Prologue.

SET IN A SEASIDE TOWN ON THE EAST COAST OF ENGLAND: SKEGNESS.

In a small room, spring sunlight streaming though the windows; there is a double bed with bright pink bedding and an old and worn rabbit teddy on the pillow, the walls have colored lollipop sticks in shapes of flowers and on the desk is a prized Shakespeare complete works.  DEBBIE sits on the bed typing away, she is wearing a big bright blue fleece which is far too big for her. While typing, she is constantly distracted with thoughts of her life so far, her future plans and the idea of having to contain the excitement for the summer much longer...as a result, the typing is taking longer than expected as she continuously gazes out of the window as her thoughts play out like the scenes from a play.........

FLASHBACK

Scene one.

SET IN ENGLAND, THE MIDLANDS, IN THE BOROUGH OF DUDLEY, JUST OUTSIDE BIRMINGHAM.

Midday in a typical British pub; old and worn floors and walls, though clean and homely, there is a thick babble of strong back county accents. MOM and DAD sit at a table opposite DEBBIE, them drinking tea, her drinking hot chocolate with all the trimmings.

DAD: So what am ya finking of doing wiv ya-self? I mean, college’ll be over before ya know it and the world is a big place, you dow av ta stay round ere, you can do anythin ya want.

MOM: What you dad means is that we are very very proud of you and want you to think about all your options; I know no one else in the family has done it, but have you thought about university? You could move wherever you want in county and study your passion even more...Think about it....

Room goes dark, spotlight on DEBBIE.

DEBBIE: OK, so this is a very simplified and to the point example of just one of the ‘in depth’ conversations my parents would have with me at the age of 16/17...you see, though I have a huge family, non of them really pushed themselves and so all 4 of my dads siblings and all 4 of my moms, all live locally and do your average 9-5 jobs in factories and shops. I think, even back then, my parents could sense I would never be cut out for that. You see, I am constantly looking for challenges, excitement and am even back then, I just knew there was so much more out there. So after some hard thinking, top grades and a monster load of paperwork, a very, very nervous girl just turned 18 packed up far too much stuff and headed to the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. Which, leads us nicely to....

Scene two.

SET IN ABERYSTWYTH, WALES. A TINY SEASIDE TOWN, ON THE MIDDLE OF THE WELSH COAST.

A cloudy day with bursts of sunlight; a car park is full of students and parents carries, boxes, cases, pillows and bits of furniture. DEBBIE stands next to the car, MOM is chocking back tears DAD looks unsure.

MOM: We are just one phone call away darling, if you need anything at all, just ring.

DAD: Am ya sure yuv got everyfin?

DEBBIE: (Detached and nervous) Yeh.. I think so...so, you guys just have to leave me here right? (Looks around)

DAD: (Hugging) You’ll be alright sweetheart, we’ll be proud of ya, no mata what, OK?

MOM: (Crying) We love you so much, look after yourself (hugs)

DAD leads MOM off, DEBBIE is left alone, looking up at the place that will be her home for the next three years: the most defining years she has ever experienced yet. All goes dark, spotlight on DEBBIE.

DEBBIE: Would you believe, I cried every night for the first three weeks and contemplated giving it up and going home one or twice that first term? Then, I felt myself changing: I became independent, I got louder and much more confident, I started letting my hair down more and trying new things; by the first Christmas holiday, I was 100% completely and utterly in love with that little seaside town, feeling more at home there than anywhere else in my life. You see, I was studying my passion, that one word that fills me with familiarity no matter where I am: drama. Drama, is my life (though arguably my life has barely began). I live, breath, eat, sleep drama; drama, drama, drama; Shakespearian, restoration, absurdist, musical, Greek, devised, mime, realistic, naturalistic, experimental, performance; you name it; I have an opinion on it! This experience at university, to be studying what I love, helped me to gain a huge amount of confidence, and with confidence came self-acceptance, which fills me with deep down happiness everyday. My friends became my family, the seagulls became my personal alarm clock and the night wardens became my ‘big brothers’. Along with drama, I discovered a new passion, something that I am apparently a natural at....

Lights up on a field, it is pouring with rain. There are whistles blowing and men grunting/shouting as several rugby games are going on. DEBBIE is on her knees in a hi-vis jacket with a first aid kit, oxygen tank and gas and air. There is a MAN with a very unnatural shape to his ankle lying in front of her in agony.

