The Magna Carta Plays

Timberlake Wertenbaker, Howard Brenton, Sally Woodcock, Anders Lustgarten

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781783192939
• eBook ISBN: 9781783192946
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Theatre

Four new short plays inspired by the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta by internationally renowned playwrights Howard Brenton, Anders Lustgarten, Timberlake Wertenbaker and Sally Woodcock. RANSOMED by Howard Brenton
In the sleepy Cathedral City of Melchester, a crime has been committed. The Cathedral's prize possession, a copy of the original Magna Carta, has been stolen in a daring heist. Who is responsible and what price will the British Government be prepared to pay for the document's safe return? As the plot thickens, Detective Inspector Ellie Baxter seeks to find the truth in this brilliant new Magna Carta comedy. KINGMAKERS by Anders Lustgarten
Ten years after the signing of Magna Carta, the barons' takeover isn't quite going to plan. With the peasants grumbling about enormous castles and broken promises, the threat of rebellion hangs in the air. Perhaps the solution is to distract and deflect by bringing the confused and humbled king back into the fold? What about a royal wedding? A royal baby? All at the common man's expense, of course… A fictional story from the 13th century that may just be about now. WE SELL RIGHT by Timberlake Wertenbaker
In 1215, when the King of England abuses his extraordinary power, the barons' take action. In 2015, when the kings of global business and finance abuse their extraordinary power, who will take action and what will confrontation look like? In the decades that follow, what will remain of the values we hold most dear? A gripping drama about the consequences of confronting power on a global scale. PINK GIN by Sally Woodcock
In 21st century Africa, a visionary President stands on the cusp of greatness. With international investors poised to develop large tracks of land, the financial future looks bright. But why has it been raining for 97 days, and who is leading the angry mob in the streets outside? A compelling contemporary allegory throwing light on the oft overlooked companion to Magna Carta, The Charter of the Forest.

Sally Woodcock

PINK GIN

Characters

PRESIDENT	President of an East African country: black, fifties. Wears expensive dark suit and tie and a Lion King head dress.
ANGELICA/MAMA	P.A. / veteran freedom fighter: of uncertain age – but not young, black, female. Wears ragged animal skins, a huge rasta hat containing very long dreads. Over skins she wears incongruous office ‘uniform’ – jacket or dress. Around her neck is a large calabash (or gourd) on a long leather thong.
JASPER	Landowner / rancher: white, fifties. Scruffily dressed with ill-fitting blazer and club tie. He has a gun.
PLAYERS	Spirits of forest folk / freedom fighters through the ages: any age / gender / ethnicity. Unobtrusively dressed. Players should be numbered and have individual parts, depending on how many actors are available. Four would work well.

NOTES

The piece should be punctuated with diegetic sound by PLAYERS with hands / feet / voice to emphasise rain / the natural world.

The symbol (/) indicates overlapping dialogue.

The symbol (}) indicates speaking simultaneously.

Bold indicates raised voice.

SCENE 1

PRESIDENT’S office in an African country. Present day.

Centre stage is a grandiose desk.

It is raining torrentially outside.

PRESIDENT paces the floor, muttering. He blocks his ears to blot out rain noise, but can’t.

PLAYERS hang around in shadows. He does not see them.

PRESIDENT:

‘Ladies and gentlemen.’ (Traces his finger down a list muttering.) ‘Gentlemen.’ (Pause.) ‘Karibuni! Bemvindos! Ahlan wa sahlan! Dopro pozalovat! Li ho! And welcome! To you all. Welcome and – and congratulations – on your interest in Africa Spectacular. In association with Walt Disney Resorts, the Shanghai Sh-shendi group, Oriental Lalalalalaland Company, Foreste, Vnesheconombank. (Beat.) And the Muppets Studio.’

ANGELICA:

(Off – intercom.) Your delegation is ready, Your Excellency.

He shakes the last few drops from a bottle of bitters into a crystal glass. He swills it around with intent. He pours in a large measure of gin and watches it turn pink, holding it up to the light. Succoured, he drinks.

PRESIDENT:

‘Today is a great day in the future of this nation, t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Ransomed
• Kingmakers
• We Sell Right
• Pink Gin