Edward Bond

The SEA Presented by Bida Javaid

Edward Bond

Playwright theatre director poet theorist and screenwriter, He is the author of over fifty plays and

was instrumental in the abolition of UK theatre censorship.

Edward Bond was born in Holloway, North London in 1934

educated in state schools until the age of 14.

During the Second World War he was evacuated to East Anglia to stay with his grandparents.

He later served the obligatory 2 years National Service.

He the author of over fifty plays and was instrumental in the abolition of UK theatre censorship.

Bond has always been highly controversial because of the violence shown in some of his plays and the radicalism of his statements about modern theatre and society.

Evacuated as a child during WWII on returning he was exposed to the worst of the blitz and this early exposure to the violence and terror of war probably shaped themes in his work.

His experience of the evacuation gave him awareness for strangeness in social life which will remain typical of his writing.

He was working in a factory when he became a member of the Writers' Group at the Royal Court Theatre.

His first plays, 'The Pope's Wedding' (1962) and 'Saved' (1965), were staged at the Royal Court Theatre.

Other plays include 'Narrow Road to the Deep North', 'The Bundle', 'Early Morning', 'Lear', 'Bingo', 'The Fool', 'The Woman' and 'Restoration'.

Violence has always been a tool for Edward Bond through which he criticises society, but it has never been an end in itself. In his preface to Lear he writes,

"The question of the play is why is it that violence is licensed by society, but only on a political level. When the same thing happens on an individual level, then it's absolutely disgraceful."

The SEA

Overview Hatch is a draper in a small East-Anglian seaside

town. He depends on selling to the lady of the manor, Mrs Rafi however, it seems that every special order expensive consignment she orders is returned - which is costing him money. A lot of money. He is also going slightly mad and believes that people from outer space are invading the earth. Following a tempestuous storm one night, when a well-loved villager is killed and a stranger is washed ashore, he manages to persuade other villagers that the stranger is more than he seems. In fact that he is the first wave of alien invaders, and that shipwrecks are a cover for the invading force.

Using biting wit and riotously funny characterisations, Bond uses acute social observation to touch on the themes of class and leadership - even when the nature of the leadership is to draw others on to madness. Written in 1971-72, 'The Sea' premiered in The Royal Court Theatre, London in 1973.

Characters

Willy Carson Evens Hatch Hollarcut Vicar Carter Thompson

Characters

Louise Rafi Rose Jones Jessica Tilehouse Mafanwy Price Jilly Rachel Davis

Summary scene-wise

scene 1 Beach of a small town on the north coast of England. Youngman Willy is crying out for help. Willy and Colin are on boat. Willy hopes he could swimming for his life Doesn't know that Collin is drowned Evens drunken man , don’t understand them Hatch a coastguard on duty , consider them a spy Order them to go back Heavy gunfire way some off, Hatch express joy , that

government has brought to destroy alien invader. Threatening to WILLY , and left alone on beach crying for

Colin.

Scene 2 Hatch in his draper’s shop, serving MRS. Rafi & MRS>

Tileshouse. Quiet courteous so that they maker her buy She purchases a pair of gloves and 62 yard velvet for

curtains. Willy comes in MRS. Rafi introduce herself to him. Tells

willy that his drowned friend was engage to her niece (rose).

Hatch team of brainless louts, Hollarcut , Thompson, Carter come from the back of the shop

He sets Hollarcut on Willy’s trail with instruction to shadow him everywhere.

Scene 3 Evens hut on beach . Bicycle is leaning there Willy Comes and taps on the door , but locked . Evens

comes on from behind and speak and he surprised. Willy introduce in himself and the last night incident but

he forget about that incident. Willy tells him that Colin was drowned Hatch and Hollarcut arrive there and watch them talking. Hatch says that willy had come here to get rid of Colin

dead body. Willy ask Evens that why they cant certified him as mad

man , he sad that doctor is even madder than him Wily tells even about Colin , he said that he know him Willy goes out . Hollarcut hangs around Evens’s hut . Even befool him.

Scene 4

Drawing room of mrs Rafi , well furnished MRS Rafi , Mrs Tilehouse , Mafanway Price , Jilly Rachel and

the Viscar are sitting there Rose comes in , look pale and tried. Mrs Rafi tells her to go back , she refuse because she want

to see the Sea. Mrs