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First published in 2017 by Oberon Books Ltd
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Tom Morton-Smith, Matt Hartley and Kirsty Housley are hereby identified as authors of these plays in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The authors have asserted their moral rights.

The Earthworks
All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to Rose Cobbe, United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.

Myth
All rights whatsoever in this play are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to Giles Smart, United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE. No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or binding or by any means (print, electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

PB ISBN: 978-1-78682-217-8
EPUB ISBN: 978-1-78682-218-5

Printed, bound and converted
by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY.

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ABOUT THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre opened in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1879. Since then the plays of Shakespeare have been performed here, alongside the work of his contemporaries and of living modern playwrights. In 1960, the Royal Shakespeare Company was formed, gaining its Royal Charter in 1961. The founding principles of the Company were threefold: the Company would embrace the freedom and power of Shakespeare’s work, train and develop young actors and directors and, crucially, experiment in new ways of making theatre. The RSC quickly became known for exhilarating performances of Shakespeare alongside new masterpieces such as The Homecoming and Old Times by Harold Pinter. It was a combination that thrilled audiences and this close and exacting relationship between writers from different eras has become the fuel that powers the creativity of the RSC.

In 1974, The Other Place opened in a tin hut on Waterside under the visionary leadership and artistic directorship of Buzz Goodbody. Determined to explore Shakespeare’s plays in intimate proximity to her audience and to make small-scale, radical new work, Buzz revitalised the Company’s interrogation between the contemporary and classical repertoire. Reopened in 2016 under the artistic directorship of Erica Whyman, The Other Place is once again the home for experimentation and the development of exciting new ideas.

In our 55 years of producing new plays, we have collaborated with some of the most exciting writers of their generation. These have included: Edward Albee, Howard Barker, Alice Birch, Richard Bean, Edward Bond, Howard Brenton, Marina Carr, Caryl Churchill, Martin Crimp, David Edgar, Helen Edmundson, James Fenton, Georgia Fitch, Fraser Grace, David Greig, Tanika Gupta, Matt Hartley, Ella Hickson, Kirsty Housley, Dennis Kelly, Anders Lustgarten, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Martin McDonagh, Tom Morton-Smith, Rona Munro, Richard Nelson, Anthony Neilson, Harold Pinter, Phil Porter, Mike Poulton, Mark Ravenhill, Somalia Seaton, Adriano Shaplin, Tom Stoppard, debbie tucker green, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Peter Whelan and Roy Williams.

The Company today is led by Gregory Doran, whose appointment as Artistic Director represents a long-term commitment to the disciplines and craftsmanship required to put on the plays of Shakespeare. The RSC under his leadership is committed to illuminating the relevance of Shakespeare’s plays and the works of his contemporaries for the next generation of audiences and believes that our continued investment in new plays and living writers is an essential part of that mission.

The RSC is grateful for the significant support of its principal funder, Arts Council England, without which our work would not be possible. Around 75 per cent of the RSC’s income is self-generated from Box Office sales, sponsorship, donations, enterprise and partnerships with other organisations.

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NEW WORK AT THE RSC

We are a contemporary theatre company built on classical rigour. Through an extensive programme of research and development, we resource writers, directors and actors to explore and develop new ideas for our stages, and as part of this we commission playwrights to engage with the muscularity and ambition of the classics and to set Shakespeare’s world in the context of our own.

We invite writers to spend time with us in our rehearsal rooms, with our actors and creative teams. Alongside developing new plays for all our stages, we invite playwrights to contribute dramaturgically to both our productions of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, as well as our work for, and with, young people. We believe that engaging with living writers and contemporary theatre-makers helps to establish a creative culture within the Company which both inspires new work and creates an ever more urgent sense of enquiry into the classics.

Shakespeare was a great innovator and breaker of rules, as well as a bold commentator on the times in which he lived. It is his spirit which informs new work at the RSC. Erica Whyman, Deputy Artistic Director, heads up this strand of the Company’s work alongside Pippa Hill as Literary Manager.

The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by THE DRUE HEINZ TRUST.

The spring 2017 Mischief Festival was first presented by the Royal Shakespeare Company in The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, on 24 May 2017. The cast was as follows:

The Earthworks by Tom Morton-Smith

HERTA	REBECCA HUMPHRIES
CLARE	LENA KAUR
FRITJOF	THOMAS MAGNUSSEN

Myth by Matt Hartley and Kirsty Housley, from an original idea by Kirsty Housley

GEORGE	FEHINTI BALOGUN
SARAH	REBECCA HUMPHRIES
LAURA	LENA KAUR
TOM	THOMAS MAGNUSSEN

The RSC Acting Companies are generously supported by THE GATSBY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION and THE KOVNER FOUNDATION.

The Earthworks
Director	Erica Whyman
Designer	Rosanna Vize
Lighting Designer	Mark Tolan
Composer	Sarah Llewellyn
Sound Designer	Steven Atkinson
Voice Work	Anna McSweeney
Assistant Director	Zoé Ford
Casting Director	Annelie Powell
Dramaturg	Pippa Hill
Production Manager	Julian Cree
Costume Supervisor	Zarah Meherali
Company Stage Manager	Julia Wade
Assistant Stage Managers	Ruth Blakey PK Thummukgool
Producer	Claire Birch

Myth
Director	Kirsty Housley
Designer	Rosanna Vize
Lighting Designer	Jonathan Laidlow
Composer	Sarah Llewellyn
Sound Designer	Steven Atkinson
Movement Director	Naomi Said
Voice Work	Anna McSweeney
Assistant Director	Sophie Moniram
Associate Movement Director	Jonnie Riordan
Casting Director	Annelie Powell
Dramaturg	Nic Wass
Production Manager	Julian Cree
Costume Supervisor	Zarah Meherali
Company Stage Manager	Julia Wade
Assistant Stage Managers	Ruth Blakey PK Thummukgool
Producer	Claire Birch

This text may differ slightly from the play as performed.

The contribution of Sarah Llewellyn to this production was made possible through the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Scheme, managed by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network and supported by the Mackintosh Foundation.

LOVE THE RSC?

Become a Member or Patron and support our work
The RSC is a registered charity. Our aim is to stage theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world with the widest possible audience and we need your support.

Become an RSC Member from £50 per year and access up to three weeks of Priority Booking, advance information, exclusive discounts and special offers, including free on-the-day seat upgrades.

Or support as a Patron from £150 per year for up to one additional week of Priority Booking, plus enjoy opportunities to discover more through special behind-the-scenes events.

For more information visit www.rsc.org.uk/support or call the RSC Membership Office on 01789 403440.

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THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

Patron
Her Majesty The Queen

President
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales

Chairman
Nigel Hugill

Deputy Chair
Miranda Curtis

Deputy Chair
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall

Artistic Director
Gregory Doran

Executive Director
Catherine Mallyon

Board
Sir William Atkinson
Miranda Curtis
Gregory Doran
Nigel Hugill
Catherine Mallyon
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall
Patsy Rodenburg OBE
James Shapiro
Mark Smith
Ian Squires
David Tennant
Mark Thompson

The RSC was established in 1961. It is incorporated under Royal Charter and is a registered charity, number 212481.