SHOOT 2 WIN
Shoot 2 Win opened at Theatre Royal Stratford East in London on 11 February 2002 and subsequently went on a national tour. The play was directed by Paulette Randall who worked with a cast of seven actresses, namely Maxine Burth (Sandra), Lorna Brown (Mandy), Karen Bryson (Jackie), Nadine Marshall (Shenequa), Susan Salmon (Beverly), Yaa (Carrie) and Juliet Prew (Zowie). Shoot 2 Win was revived at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan, USA and the Kumble Theatre at the Long Island University, and was produced by British producers Kay Bridgeman and Donna Maria in 2010.
Former Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Stratford East Philip Hedley commissioned the founders of Arawak Moon Productions to write a play for five black actresses. Shoot 2 Win was conceived, the first full-length play written by Jo Melville, Tracey Daley and Jo Martin. Shoot 2 Win tells the story of seven female members of the East London netball V.I.P. Crew who struggle to separate their personal lives from the game. The V.I.P. crew are getting ready for their final match but with no clean uniforms, latecomers and no clear leader of the team, the game starts on a rocky path. As the play progresses it becomes evident that the ladies are having a tough time trying to focus on the game and not get distracted by personal problems. The locker room conversations quickly change from the game to marriage, drug addiction, identity crisis, relationships and sex. Tension flares and the team gradually turn on each other as fights break out in the locker room. Can the V.I.P. Crew get the team back together in time to win the match?
Arawak Moon was founded by Josephine Melville, Tracey Daley and Jo Martin, each a celebrated practitioner in her own right. Arawak Moon Production Company is renowned for producing black comedy events, black variety nights and education and community workshops. The production company are mostly famous for the black comedy night Blaggers, where Black British comedians perform improvised games to create a night of entertainment. Arawak Moon has achieved widespread recognition with black artists and audiences across the UK, hosting their events at theatres such as Theatre Royal Stratford East and The Broadway Theatre in Catford.
Summary (Extract)
JACKIE struggles to balance her relationship of sixteen years with overly obsessive boyfriend Darren, two children and playing netball for the V.I.P. Crew. Darren harasses Jackie by calling her phone, sniffing her knickers, looking through her bags and stalking her at her netball tournaments. Jackie has turned to alcohol to give her the confidence to deal with her controlling boyfriend, but we soon realise that Darren is not the only man in her life that she has had to stand up to.
That was all the fucker did, he never listened, too busy bussing dry jokes and laughing at them. He’d see me crying and instead of cuddling me or suppen, he’d be laughing. ‘Ah, what’s all the crying about, fell off yu bike, ha ha.’ I remember him coming home one evening and I was so upset, my best friend Antonia had just died, and there he was making fool fool jokes. My mum told him ‘Dudley, it’s Antonia,’ before she could finish he had to get one in, ‘what unoo had a lovers tiff, she find a new friend?’ My mum told him, ‘No, she’s dead,’ the asshole carried on laughing until it sank in, but he just stared. I saw some fluid come to his eyes, but that could’ve been the liquor seeping out, but I thought here comes the hug I’ve been waiting for, even though my friend had to die for me to get it. But the man came over and patted me on my head, like I’m a fucking dog, mumbling some shit bout time is the master. He was right, look at him now wheelchair bound. (Slight pause.) It’s his wickedness, that’s what put him there, and look who’s picking up the pieces, my mother. I remember going over to Mum’s and she had popped out and left him. When I went in, he’d fallen out of the wheelchair. I just stared at him, thinking how agile he was when he used to jumpkick my mum, and now he’s this frail helpless little man.