Just a Boy

[justaboymiskin]

Costumes and Props.

• Costumes - 3 British soldiers - 3 German soldiers - 3 Mothers - 1 little girl • Props - Guns - Red letters x 3 - White letters x 3 - Pack of cards - Bread - Table - Bible - Roll ups - Crates - Football - 6 glass bottles

[justaboymiskin]

Cast List

Sidney - Olly Henry - Charley James - Jordan K German Voice 1 - Lewis German Voice 2 - Tommy German Voice 3 - Perri Mother 1 - Lilly Mother 2 - Tierney Mother 3 - Alex Little Girl - TO BE CONFIRMED. Just so everyone is aware all decisions where made by myself, our casting director Lilly, and our now co director Jordan. All casting are subject to change. If any of the directors on the piece think that their is cause to recast we will, no matter how big or small your involvement in the piece. This isn't a threat, but I want to maintain a high standard of work ethic so we can get a lot done. Personally I feel that this piece has massive potential. I am very excited.

[justaboymiskin]

Brief with Lucy

Hello All!

Unfortunately it was only Jordan and myself discussing with Lucy where we are up to! Here are the notes I collected today:

* Working 2 days a week on our devised pieces - Wednesday, Friday Morning and morning/afternoon on other most appropriate day.

* Tommy, Lilly and Sam bring your two printed CV's in tomorrow.

* We have 5 weeks left of this process

* We need to quickly think about our opening and casting

* Sam and Joe as you are the writers/directors you need to make a schedule to 'book' rehearsal rooms and rehearsal time etc

* We should research music, physical theatre and movement for our piece to cover certain units

* As our groups idea, Jordan suggested to go and see The Lego Movie for voice acting (for our radio plays) so as a group we are expected to organise and sort out plans for the company to go and as it is our groups idea we are all expected to go too.

* Here is the difficult part, as we spoke to Lucy about our brief it is now our task to complete the 'What we need to do:' section of the brief. We have all been allocated by Lucy what units we need to plan out as we can't do them all, it is too much work.

- Unit 9: Devising Plays - Alex

- Unit 25: The practice of directing - Sam

- Unit 27: Script Writing - Joe

- Unit 28: Storytelling as performance - Lilly/ Tommy

So, like our other briefs given by Denise we need to create our own. I will sort out the first page too, stating the dates and deadlines etc. Each of you need to find the criteria of your unit and use each grade criteria, assessment and unit content form that. Using that information you will then write a point of what it consists of us doing to pass the unit.

This does sound really confusing but if you could all meet tomorrow and perhaps Jordan, you could explain to everyone what Lucy explained to us as seeing it visually will make a lot more sense.

* We could look at other units (technical spec) to claim units too.

* Complete briefs by next Wednesday with explanation of how you are covering each criteria.

* Jordan would you be able to add Disqus to this site please too so we can comment on each others post.

[justaboymiskin]

Just a Boy Brief

‘Just a Boy’ – The Brief

 ‘Just a Boy’ is a piece of wartime theatre written by Samuel Black & Joseph Spinks. The story follows three British soldiers as they struggle to keep hope and morale in the trench. We follow Sidney, James and Henry as they try to stay alive. Each of them has a different mind-set towards their plight and this leads to conflict on occasion. Even with these conflicting personalities each one of them could not have been prepared for what happened next. The boys last interactions before their death’s is one of the most beautiful moments in wartime history and we hope ‘Just a Boy’ depicts it in as honest a way as possible.

A production team will be working to create the piece with a select group of actors. The actors may be called from outside or inside of the production team. Casting will be down to casting director Lily Brend-Fish and the directors Sam Black/Joe Spinks. Over a series of rehearsals and workshops the whole ‘Just a Boy’ company will aim to create a performance in a showcase. This collaboration of devised theatre is something unique to the company putting out the piece. This experience should greatly benefit everyone involved provided they work with the level of professionalism and commitment that the piece requires.

We expect our actors to be able to look after themselves physically, vocally and emotionally. This piece of theatre has the potential to become very emotional so we expect everyone involved with the piece to be able to look after themselves and each other. We expect our actors and production team to be able to work with the utmost level of professionalism and if this requirement is not met then re-casting or re-assignment of position might become necessary. We feel that the piece deserves a high level of professionalism so everything we do is to move the piece on.

Units:

Unit 7 Performing to an Audience

Unit 1 Performance Workshops

Unit 3 Performing Arts Business

Unit 20 Applying Acting Styles

Unit 9 Devising Plays      

Unit 25 The Practise of Directing for Theatre

Unit 4 Historical Context of Performance

Unit 5 Rehearsing for Performance

Unit 19 Principles of Acting

Unit 27 Script Writing

Unit 10 Theatre in Education

Unit 28 Storytelling as Performance

[justaboymiskin]

