Primadonna (NHB Modern Plays)

By Rosie Kellett

A one-woman play that lays bare the world of the celebrity PA as a young first-timer navigates impossible tasks, difficult conversations and fearsome passive aggression.
Rosie Kellett's Primadonna was selected for the 2016 VAULT Festival, London. It is also available in the volume Plays from VAULT.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Release date: Feb 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781780017211

Book preview

For my family,

and their unwavering support.

Acknowledgements

Huge thanks and love to Jamie Jackson for his endless dramaturgical support, without whom, I would be lost at sea.

Many thanks to the National Youth Theatre, God’s Own Junkyard, Tim Wilson, Mat Burt, Andy George, Charlie Weedon, Jake Ogden, Sian O’Gorman, Oliver Byng, Anna Piper, Craig Talbot, Alex Rand, Paul Spraggon, Phao May, Lauren Bevan, Ros Wyatt and James Vernon.

R.K.

Primadonna was first performed at VAULT Festival, London, on 17 February 2016, with the following cast:

Characters

ROSIE

LUCY

MARNI

CRESSY

WREN

AD

JENNIFER AT JOHN LEWIS CUSTOMER SERVICES

MUM

TIMMY

Note on Text

In the original production, all the characters were played by one actor. In future productions, other characters can be played by other actors if necessary.

The references to the original production (and director) can be adapted/taken out as needed.

Introduction

ROSIE is on stage building a bed, she has all the parts laid out, the instructions and tools. As the audience arrive, she assembles the bed as best she can, just before the show starts it should be finished apart from one leg which is missing. She searches for the missing leg until it’s time for the show to start.

The show will start with one leg still missing and the bed half-standing up. Adele’s rare songs/covers/B-sides are playing, not everyone should realise it’s Adele.

House lights go down, spotlight up on ROSIE who steps centre stage.

Music fades down.