Til The Stars Come Down

This is a passionate / down to earth family drama with all the intrigues/ relationships /secrets/confrontations in every family – -.  set in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire a former pit town which has seen a newly arrived eastern European population alongside the closure of the pits

We are a fly on the wall/ watching one family on one summer day as they gather to welcome a newcomer into their midst- It is the wedding of the youngest sister – Sylvia, one of a trio of sisters, to Polish Marek, who is welcomed into the family fold reluctantly. These women are all forces of nature, from the other 2 sisters, Maggie, and Hazel to their fantastically gobby aunt Carol. You feel part of the wedding, investing in the characters and their emotional lives.

This play is down to earth with larger-than-life characters bouncing to life before us in pain, joy, and laughter

The fathers, uncles and love interests are all off stage at first, while these women get ready for the big day. They drink Buck’s Fizz, whilst they bitch about everyone else.

The sisters’ mother is dead and their father, Tony, is embroiled in a rift of many decades with his brother, Pete. There are bursts of music, drunken disorder, betrayal, intrigues, and shocks alongside the dull pain of everyday marital compromise.

The Play will be staged very simply, and in the round, so the audience feel they are a part of the family and the developments-everything will be staged within a players’ chalked circle, of sorts.

– all powerful and emotional – 9 characters age 17 – 20

Tony Widower Age – about 75 years old – ex pit worker with early onset dementia/mild cognitive problems – in need of care. Down to earth – lived in Mansfield all his life.

Eldest daughter is Hazel Playing age about 40   Married for 20 years to John. Going through dreadful lack of self-confidence, feels John no longer loves or fancies her – fed up with working all hours with no money and struggling to manage her teenage daughter Leanne.

Middle daughter is Maggie Playing age Mid 30s Married 4 times to 3 different husbands – been away from town for over a year and not been home and not clear why. Passionate and secretive, feels very much the outsider to the family. They were so close as three sisters and now she is part from them. In love with John.

Youngest sister is Sylvia Playing age around 20s About to get married to Marek (a Polish immigrant). In love, excited/caring and all she wants is her family around her and the sisters re-united. Put on quite a lot of weight recently, and won’t be able to fir into her wedding dress!

Marrying Marek About the same age as Sylvia Late 20s early 30s       Polish immigrant – been in the UK a number of years. Totally in love but finding it difficult to cope with racism and anti- Polish sentiments of the family

Hazel’s Husband John Same age as Hazel – early 40s    Been married to Hazel for 20 years. Out of work for 3 months/bitter and angry and lacking self-confidence. Thinks he is worthless as he has no job. In love with Maggie

Leanne – John’s daughter   age 16 years (am combing the part of Sarah and Leanne)                 Stroppy teenager

Aunt Carol   playing age 65 – 70 years     Sister-in-law to Tony – married to Pete for a long long time     Love/Hate relationship    larger than life character – vibrant/used of very coarse language!

Uncle Pete    Playing age 65 – 70 years    Married to Carol’s brother Tony and has fallen out with him, no-one knows why – but it becomes apparent that he worked when the other miners went out on stril, so is seen as a scab

Read Through- Oct 29^th St Hugh’s

Auditions- November 5^th St Hugh’s- no prep needed- details of which extracts to be read given out on 29^th Oct

Rehearsals start – Sunday 22^ndNov. Rehearsing one Sunday a month / Mon and Wed nights 27 rehearsals in Total. All lines learnt by January.

Performances – Thursday 25^th– Sat 27^th Feb 2027- including matinee Sat. 2 hrs long.