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    Foxfinder
    Foxfinder
    Foxfinder
    Ebook111 pages56 minutes

    Foxfinder

    By Dawn King

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    About this ebook

    A gripping and unsettling parable, Foxfinder is a darkly comic exploration of belief, desire and responsibility, set in a world both strange and familiar.

    William Bloor, a 'foxfinder', arrives at Sam and Judith Covey's farm to investigate a suspected contamination. He is driven by his education and beliefs to unearth and destroy an animal that threatens man's civilisation, and to remain free from its influence himself. As his investigations proceed, the events that follow change the course of all their lives - for ever.

    Winner of the 2011 Papatango New Writing Competition.

    'Dawn King's play shines out like a beacon... the most compelling new work I have seen this year' Guardian

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNick Hern Books
    Release dateMar 21, 2013
    ISBN9781780012124
    Foxfinder
    Author

    Dawn King

    Dawn King is an award-winning writer working in theatre, film, TV, VR and radio. Her work for the stage includes: The Trials (Donmar Warehouse, London, 2022); Dystopia987 (Manchester International Festival, 2019); Salt (National Theatre Connections, 2019); an adaptation of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (Royal and Derngate Theatre and the Touring Consortium, 2015); Ciphers (Out of Joint, Bush Theatre and Exeter Northcott, 2013/14); and Foxfinder (winner of the 2011 Papatango New Writing Competition, and first staged at Finborough Theatre, London, 2011; revived in the West End in 2018). For Foxfinder, Dawn also won the Royal National Theatre Foundation Playwright award 2013. She won Most Promising Playwright at the Off West End awards 2012 and was shortlisted for Best New Play at the Off West End awards 2012, the Susan Smith Blackburn prize 2012 and the James Tait Black drama prize 2011/2012.

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      Book preview

      Foxfinder - Dawn King

      Dawn King

      FOXFINDER

      NICK HERN BOOKS

      London

      www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

      Contents

      Title Page

      Acknowledgements

      Original Production

      Characters

      Foxfinder

      About the Author

      Copyright and Performing Rights Information

      Acknowledgements

      With grateful thanks to everyone who helped, including:

      The Peggy Ramsay Foundation for their financial support.

      Paul Jenkins, who first helped me to see foxes.

      Will Davis, Tom Mansfield, Terry Saunders, Julia Mills and Matt Connell for their advice and support.

      Papatango Theatre Company and the Finborough Theatre.

      Mum, Dad and my husband Mr Richard George, for everything.

      Dawn King

      Foxfinder was first performed at the Finborough Theatre, London, on 29 November 2011, with the following cast:

      The play won the 2011 Papatango New Writing Competition, and was produced by the company.

      Foxfinder received its West End premiere at the Ambassadors Theatre, produced by Bill Kenwright, on 13 September 2018 (previews from 6 September 2018), with the following cast:

      Characters

      WILLIAM BLOOR, a foxfinder, nineteen

      SAMUEL COVEY, a farmer, late thirties

      JUDITH COVEY, his wife, attractive, early thirties

      SARAH BOX, a neighbour, early thirties

      1

      A farmhouse kitchen. Minimal decoration, scrupulously clean. SAMUEL and JUDITH are sitting at the table. Both are in their Sunday best – neat, plain clothes of timeless appearance. It is raining heavily outside.

      SAMUEL. Went up the top this morning. I reckon half that wheat has had it.

      JUDITH. It might recover.

      SAMUEL. Not if this weather keeps on.

      Pause.

      And east-gate field... waste of seed that was. It’s like a bog.

      JUDITH. We might get something from it. Better than nothing.

      SAMUEL. I planted it too early. You can say that.

      JUDITH. We don’t know yet, do we? The rain could stop tomorrow.

      Pause.

      There’s a good crop of leeks coming.

      SAMUEL. Huh. I wouldn’t call it good.

      Pause. The rain batters against the windows.

      Listen to it. It’s stupid travelling on a day like this.

      JUDITH. He’ll be soaked. And frozen.

      SAMUEL. Aye.

      Pause.

      Show me the letter again.

      JUDITH holds out a letter. SAMUEL takes it. Looks at it.

      Fancy hand he’s got. Very nice.

      JUDITH. It’s an honour having one of them stay. Everyone says that.

      SAMUEL. Huh. ‘Investigating the area.’ What does that mean?

      JUDITH. I don’t know.

      Pause.

      SAMUEL. I don’t see why it has to be us.

      JUDITH. It doesn’t say.

      SAMUEL. There are plenty others as has more room. In ‘the area’.

      JUDITH. Yes, but he –

      SAMUEL. He should be staying at the big house.

      JUDITH. He asked to stay here.

      SAMUEL. Aye. He did.

      Pause.

      If there was something going on, on our land, I’d know. Don’t I know my own land? I’m out there all times of day and night and I’ve seen nothing. You’ve seen nothing. The men have seen nothing. There is nothing.

      JUDITH. They’re clever. They hide, that’s what people say.

      SAMUEL. I’d know.

      JUDITH nods. Pause.

      He’s heard something. Must have.

      JUDITH. What?

      SAMUEL. Someone’s been telling tall tales, I bet.

      JUDITH. Don’t say that. Who’d do that?

      SAMUEL. Could be anyone.

      JUDITH looks worried.

      JUDITH. No. That can’t be it.

      SAMUEL. I’ll ask him when he gets here.

      JUDITH. Don’t you dare! If someone’s said something, you’ll just make it worse!

      Pause.

      SAMUEL. Fine. Let him waste his time chasing rumours. I’ll say nothing.

      Pause.

      JUDITH. What time is it?

      SAMUEL. Twenty past. He’s late.

      JUDITH. He’ll be here soon.

      SAMUEL. You said that an hour ago.

      JUDITH. Maybe the roads are flooded.

      SAMUEL. Aye, I reckon. And the bridge will be out before long.

      JUDITH. It’s no good, Sam, you’ll have to go out looking for him.

      SAMUEL. I’ll not. I’ve got animals need feeding. They won’t wait.

      JUDITH. What if he’s lost?

      SAMUEL. Then he won’t come. So I can get on.

      He gets up.

      JUDITH. No, you’re not leaving me to meet him alone!

      SAMUEL. All right.

      SAMUEL sits back down.

      JUDITH. When he comes, you can’t be rude to him. Be polite. Promise me.

      SAMUEL. He’ll have to take us as he finds us,

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