Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads

by Roy Williams, Jenny Stevens (Editor), Chris Megson (Editor), Matthew Nichols (Editor), Sara Freeman (Editor)

Overview

A fierce and excoriating portrait of British racism, Roy William's Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads premiered in 2002 at the National Theatre.

Set in a south-west London pub during the 2000 England vs. Germany match, tempers are running high. As England lose again, their supporters in The King George lose it too – at full time, patriotism has become unapologetic racism.

This Methuen Drama Student Edition of the play includes commentary and notes by Gemma Edwards, University of Manchester, UK, which explore the production history of the play as well as the historical, social and cultural contexts that surround it, such as the rise of Nationalism and far-right groups in the UK. Also featuring an interview with Roy Williams about the play and its relevance 20 years on, this edition is a must-have resource for any student exploring Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350249318
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/22/2022
Series:	Student Editions
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.75(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Roy Williams OBE worked as an actor before turbaning to writing full-time in 1990. His plays for the theatre include The No Boys Cricket Club, Clubland, Fallout, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads, Little Sweet Thing, Days of Significance, Joe Guy, Baby Girl and Sucker Punch. He was the first recipient of the Alfred Fagon Award and was awarded the OBE for Services to Drama in the 2008 Birthday Honours List.

Gemma Edwards received her PhD from the University of Nottingham, UK, and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Manchester, UK. Her work explores the representation of non-metropolitan communities and environments in contemporary theatre, with a focus on the relationships between place, politics, and performance.

Table of Contents

Chronology and Significant Historical Events

Context:
Cultural and Political (development of English nationalism, including more recently Brexit, Scottish Referendum, rise of UKIP, Windrush scandal, #BlackLivesMatter movement)
Theatrical (social realism of pub setting)

Genre:
In Yer Face theatre
Sport shaping form
Games and strategy

Characters:
Ensemble cast and its tribal nature
Behaviours across generations
The young: Barry and Glen (also Duane and Bad T)
Middle-aged men: Mark (military) and Lee (police officer)
Different types of racism: Alan (intellectualised racism) and Lawrie (overt racism)
Mothers: Gina and Sharon

Themes:
Sport
English nationalism
Racism

Production History:
Revival at Chichester Festival Theatre, 2019
Scheduled 'Coming Home' production at the National Theatre, 2020

Further Exploration
Interview with Roy Williams

SING YER HEART OUT FOR THE LADS

Notes

Editorial Reviews

The material is raw and real and is miserably just as relevant now as it was 17 years ago ...” —Whatsonstage

“This is the sort of gutsy, uncompromising and bold drama that is sorely lacking in today's inoffensive, watered-down theatre industry” —The Stage

“This searing, finely crafted play, pivoting around two pairs of brothers - one white and one black - remains vexingly relevant” —The Times

“As the pub's own football team arrives to watch the match, Williams shows how generalised xenophobia conceals a more specific racism ... Williams [sharply] delineates the different faces of British racism.” —Michael Billington, Guardian

“A fascinating play to explore with an A-Level group keen to discuss national, cultural and ethnic identity.” —Drama and Theatre

“Premiered at the National Theatre in 2002, Roy Williams's ferocious, funny and disturbing play takes aim at what it means to be black, white and English in twenty-first century Britain. Scoring high on foul language, threat and vulgar humour, Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads is definitely not for the faint of heart.” —Chichester Festival Theatre

From the Publisher