Havin’ We Say
Havin’ We Say
Gooch has produced a strong, clear script, robust enough to be actor-proof yet far from crass or stilted
Robin Thornber, The Guardian
Panoramic community play for the West Midlands town Wednesbury, about the beginnings of the struggle for the vote in the early 1840s, and the Chartist movement in the heart of the Black Country’s metal-working communities.
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Script Excerpt
Benny: Yow’m lookin spruce, John.
Lord John: It’s a big day, Benny.
Benny: ’Obnobbin with the Reverend now, I see.
Lord John: I’m surprised ’e’d even talk to a purveyor of the Demon Drink.
Benny: Yow’ll be buyin yourself a pew next.
Lord John: That’s what ’e’s expectin, I tell you that much.
Benny: What’s this then. A new sign?
Lord John: Archie done it. Took ’im forever. Paint was still a-dryin last night.
Benny: Yow cor hurry a craftsman.
Lord John: Yow was always a-sayin that when yow worked for us. (Ripping the paper open)
Benny: An’ yow’m still in a tearin hurry by the look on it. ’Ere. (Gives him his knife to cut the string)
Lord John: Ta.
Benny: Bit of a show for the nobs, is it?
Lord John: Yow might say.
(The Old Heather Seller plucks up courage and approaches The Ladies.)
Sturge: The point is, Lady Dudley, to open the vote out o the people. To give the wealth producers a stake in our democracy.
Old Woman: Buy some ’eather, ladies?
L. Dudley: No thank-you. (To Sturge) But when you say people, I take it you wouldn’t include everyone. (Points to the heather seller.) Her, for example?
L. Dartmouth: Or us? She has her business like everyone else. (To Sturge) Would you look after her please, George?
Old Woman: Yow’m not settin ’im on me?
L. Dartmouth: He doesn’t bite.
L. Dudley: (With a wicked smile to Lady Dartmouth) What. Never?
L. Dartmouth: It’s a good thing my husband can’t hear you…