Sam, Method Teacher, addresses nine people, lined up with their backs against a wall. Sam, Method Teacher: Ok, this improvisation, it’s like an enactment. James –or Jay, right?– is going to use you, in one way you could look at like an active tableau... of a common experience he had, when he was bullied as a younger boy. Alright? So what he’s going to do is he’s, he’s basically going to act and function as kind of facilitator and director, in the same way that I’m actually dealing with you now. He’s really going to just talk to you, from himself, and he’s going to cast you in certain archetypal roles, whether that’s a bully, or the victim, or the bystander, etc. You understand? And he’s going to work with it until such time that he genuinely believes in it. Yeah? 92 Group answers: Yeah. Sam, Method Teacher: It’s your floor, sir. Take it away. James: The person that I want to play me, is actually going to be –you points, please. Alright, and I think the scene is going to be on a housing estate, by a park. So there’s going to be two groups of people; there’s going to be some of you –whichever ones you decide, it’s entirely up to you, just like separate a little bit- one to one side, one to the other. Some are in the park, some are bystanders. James: Alright, we’ll have the park here. Guys, you’re just having a kick about, muck about, whatever kids do, d’you know what I mean, in the park, you’re all over by the swings. You guys can be just having a conversation amongst yourselves. When things start to interact over there, I want only one of you to actually notice what’s going on –want to do something about it, but not. Do you see what I mean, so hold back, but want to do something. James To Stephen, who is playing the role of James: Right what I want you to do is, you don’t, you’re not actually a very sociable person because of, like, the sort of crap that you go through, but you’re going to take a risk –you’re going to ask these guys if you can join in, right? Stephen as James: Yup. James: But first of all, I’m going to speak to them, and then, go in, yeah? James to Patric as Bully 1: He’s going to come over and ask if he can join in your game. But when he does it, you’re going to rebel against it, and I’m going to get these three guys to accept it, but you’re not. Alright? Nods James: Just, treat him like shit. Absolute shit. Stephen as James: She said I could join in, so... Patric as Bully 1: No, I didn’t say you could join in. Stephen as James: Well, she said I could join in. Patric as Bully 1: I didn’t say he could join in. Stephen as James:Well, can I join in? Patric as Bully 1: Woah, what, what the fuck is ‘beurgh’ – ‘well’! What language is that? Where you from? Stephen as James: I said can I join in? Patric as Bully 1: Where you from, no, where you from? Stephen as James: Well, local. Patric as Bully 1: Local, where? Stephen as James: Well, just up the road. Patric as Bully 1: Up the road? I know everyone up the road. Who are you? No one. Turns away, then turns back What d’you want? Stand somewhere else. Stephen as James: Fuck off. Patric as Bully 1: Fuck off? You tell me to fuck off. Did you tell me to fuck off? Say it again. Go on. No, say it me. Go on. Tell me to fuck off.
Gillian Wearing
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