Christopher Shinn - Against

Christopher Shinn (b. 1975) is an American playwright from New York. His plays include Now or Later (shortlisted for the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Play), Dying City (Pulitzer Prize finalist), Where Do We Live (winner of an Obie Award for Playwriting), An Opening in Time, Teddy Ferrara, Picked, Four, What Didnt Happen, On the Mountain, Other People, and The Coming World. His adaptation of Hedda Gabler premiered on Broadway (American Airlines Theatre), and he has written short plays for Naked Angels (Democracy: An Issues Project), The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway, Bush Theatre (Sixty-Six Books) and Headlong (Decade). His work has been premiered by Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, Vineyard Theatre, South Coast Rep, Goodman Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Donmar Warehouse and Soho Theatre, and later produced around the world. By the same author: The Coming World Dying City Now or Later Other People Where Do We Live Collections Shinn Plays: 1 Shinn Plays: 2 Featured in: The Methuen Drama Book of New American Plays Bloomsbury Methuen Drama An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Imprint previously known as Methuen Drama www.bloomsbury.comBLOOMSBURY, METHUEN DRAMA and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc First published 2017 Christopher Shinn, 2017 Christopher Shinn has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as author of this work. By the same author: The Coming World Dying City Now or Later Other People Where Do We Live Collections Shinn Plays: 1 Shinn Plays: 2 Featured in: The Methuen Drama Book of New American Plays Bloomsbury Methuen Drama An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Imprint previously known as Methuen Drama www.bloomsbury.comBLOOMSBURY, METHUEN DRAMA and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc First published 2017 Christopher Shinn, 2017 Christopher Shinn has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as author of this work.

All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author. All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance, etc. should be made before rehearsals by professionals and by amateurs to George Lane, Creative Arts Agency, 405 Lexington Avenue, 19th Floor, New York NY 10174, USA. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN: PB: 978-1-3500-4598-9 ePDF: 978-1-3500-4599-6 ePub: 978-1-3500-4600-9 Series: Modern Plays Cover image Ben Whishaw photographed by Nadav Kander for the Almeida Theatre To find out more about our authors and books visit www.bloomsbury.com. Here you will find extracts, author interviews, details of forthcoming events and the option to sign up for our newsletters. Against was first performed at the Almeida Theatre, London, on 12 August 2017. Cast(in alphabetical order)

Tim/Dan	Fehinti Balogun
Melvyn	Elliot Barnes-Worrell
Lukes Mom/Dean/
Law Enforcement Officer/
Womans Voice	Nancy Crane
Anna	Emma DArcy
Sheila/Kate	Amanda Hale
Jon/Professor	Kevin Harvey
Tracey	Adelle Leonce
Toms Father/Manager	Martin McDougall
Chris/Middle-Aged Man	Philippe Spall
Shooter	Gavin Spokes
Luke	Ben Whishaw
Toms Mother/Middle-Aged
Woman	Naomi Wirthner

Creative Team

Writer	Christopher Shinn
Direction	Ian Rickson
Design	Ultz
Lighting	Charles Balfour
Sound	Greg Clark
Video	Robin Fisher
Composition	Mark Bradshaw
Movement Direction	Imogen Knight
Casting	Sophie Holland
Resident Director	Jo Tyabji
Costume Supervision	Claire Wardroper
Dialect Coach	Charmian Hoare
Company Stage Manager	Kate McDowell
Deputy Stage Manager	Alicia White
Assistant Stage Manager	Christopher Carr/Emma Duckett

Contents Luke Sheila Toms Mother Toms Father Tim Womans Voice Anna Dean of Social Sciences Professor of Creative Writing Middle-Aged Man Law Enforcement Officer Melvyn Tracey Manager Middle-Aged Woman Jon Dan Chris Lukes Mom Kate Shooter There are various possibilities for doubling and tripling if desired. Anyone can be any race. Anna can be played by all genders.

Disabled actors should be considered for any part in which the characters disability would not be a point of immediate concern for them or others (as otherwise the disability would be written into the text). The plays design should convey that the play is about life as it is now but also, and equally, that it is a play. Perhaps it should suggest something beyond that too something deeper and more invisible than either of those ideas. Part 1: Decision Part 2: Disturbances Part 3: The Stumbling Block Part 4: Openings Part 5: Division Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. Luke 12:51 1.1Rocket factory, factory floor.Quiet, dark.LukeandSheilasit. A silence.Sheila...

Go where theres violence.