DEBBIE: (Calmly) OK, you have defiantly broken your ankle, it is safe to say, but is it OK, the ambulance is on its way; what I want you to do for me my love, is just have a suck on this (hands him the entonox) this will numb the pain, whenever you feel pain, suck! It will make you feel slightly drunk and light headed, you may get the giggles but it will help. I am going to cut off your boot and sock before the swelling gets any worse.

MAN: OWWWW, AHHH, IT HURTS SO BAD. No, please, save the boot, save the boot! (Giggling) Oi, can you take a picture of it please?

DEBBIE: (Slipping the boot off the foot) yeah sure, it looks pretty cool...

Lights down, DEBBIE moves away into the spotlight.

DEBBIE: That’s right, St. John Ambulance! I would willingly and purposely volunteer at places where people were getting injured just so I could use my advanced first aider skills and help people. It became another passion, so much so, that I am still considering paramedics....I soon got put in charge of the Aberystwyth division and before I knew it is was travelling around doing the huge events such as the London Marathon and Wimbledon. Unfortunately, Wimbledon, for the first time in three years, takes a back seat this year and so I will be missing it. So, three years, how quick does that go by? It was soon time to throw my graduation cap in the air, collect my 1st class degree certificate and do some very long, painful and heart-wrenching goodbyes to my friends, tutors and, the place itself: my Aberystwyth. Well upwards and onwards....

Scene three.

SAME AS SCENE ONE.

At the family home; a Sunday,  it is raining outside as always. The whole family: DAD, MOM, brother DANIEL, sister DAWN, sister EMMA, brother TOM and DEBBIE sit on sofa’s, stools and the floor eating a beautiful roast chicken dinner.

DANIEL: (Joking) I can’t believe they are gonna let you go to camp, surely you smell too much?

DAWN: (Joking) Yeh, and you’re not exactly the best looking sister here are you?

DEBBIE: Oh, whatever, you guys are just jealous because I am the smarter child.

TOM: I don’t understand, I thought you wanted to go to London and work in theatres as backstage crew?

EMMA: Yeh, and you always said you wanted to do drama workshops with kids in schools and youth centres...

DEBBIE: Well, I do, and I plan to eventually, (dramatically) but first I want to see the world, experience different cultures, help people, be challenged in ways I can’t imagine and ....

EMMA: (To the rest of the family) Oh, she’s off again! Deb, Deb, we get it, we get it! Back to the point: Camp?

DEBBIE: Sorry about that. I am just so excited about life! But, on a serious note, I could really do with something to fill my time before I go...I guess I could get a normal job for a while, but, that’s boring....

MOM: Why don’t you try a holiday resort?  You have the skills and you are crazy enough, plus it is relevant to camp, working with children and playing games/singing songs....

Lights down, spotlight on DEBBIE.

DEBBIE: So, that’s what I did, while preparing for what I know will be the best summer EVER, I once again packed up my bags and moved to Butlins. Now for those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s a very famous British holiday brand that has a couple of resorts around the UK. I applied for Haven Holidays and Pontins as well (also famous British holiday resorts) and got all three jobs, but I chose Butlins because it is the oldest and had the most to offer.

Scene four.

SAME AS PROLOGUE.

Debbie is still sitting on her bed typing (though it is dark, she is now wearing joggers and is blasting out a bit of eighties music). On the back wall, a projector reflects, exactly what she types...a steady stream of consciousness, on the page, for all to read.

PROJECTION: So here I am, sitting in my Butlins room, having just finished work and tired from doing Lazy Town dances all night, telling you all about myself and why I can’t wait to get to camp! I have never been to camp before, and I know this is going to be an amazing experience, I cannot wait to meet you all and have fun acting around, playing games and singing songs: I do this everyday anyway, but at camp, other people will be doing it with me!

So, a few random facts time? I hate cucumber, love heights, miss the Welsh mountains, am petrified of spiders and I make a fool out of myself at least once a day. I enjoy shopping in my PJs and breaking out in full blown dance and song in cafes if my favourite songs come on the radio. I just can’t wait for the magical relationships, overwhelming joy, and crazy challenges that are going to come our way this summer. I want to spread a bit more drama love and be there for every child that needs just someone. 

I can sit here all night babbling on (believe me, I have lost hours at a time talking to people about nothing) but you will see when we meet. Enough about me, I want to know about you guys?  Lets loose hours talking about you.

DEBBIE sits back and takes a deep breath, reading though her work. She nods in satisfaction and smiles to herself, trying to hold down those ever prominent feelings of excitement and sheer joy!

Blackout.

Ladies and gentlemen, stay tuned or scene five: Camp Augusta, coming this summer!