Rage

Simon Stephens

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781350110755
• eBook ISBN: 9781350110779
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: British Drama

Simon Stephens' explosive play Rage was written as a counterpoint for Elfriede Jelinek's Wut. Composed as 31 high-energy scenes, each one is based on a series of photos by Joel Goodman which captured the excitement and the mayhem of New Year's Eve 2015/16 in Manchester city centre. Published in the Manchester Evening News the photos quickly went viral in capturing a vital cross-section of a country on the edge. As the clock strikes twelve the celebratory mood turns into violence, racism, marriage proposals and the opening of portals. Enter the madness and get whisked into the hedonism of youth. Rage premiered at the Thalia Theatre, Hamburg in Autumn 2016 and had its UK premiere at the Royal Welsh School of Music and Drama in 2018.

SisterAre you excited?

BrotherI’m fucking excited.

SisterMe too.

BrotherI can barely breathe with excitement.

SisterWhat do you want to do?

BrotherEverything.

SisterEverything?

BrotherAll of it.

SisterWhere do you want to go?

BrotherI want to go to all the places.

SisterYou’re funny.

BrotherI want to go to all of the places and meet everybody. Talk to all of them.

SisterDance with them all.

BrotherFilm them all dancing. I want to drink all the drinks and eat all the food.

SisterTake all the drugs.

BrotherWe can’t take drugs.

SisterWe can.

BrotherWe’re only fourteen.

SisterAre you scared or something?

BrotherCourse not.

SisterYou are. You’re scared of everything you. You are entirely defined by your fear.

BrotherIt’s not about fear it’s about medical and legal responsibility. I’m not scared in any way.

SisterShow me then. Show me you’re not scared.

Are you getting a hard-on?

BrotherA bit of one.

SisterIs that to show me how unafraid you are?

BrotherI don’t think hard-ons are as conscious as that.

SisterThat’s shocking that is.

BrotherI’m fourteen years old, I nearly always have a hard-on.

SisterYou’re so cute.

I might snog you.

BrotherDon’t.

SisterWhy not? Are you scared about that as well? We wouldn’t need to tell anybody.

BrotherPeople would find out.

SisterWouldn’t need to tell Mum and Dad.

BrotherI can’t.

SisterYou can.

It’s New Year. Nobody would know. A whole new start to a whole new world. Who knows what’s going to happen tonight? Everything is being turned upside down. For one night only we can do anything. We can go anywhere. I can stick my tongue down your throat and nobody would mind. I could bite your ears off. Chew into the ligament. Make sure they come off. Keep chewing. Nobody need ever know. Nobody need ever know anything.

*

PassengerI was just drinking.

Redhead BoyYou were doing more than that.

PassengerI was just trying to get off my head.

Redhead BoyYou were all over him.

PassengerI was trying to forget everything that happened.

Redhead BoyYou stuck your tongue down his throat.

PassengerI wanted to remember what it felt like to kiss a boy.

Redhead BoyYou practically had his cock down your throat.

PassengerI’d forgotten. It had been so long.

Redhead BoyYou had his cock in your ear.

PassengerI was trying to forget the shape of words.

Redhead BoyYou had his head up your skirt.

PassengerI was trying to forget what the world looked like.

Redhead BoyYou had your face up his arse.

PassengerI was looking for my fucking soul. I thought I must have left it somewhere.

Redhead BoyYou had your shoe up his balls.

PassengerAt least he fucking had balls. At least he had a heart. At least he had an arse. At least there was somewhere for me to go.

*

Ralph LaurenDo you love me?

Girl Who SparklesYes I love you.

Ralph LaurenYou’re just saying that.

Girl Who SparklesI’m not. I love you.

Ralph LaurenYou don’t know me.

Girl Who SparklesI know you so well.

Ralph LaurenYou met me an hour ago.

Girl Who SparklesIt’s magical isn’t it?

Ralph LaurenYou don’t even know my name.

Girl Who SparklesI don’t need to know your name. I know what you taste like. I know how your skin feels. I know the feeling of your shirt. I know the feeling of your stupid fucking dick of a tie. And the feeling of your hand on my arse. And the taste of chips and burger and chewing gum in your mouth.

Ralph LaurenWill you stay with me?

Girl Who SparklesUntil the actual end of time.

Ralph LaurenIt’s nearly the start of a whole new year.

Girl Who SparklesIt’s exciting isn’t it?

Ralph LaurenAre you drunk?

Girl Who SparklesNo. No. No. No. No. No. No. A bit. Not really. No. Yes. Very.

Ralph LaurenDon’t lie to me...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Halftitle Page
• Author’s Note
• Characters
• Rage
• eCopyright