Just a boy written by Samuel Black and Joe Spinks

ACT I Scene 1 - Just a boy. A young soldier is sitting in the trenches, he stands comes centre stage holding an envelope, the contents of which are unknown. He delivers a soliloquy, whilst the other soldiers are playing cards. Sidney Private Sidney G. Lewis, badge number 14645, 13 years of age, East Surrey regiment, the battle of The Somme. I have been fighting on the Somme for six weeks now, food is In Short supply, bullets are more valuable than gold and home, home seems like a distant memory, like a small silver lining on a cloud; but the only clouds here are black and cold and rotten with the stench of gun powder. Six months ago I was at school, sitting whilst Mr Harper tried to teach us long division. I hated maths, I mean I really hated maths, even though the teachers Said I was good at it and if I tried harder I could do anything I wanted, but I wanted to be important, I wanted to be remembered for something great, I wanted to fight for king and country and be a hero, but being a hero seems as far away as home. I'm cold, so very cold. I just want to see my mum, my friends, my family and... Henry C'mon Sid you playing or what?!? SIDNEY (Beat) I'd give anything to be back in maths right now. Scene 2- Christmas Day In the trench. Sidney walks back to the table to continue the game of black jack. Henry Rawlingson, a surprisingly optimistic 19 year old from South London, and James Taylor a quieter young man are sitting with their deck of cards, sharing the little food they have. HENRY Well lads, here is to a merry Christmas! May that lovely bastard Asquith find us a way out of here, all this dirt is making me feel... dirty. James You know what I miss the most... Henry Oh come on James, can you not depress us all, on today of all days. Where is your Christmas spirit. JAMES It's been replaced with hunger. SIDNEY Is the turkey ready yet. HENRY Oh yes sir. Would you like Yorkshire puddings sir? One Sir or two Sir? SIDNEY Oh don't, i'll start dribbling. JAMES I can't remember Christmas. SIDNEY Oh here we go. JAMES What, I have an opinion. SIDNEY Well your opinion is pissing me off. JAMES I'm a realist. SIDNEY You're the reason why there is such a low morale around here. JAMES What are you talking about, just because I'm speaking the truth. SIDNEY Everyone's had enough of YOUR truth, James. James What do you know, your just a kid, barely out of school, now you on the front line, give me a break. SIDNEY I've got more guts than you'll ever have. JAMES There is a difference between having guts, and being stupid. SIDNEY Don't undermine me. JAMES Your a coward. SIDNEY How dare you... Sidney grabs James over the table and starts shouting at him. A fight is iminant, both are screaming at eachother. HENRY ENOUGH! Can't you see, this is what they want. They want to destroy us from the inside out. This is why the Germans destroyed our food trucks. Sure starvation is a problem, but cabin fever will set in first! We haven't got food, we haven't got a hope in hell of getting out of here, but we have eachother. SIDNEY/JAMES (Beat) You Soppy Bastard. The three share a short slightly awkward laugh, silence sets back into the camp. Scene 3- Christmas Day in the cookhouse. The boys have settled down after there argument and Henry begins to sing. HENRY It was Christmas day in the cookhouse, The happiest day of the year, Men's hearts were full of gladness And their bellies full of beer, When up spoke Private Shorthouse, His face as bold as brass, Saying, 'We don't want your Christmas pudding You can stick it up your ...' All Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, Oh, tidings of comfort and joy! HENRY It was Christmas day in the harem, The eunuchs were standing round, And hundreds of beautiful women Were stretched out on the ground, When in strode the Bold Bad Sultan, And gazed at his marble halls, Saying, 'What do you want for Christmas, boys?' And the eunuchs answered... ALL Tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy, Oh, tidings of comfort and joy! They all laugh. SIDNEY Merry Christmas lads. HENRY/JAMes Merry Christmas Sid. Scene 4 - Continental Christmas The soldiers finish their song. Henry starts the roll cigarettes, James lies down and tries to get some sleep. Henry is sitting looking at his envelope. (A voice calling from a distance) German Voice Bravo boys, British carols are very beautiful. JAMES (Whispered) Who is that? GERMAN VOICE Boys, boys you still there. All Yes! GERMAN VOICE You drink with us yes? SIDNEY Yeah, what you got? GERMAN VOICE Ein Apfelwein HENRY (Whispered) What the bloody hell is that? JAMES (Whispered) Thats cider. All Yeah! Henry Sling it over! GERMAN VOICE Tomorrow we meet you, in the middle. SIDNEY Yeah in the of Picadilly. They all share a laugh. James It's funny to hear them speaking English. HENRY Yeah they are all schooled int' they. Sidney See you in the penalty area. GERMAN VOICE Frohe Weihnachten! HENRY what the bloody hell does that mean? SIDNEY/James Merry Christmad to you too. HENRY ohhh. Scene 5 - Home sick The boys have gone to sleep and Henry reads aloud the letter he has written to send home. HENRY Dear, holly, I don't really know what to say except, that I love you and I long to reach the day when I see you again. Send my love to our beautiful daughter, Rose, how is she? Is she happy? Tell her Daddy will be home soon. I don't know how to say how I feel but here goes. Here's my hand, just take it when you start to feel alone. Just know my hand will never leave, and your never on your own. I know this hurts you, I know your fears, that my life here may remain. don't shed a tear my Holly, every soldier has his day. I'm glad you took my hand when you needed help to stand, I don't care how much you fall, because every fall will always land. Where ever life will take us, from