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.
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
