Meat (NHB Modern Plays)

By Gillian Greer

When Ronan's former girlfriend Max turns up at his fashionable Dublin restaurant, he's determined to prove to her how far he's come. But Max has something bigger to discuss.

Over the course of one winesoaked evening, old wounds are exposed and new truths uncovered.
Gillian Greer's play Meat is a story of class, consent and transgressions buried in the past. How can one couple navigate their shared history when their memories don't quite match up?
The play was a finalist in Theatre503's International Playwriting Award in 2018. It premiered at Theatre503, London, in February 2020.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Mar 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781788503303

Gillian Greer

Gillian Greer is a playwright and dramaturg from Dublin. Her plays include: Boy Parts, adapted from the novel by Eliza Clark (Soho Theatre, 2023); Meat (Theatre503, London, 2020; a finalist in the 2018 International Playwriting Award); and Petals (nominated for the Irish Times Theatre Award for Best New Play in 2015). As a dramaturg, she has worked at the National Theatre, VAULT Festival, Clean Break Theatre Company, The Mercury Theatre and many more. She was appointed Literary Manager of Soho Theatre, London, in 2019.

Book preview

Gillian Greer

MEAT

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Original Production

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Characters

Meat

About the Author

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Meat was a finalist in the 2018 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award. It was produced by 45North, Emily Carewe and Theatre503 and was first performed on 19 February 2020 at Theatre503, London. The cast was as follows:

Acknowledgements

Thank you first to Lucy Jane Atkinson and Emily Carewe, for their fearless dedication and support. I owe you everything. Thanks also to all of the organisations who supported me both dramaturgically and emotionally in the writing, developing, programming and financing of this show – Jess McVay and 45North, the National Theatre New Work Department, The Mercury Theatre, the team at VAULT Festival, Clean Break Theatre Company, Soho Theatre and of course to everyone at Theatre503 – Andrew Shepherd, Lisa Spirling, Steve Harper and Lauretta Barrow especially. Thanks to the tireless and often underappreciated script readers who identified this script and saw its potential, and to the innumerable producers and artists who generously gave their time and energy to support the development process of this show in a myriad of ways. Thanks to everyone who donated to our crowdfunder, which made this show accessible to everyone. Thanks to John O’Donovan, Matt Applewhite and Sarah Liisa Wilkinson at Nick Hern Books, to our fearless cast for their openness and bravery and to the design, production and stage management team who have made this mad, messy show possible. The biggest thanks of all go to Chef, for obvious reasons.

G.G.

For Mam and Dad

Characters

RONAN

MAX

JO

Setting

Evening at a low-key but expensive restaurant in Dublin City Centre. Rustic, with mismatched chairs, quirky candleholders, maybe synth music.

A Note on Pauses

Gaps between dialogue are rough indications of pauses or silence in the play. They are not prescriptive, simply what felt right in the writing.

A forward slash (/) indicates overlapping dialogue.

Words in square brackets [] are unspoken.

A Note on Scene Changes

Changes should be done by the cast and should be chaotic, greedy, emblematic of all the fear, anger, hunger and want they feel in the play but can’t properly express. Wine should be gulped, spilt, food scoffed or thrown, maybe the odd thing smashed if health and safety will allow. By the end of the play the table should be surrounded by bits of destroyed dinner.

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

ACT ONE

One

We are a few courses into a meal in a fancy restaurant. MAX and RONAN sit in a glum show of civility, it’s clear a bomb’s been dropped. RONAN picks at his food.