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Roots

Full-Length Play, Drama  /  4w, 5m

Arnold Wesker

Beatie returns for a holiday to her fenland farm home trying to impose on her stolid family the ideas of a young Jewish intellectual, Ronnie, whom she believes will marry her.

Roots

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 5m

Details

Summary
Beatie returns for a holiday to her fenland farm home trying to impose on her stolid family the ideas of a young Jewish intellectual, Ronnie, whom she believes will marry her. But, awaiting his arrival, slowly Beatie realizes he will never come and her famous final speech exults that Ronnie has taught her independence and how to free herself from him.
History
This play was first produced at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry on 25 May 1959, and subsequently by the English Stage Company, with the Belgrade, Theatre Company, at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on 30 June 1959.
Keywords
JENNY BEALES
JIMMY BEALES
BEATIE BRYANT
STAN MANN
MRS. BRYANT
MR. BRYANT
MR. HEALEY
FRANKIE BRYANT
PEARL BRYANT

M5 (young, 50s, 65) F4 (young, 50)

  • Setting Three cottage living-rooms. Period 1950s.

Media

“[It] remains disturbingly resonant.” – Financial Times

“Eternally relevant and deeply moving.” – The Guardian

“[It] balances warmth and humour.” – The Times

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Arnold Wesker

Arnold Wesker

Arnold Wesker, considered one of the key figures in 20th Century drama, is the author of 44 plays, 4 volumes of short stories, 2 volumes of essays, an autobiography, a book on journalism, a children's book, extensive journalism, poetry and other assorted writings. He was born ...

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