Rust (NHB Modern Plays)

By Kenny Emson

Rule number eleven: We don't talk about them. Not here. They don't exist here.
Nadia and Daniel have a secret. In fact they have quite a few. They've just signed on the dotted line for a studio flat. Under a pseudonym, naturally – Mr and Mrs White. After years of school pick-ups, TV takeaways, and the day to day drudgery of married life, this is their chance to wipe the slate clean. But as much as they try and redefine the rules, and themselves, the outside world is closing in.
Ultra-contemporary, sexy and funny, Kenny Emson's play Rust pushes the boundaries of trust, love and lust to the limit.
Rust premiered at the Bush Theatre, London, in June 2019.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Jun 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781788501941

Kenny Emson

Kenny Emson (aka Kenneth Emson) is a playwright and screenwriter. His plays include Rust (Bush Theatre, London, 2019); Plastic (Old Red Lion, London, 2018); This Must Be the Place, with Brad Birch (Latitude Festival, 2016 and VAULT Festival, London, 2017); Rural (White Bear); Whispering Happiness (Tristan Bates); Our Nobby (Eastern Angles, touring); The Peterborough Effect (Eastern Angles, touring); England Street (Oxford Playhouse); and Terrorism (Bush Theatre). He also writes for TV and film and was nominated for a Bafta Craft Award in 2016 for his work on The Last Hours of Laura K.

Book preview

Kenny Emson

RUST

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Original Production

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Characters

Author’s Note

Rust

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Rust premiered at the Bush Theatre, London, on 26 June 2019, before transferring to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and HighTide Festival Aldeburgh 2019. The cast was as follows:

Acknowledgements

Thanks to… Eleanor and Trevor. The incredible team at HighTide. All those at Bush past and present who helped get this back on. Sarah Liisa, Jodi, Matt and the rest of the gang at NHB. Emily and Georgie at The Agency. And, as ever, Ange… for putting up with me.

K.E.

For Sofie and Disco Di

Characters

DANIEL

NADIA

Author’s Note

Throughout the play various items will be brought into the room, things spilt, glass broken, bloodstains left. These shouldn’t be cleared until noted. The growing detritus and litter should be a feature of the set, no matter how this affects the actors’ movement. An empty Ikea showroom to Tracey Emin’s bed isn’t a million miles off. Or ignore me completely and do something crazy. Just don’t be boring. A rule to live by.

K.E.

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

1.

(The Flat.

NADIA, late thirties, stands in an empty living room. There is one door that leads off to a small kitchen and bathroom. The walls are whitewashed. The floor is that shiny fake-wood lining.

There are no personal effects. No furniture. Just a bare mattress.

The sound of a toilet flushing from off. DANIEL, late thirties, enters.)