Home from War

In summer 2020, Theatr Iolo ran a competition for children and young people between the ages of 7 and 16 to write an original ten-minute play. The competition was launched at a time when most children and young people were learning from home due to COVID-19 and provided a creative activity for children and young people whilst theatres were closed.

We received entries from many young people and enjoyed reading every single one of them! It was a difficult decision, but we are delighted to announce that the winning plays are The Wakey-Wake-Amatic by Esme (age 10), Home from War by Lauren (age 14), Two Worlds, One Meal by Faaris (age 13) and Cer i Ffwrdd by Rhiana (age 15).

The plays were originally set to be performed at the Sherman Theatre but, as theatres around the country remain closed, the four winning scripts have been recorded as audio plays that can be listened to at home or in schools on the Theatr Iolo podcast channel.

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Yn haf 2020, cynhaliodd Theatr Iolo gystadleuaeth i blant a phobl ifanc rhwng 7 ac 16 oed ysgrifennu drama ddeng munud wreiddiol. Lansiwyd y gystadleuaeth ar adeg pan oedd y rhan fwyaf o blant a phobl ifanc yn dysgu gartref oherwydd COVID-19 ac yn darparu gweithgaredd creadigol i blant a phobl ifanc tra bod theatrau ar gau.

Cawsom gynigion gan lawer o bobl ifanc a mwynhau darllen pob un ohonynt! Roedd yn benderfyniad anodd, ond rydym yn falch iawn o gyhoeddi mai'r dramâu buddugol yw The Wakey-Wake-Amatic gan Esme (10 oed), Home from War gan Lauren (14 oed), Two Worlds, One Meal gan Faaris (13 oed) ) a Cer i Ffwrdd gan Rhiana (15 oed).

Yn wreiddiol, gosodwyd y dramâu i gael eu perfformio yn Theatr y Sherman ond, wrth i theatrau ledled y wlad aros ar gau, mae’r pedair sgript fuddugol wedi’u recordio fel dramâu sain y gellir gwrando arnynt gartref neu mewn ysgolion ar sianel podlediad Theatr Iolo.

Transcript

REBECCA                     Oliver.

(OLIVER looks at her blankly and nods softly as she steps aside so he can come in)

(OLIVER remains in the doorway for a moment, almost contemplating if he made the right decision before stepping slowly into the hallway)

(She walks hesitantly into the kitchen, constantly looking back at OLIVER who follows her tentatively looking around the hallway)

REBECCA                     There’s breakfast if you want.

(She points at the plate on the table with a small smile)

(He looks at the food momentarily before looking up at REBECCA)

OLIVER                        I’m not hungry, sorry.

(REBECCA lifts the plate off the table and places it on the counter and turns around and looks at the floor, avoiding eye contact)

OLIVER                        I’m sorry..

REBECCA                     Don’t say sorry. 

(They stand on opposite ends of the kitchen and look at the floor)

(A faint cry of a baby can be heard in the next room)

REBECCA                     She does it all the time, she’ll settle down in a few minutes.

OLIVER                        She?

REBECCA                     Ava. 

(The baby stops crying)

(They stay stood in the kitchen before REBECCA straightens up and offers OLIVER a seat at the kitchen table to which he awkwardly takes while she sits down too leaving chair space between them)

(They both sit in silence, avoiding eye contact at all costs, OLIVER fiddles with a napkin on the table whilst REBECCA looks for something to say)

REBECCA                     It’s nice to see you’re healthy.

OLIVER                        I’ve recovered.

(REBECCA looks up slightly shocked but calms herself down when she notices OLIVER’s neutral expression)

REBECCA                     Did you hurt yourself?

OLIVER                        I broke my leg.

(REBECCA looks down at his leg involuntarily but OLIVER is quick to notice and tucks his leg away so she can’t see it anymore)

OLIVER                        I fractured it 2 months in, it’s all healed now.