the new back to the old. Use my hand as you please, but don't forget it's here to hold. I love you, Henry. Scene 6 - Drinks With The Neighbours Henry puts his letter in an envelope, seals it, kisses it and puts it in his pocket. He has a moments of quiet reflection, only a few seconds, before the scene commences. HENRY Come you lazy buggers, wake up, we got drinks with the neighbours today. JAMES I couldn't sleep last night, thinking about that cider. SIDNEY Yeah I love a pint of cider I do. HENRY You're 13, have you ever had a drink. SIDNEY Yeah all the time. JAMES Aww bless him. (They all laugh, Sidney knows how stupid he sounded) Something flies over the the top of the trench. The boys throw themselves to the floor in terror of what it might be. SIDNEY Get down! JAMES What is it. Sidney It's a bomb. HENRY Walks over to the ball. With caution picks it up, realises it's a football. It's a football you lot calm down. GERMAN VOICE How about a Christmas match, a "kick around" as you say. JAMES Why would they want to play football with us. HENRY You're on! James What are you doing?! We never agreed to football. It's a trap. HENRY On come on James. They're just as bored as us. Half an hour won't hurt. James Fine then, half an hour no more. SIDNEY YES! I love football. I'm not in goal. Henry Im not in goal! JAMES I'm not in ... Oh but I'm always in goal. They walk over the top to meet the Germans. Three Germans are standing their passing the ball between themselves. When they see the Brits arriving, They stop and stare. Nothing is said. One of the German soldiers sets up a goal, Sidney sets up another goal. Without even talking, the German soldier puts the ball on the ground and they start to play. GERMAN Soldier First to 5. They proceed to play. Laughter and general tactical chitchat fills the air. The more the game goes on, the more the men become comfortable with each other. Camorardery is at an all time high. Their is an altercation between Henry and a German soldier. They laugh together as if they have been friends since birth. Suddenly they both realise who one another are. HENry Best we go lads. SIDNEY What, I was running rings round all of them. JAMES Sod that, we haven't had the cider yet. German soldier picks up the ball. Goes to a bag and grabs 6 bottles. He Hands them out and they all start drinking. GERMAN SOLDIER Drink with me my fiends. We need not to be animals here. Sidney struggles it down because he doesn't want to lose face in front of the others. They stand in an awkward kind of semi circle. James walks forward and sits. He starts to sing with a beautifully soft voice. JAMES (The others join in.) Silent night, Holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin , mother and child Holy infant so, tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Germans Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, alles schlaft, einsam wacht Nur das traute heilige Paar. Holder Knab im lockigten Haar. Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh', Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh' All Repeat the verses as a round both in their language. After they finish the song, they stand, clink their bottles and down the last of the cider in their bottles. Henry steps forward. HENRY Good luck. GERMAN SOLDIER To you too my friend. The Germans disappear off the stage. They British return to their trench. Scene 7 - A Last Letter Home. They all sit in silence writing letters. Apart from Sidney, he is holding the same envelope as he was at the start. JAMES You not writing Sid? SIDNEY I already have. HENRY Why haven't you sent it. SIDNEY I didn't want to. Just I case they didn't get it. JAMES Who is they? Sidney My mum, my brothers, everyone. HENRY Read it to us. Sidney No. JAMES Oh come on Sidney, I know your scared, we are all scared. But we are your family we are you friends, we are your brothers. If they don't get to hear it, we should. HENRY Share it with us. Sidney opens the letter and begins to read. His voice fades into the background. The three mother enter the stage. All holding a letter. Red envelope. They open the letters and begin to read. Mothers All Dear Madam, On behalf of the officers and men of my company, I wish to offer you my sincere sympathy in the bereavement you have have sustained in the death of your son. Mother 1 Private Sidney Lewis. Mother 2 Private James Taylor. Mother 3 Private Henry Rawlington. Mother 1 I feel that you would like to know that your son had the good will and estimate of his Conrad's. Mother 2 I feel that you would like to know that your son had the good will and estimate of his Conrad's. Mother 3 I feel that you would like to know that your son had the good will and estimate of his Conrad's. Mothers All Your son was killed on the 27th of December by a freak accident, from an exploding mortar shell. Mother 1 He received medical attention instantly. Mother 2 He died almost immediately. Mother 3 Suffering no pain. MOTHERS ALL Again, assuring all of our sympathy, for you and your family. I remain yours sincerely. Edgar H. Callcutt. The mother break down with the news of their sons death. A small girl walks in sees her grandmother crying. She knows that her father is gone. She walks to the front of the stage and sits and plays with her doll. Little Girl Granny, Granny what did daddy do during the war. All the soldiers are standing at the back do the stage saluting, and they begin to sing. Soldiers And when they ask us, how dangerous it was, Oh, we'll never tell them, no, we'll never tell them: We spent our pay in some cafe, And fought wild women night and day, 'Twas the cushiest job we ever had. And when they ask us, and they're certainly going to ask us, The reason why we didn't win the Croix de Guerre, Oh, we'll never tell them, oh, we'll never tell them There was a front, but damned if we knew where.