CHEWING GUM DREAMS
Chewing Gum Dreams was first professionally produced at Hackney’s Yard Theatre, as part of The Theatre of Great Britain – A festival on 17 July 2012, performed by the playwright herself. Chewing Gum Dreams was revived for the RADAR new writing festival at the Bush Theatre in November 2012.
Chewing Gum Dreams is a semi-autobiographical one-woman monologue play, inspired by Coel’s personal experience at an inner-city school in East London. The story presents the last days of innocence of a young teenage black girl from Hackney called Tracey Gordon. This fast-pacing, energetic play transports the audience to their school days, as Tracey journeys from taunting the teacher in the classroom, to falling in love for the first time, to being sexually assaulted, and having embarrassing morning-after pill conversations with the pharmacist.
Michaela Coel performed the original production dressed in a school uniform, with a garage soundtrack and a single chair, which was moved around the space to signify different locations; from the classroom, to the top of the 67 bus, to her bedroom.
Throughout the play, Coel played multiple characters including classmates, boyfriends, teachers and parents. This extract allows an actress the chance to play two parts as the character switches between Tracey and Connor’s mother.
About the Playwright
Playwright, poet, actress and singer Michaela Coel was born in East London and raised in Hackney; her parents are of Nigerian origin. Coel trained at Guildhall University studying performance arts; while studying she performed her self-written songs and poetry across the UK. In 2012 she won the Alfred Fagon Award for Best Black Playwright of the year for her first play Chewing Gum.
Summary (Extract)
When TRACEY’s pregnant best friend Candice is rushed into hospital, Tracey runs to boyfriend Connor’s parents’ house with the news. Connor’s mother refuses to let her son talk with Tracey, forcing her to come face to face with the prejudiced attitudes that exist outside of the school walls.
Yerite, is Connor Jones in please?
‘Are you Tracey?’
‘Yeah. And you’re his –’
‘I’m his Mother yeah.’
‘Yerite? Is he in?’
‘No’
‘Ahh sorry, I didn’t have credit I woulda text it’s really important’
‘He’s not here’
‘Can I come in and wait?’
‘Connor doesn’t need to see you anymore. Listen, I’m sure that you’re a lovely girl, and really sweet, but before it goes too far it’s best we put a stop to it now, isn’t it?’
‘What?’
‘This isn’t what we do in our family. Nothing against you, like I said you’re probably really lovely. We just don’t do that’
‘Do what? What have I done? Please I need to –’
‘I said it’s nothing against you, Connor is my son, right? And he’s special’
‘I know he’s –’
‘No, you don’t know anything about him. He wants to do things with his life, right? And it’s not fair, it’s not right that people like your – that people should be holdin’ him back, right? Do you get that?’
I see Connor standing at the back of the hallway. I catch his blue eyes for a second and then I lose his face completely he’s staring into the floor like a fucking baby.
‘Connor? Connor? It’s Candice, Aaron’s done something we gotta go Connor, can you tell your mum please Connor? Connor. Can you tell her? Connor?’