(REBECCA nods while OLIVER fiddles with a napkin on the table again)

(The sound of the baby crying starts up again so both their gazes move to the direction of the next room)

REBECCA                     She should stop soon.

OLIVER                        You said.

(REBECCA looks up at OLIVER trying to understand what he’s thinking and contemplating her next move to talk to him)

(REBECCA gets up slowly and moves smoothly to the seat beside OLIVER and looks up at him)

Oliver - 

(OLIVER gets up from the table quickly and walks towards the dresser cutting REBECCA off abruptly, he looks at all the pictures. He picks up a picture of REBECCA and a JODIE, who is wearing a graduation gown)

(He moves his finger against the frame)

REBECCA                     Jodie is in university now,she started in september.

OLIVER                        Cambridge?

REBECCA                     Um no, but she did get into Reading and is now studying engineering.

(OLIVER looks up and chuckles to himself)

OLIVER                        I remember when she wanted to be princess. 

REBECCA                     Yeah, she’s all grown up now.

OLIVER                        And I missed it. All of it.

REBECCA                     Not all of it.

OLIVER                        Most of it. 

(OLIVER mumbles to himself indistinctly whilst REBECCA looks at him wistfully)

OLIVER                        Do you not think I’ve been trying my hardest? Have you considered how difficult this is for me? I haven’t seen you in 2 years and you expect me to come back as if everything is normal? How? How can any of this be normal for you? It certainly isn’t for me, when you come back from seeing the things I’ve seen, do you really think I’m going to be normal? 

(OLIVER stands rigid by the dresser, completely bemused by his outburst while REBECCA looks appalled)

OLIVER                        That damn baby is still crying. 

(REBECCA looks at OLIVER in shock and concern and stands up slowly from the table and walks towards OLIVER but he backs away and places the frame back on the dresser that he completely forgot he was holding)

OLIVER                        I’m sorry.

REBECCA                     Don’t say sorry.

(AVA cries from the next room louder than before)

REBECCA                     She doesn’t like shouting.

(They stand awkwardly on other sides of the kitchen again unable to speak and form the words of what they are thinking)

REBECCA                     Do you want to see her?

OLIVER                        No. 

(They stand still in silence as REBECCA looks around the kitchen and OLIVER sits deep in thought)

She won’t want to see me.

REBECCA                     Oliver, that’s not true.

(REBECCA sits down at the dining table and holds her head in her hands)

(OLIVER stares at her momentarily before moving slowly to sit down beside her at the table)

OLIVER                        I cut myself off from you and her. I called you a distraction.

(REBECCA looks up and watches him for a second, trying to read his face and theys it in silence for the first time, actually looking at one another)

REBECCA                     Yes.

OLIVER                        She’s not going to want to know who I am.

(REBECCA looks up slowly and watches OLIVER as looks away and the awkward silence settles again until REBECCA gets up and leaves the room into the direction of the crying baby)

(OLIVER sits in the kitchen alone and traces patterns on the table until REBECCA is stood in the doorway holding the crying baby)

(OLIVER looks up at her and eyes widen when he sees AVA and he reluctantly gets up but steps back,afraid)

REBECCA                     Hold her.

(OLIVER stands silently and doesn’t look at the crying child, he looks in the opposite direction)

REBECCA                     Oliver. Hold her.

(REBECCA takes a step forward towards the table but OLIVER  moves quickly to the other end of the room)

REBECCA                     She will love you as much as I do. I promise. 

(OLIVER looks up slowly and meets her eyes and moves slowly towards her and the baby awkwardly and hesitantly)

(He looks at them before gently stretching out his arms and retracting them as soon as AVA’s hand brushes his arm he pulls away again)

(REBECCA holds the baby towards OLIVER and as he slowly holds AVA towards him the crying ceases and OLIVER looks up overwhelmed and a relieved laugh leaves his lips as he looks unbelievably at REBECCA)

(REBECCA smiles at OLIVER and watches the two interact)