Stella and Chris stand with ‘teams’ behind each of them
or
A soundscape fills the space
 
CHRIS            Devised theatre is more fun to be in than to watch.
 
STELLA          Text-based theatre is predictable : secret, problem, reveal, resolution.
 
He smiles at her, she smiles back
or
They climb the scaffolding
 
WRITER 1      Devised theatre is intellectually woolly and incapable of any kind of political bite.
 
DEVISER 1     Text-based theatre is old-fashioned, believing one writer knows more than a company of people.
 
The writers circle the devisers
or
The audience is encouraged to circle them all
 
WRITER 2      Devised theatre is constantly rediscovering old stuff with squeals of delight.
 
WRITER 3      And it’s always about theatre, appealing to a narrow audience of interested fellow workers, which is ironic given their conviction that they are more inclusive than other kinds of theatre makers.
 
DEVISERS      Text-based theatre still believes in a 4th wall.
 
The writers gasp, that hurts.
or
The devisers push the wall over, plaster falls on audience.
 
WRITERS  )    Devised theatre is always the same.
DEVISERS )   Text-based theatre is always the same.
 
Pause
 
STELLA          Can we talk?
 
CHRIS            Yes.
 
 
Stella worked on this piece with a team of theatre practitioners and visual artists.
 
Chris wrote this piece alone, working in a shed provided by the Arvon Foundation and the Royal Court’s writers-in-sheds scheme.
 
 
Stella Duffy is a writer, deviser, improviser and director. She likes making things with other people.
 
Chris Campbell is the Literary Manager of the Royal Court Theatre. He also works as an actor and a translator.

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