The Jungle

  And the Jungle was gone.

  Now, fields of yellow rape, six feet high, grow in the sand where the Jungle once was. Apart from small footprints, where nothing grows. Where the church stood. Mosques. A restaurant.

  Thank you for your hospitality.

  I hope one day to return to Aleppo. When I do, you are all very welcome to visit.

  But to those who were our friends, who are not here now, we pray for you. We thank you. We love you. May peace be with you. And Allah grant you safety and comfort.

  Beth enters with piles of donations.

  There are nearly a thousand refugees still living in Calais today. The police prevent any building. Any sign that things might grow again. Volunteers distribute what little they have. Their vans give out meals in car parks, roads, wherever they can.

  Beth.

  Beth Still here. In Calais. I never left.

  A boy enters. He looks like Okot.

  Al-Sadig Salutations.

  Beth turns.

  Beth Okot?

  Al-Sadig My name is Al-Sadig. I am one five. I just arrived.

  Beth It’s good to meet you, Al-Sadig. My name is Beth. I am two zero. Now, it’s very dangerous for you to be here. The police are all around this area, and they’re not as friendly as they used to be. They come at this time every night so we need to be quick. I think there are some nice Sudanese men in the woods nearby. I can take you to them. But first, can I ask you a favour? I need your help.

  She gives him lots of donations to carry, and they walk off together.

  The End.

  About the Authors

  Joe Murphy grew up in Leeds and Joe Robertson grew up in Hull. They began writing plays together at university in 2011. Their short plays include Fairway Manor (Burton Taylor Studio, Oxford Playhouse), Ten Bits on Boondoggling and Paper Play (Edinburgh Fringe) and Maria Popova (Greater Manchester tram network). In 2015, they established Good Chance Theatre in the ‘Jungle’ refugee and migrant camp in Calais, a space of expression where theatre, art, dance and music could be made. They lived there for seven months until the eviction of the southern half of the camp. In 2016, Good Chance built its original Calais theatre in view of the UK Parliament for Encampment, a major festival at the Southbank Centre in London, with a programme of 110 artists from around the world, run by former residents of the camp. Good Chance then began working in Paris with theatres, humanitarian organisations and local communities to create new spaces of expression, welcome and introductions. In January 2018, two new temporary theatres of hope are planned to open in the north of Paris. The Jungle is Joe and Joe’s first full-length play.

  Copyright

  First published in 2017

  by Faber and Faber Ltd

  Bloomsbury House

  74–77 Great Russell Street

  London WC1B 3DA

  This ebook edition first published in 2017

  All rights reserved

  Copyright © Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, 2017

  Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson are hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All rights whatsoever in this work are strictly reserved. Applications for permission for any use whatsoever including performance rights in this translation in the UK must be made in advance, prior to any such proposed use, to Judy Daish Associates Ltd, 2 St Charles Place, London W10 6EG. No performance may be given unless a licence has first been obtained

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

  ISBN 978–0–571–34625–7