen with counter.

At the other, a group of women, WENDY, CHERYL and BEVERLEY finish up playing a game of bingo. CHERYL calls the numbers.

CHERYL. Thirty-four, dirty whore –

GRACE enters. She stands alone for a second and takes in the room.

BEVERLEY (chanting). Full house! Full house! Full house, full house, full house, full hoooooouse! Full hooooooouse!

WENDY approaches GRACE.

WENDY. You came!

GRACE. Hi –

WENDY. Welcome!

GRACE. Thanks –

WENDY. You alright?

GRACE. Yeah –

WENDY. Missed out on the bingo –

GRACE. Oh, it’s alright –

WENDY. Cheryl –

CHERYL. Alright –

GRACE nods to CHERYL.

WENDY. – and Bev –

BEVERLEY. Oh, hello –

GRACE nods to BEVERLEY.

I thought it might be Linda…?

CHERYL. Linda don’t come no more –

BEVERLEY. Oh…?

WENDY (to CHERYL). This is the girl I was telling you about…

CHERYL. Oh…?

WENDY. Yeah…

CHERYL. Actually – [turnt up]

WENDY. Yeah –

CHERYL. Hello…

GRACE. Hi –

CHERYL. Hi… Sit yourself down, eh?

GRACE. Nah, s’alright –

BEVERLEY. Another game?

WENDY. Let’s do the tea and cake now –

CHERYL. Yeah –

BEVERLEY. Oh, alright then –

GRACE. I don’t want anyone to go to any trouble…

CHERYL. It’s no trouble, no trouble at all… (To BEVERLEY.) I’ll get the cakes; you get the kettle on –

BEVERLEY. Alright –

WENDY. Cheers –

As they travel off:

BEVERLEY. Who is she…?

CHERYL. You know…

BEVERLEY enters the kitchen and CHERYL exits the community centre.

GRACE. Still smells exactly the same…

WENDY.