One Chord Wonders

Frank Cottrell Boyce’s series of plays about the punk generation 30 years on

What if punk heroes The Adverts had played a gig in Camberley in 1977, to an audience of 27 people? And what if, three decades later, someone tried to bring that audience back together for a reunion? That’s the premise of these five linked plays by award-winning screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce, telling the stories of some of those audience members as they look back on that life-changing night. Among the star casts are Doon Mackichan, Pauline Quirke, Siân Reeves, Rosie Cavaliero, Richard Ridings, Danny Webb and Manjinder Virk.

Parallel Lines – When Julie, a singer in a Blondie tribute band, is invited to the reunion (along with her husband Pete, aka Zorba the Freak), she’s unsure whether or not to go. As she tries to track down 'Thing' and Margaret, two of her contemporaries from those formative days, she finds herself facing a few uncomfortable truths.

Blitzkrieg Bop – Back in 1977, Mo Motormouth was a fanzine writer, and co-promoter of the Adverts gig alongside fellow punk Benny Bondage. Now a struggling local radio presenter, her career receives an unexpected boost when she gives her on-air persona an opinionated, in-yer-face makeover. But her newfound success brings some unwelcome attention from the livelier elements among her listeners…

Damned, Damned, Damned – Ex-punk and ex-personal security guard Mick ended up in prison after an altercation with an over-enthusiastic fan. But now he’s a different man: he’s found Jesus, and he’s working on managing his anger. Can he find salvation in remembering the one time when he was truly happy?

This Is the Modern World – Onetime ‘anarcho-punk’ Muttley lives in an eco-collective in Wales with his teenage daughter, Lineel. Hoping to find out about her late mother’s past, Lineel sets off on a walking pilgrimage to Camberley, and Muttley has no choice but to accompany her. He’s about to be forcibly reunited with his former self – and Lineel’s about to find out what life is like in the ‘real world’ beyond the commune.

Television is Over – In this final play, we flash back to where it all began: Camberley, March 1977. Punk has arrived in suburban Surrey, and the town’s respectable residents are outraged – but the local teens are ready for revolution. And at the centre of it all are Julie, Pete, Mo, Benny, Mick, Muttley – and Adam, a young man desperate for something to believe in…

Production credits
Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Produced and directed by Toby Swift

Parallel Lines
Cast: Doon Mackichan, Siân Reeves, Rosie Cavaliero, Ivan Kaye, Paul Viragh, Joseph Tremain,
Sarah Bedi, John Rowe, Ben Crowe, Helen Longworth

Blitzkrieg Bop
Cast: Pauline Quirke, Adam Kotz, Manjinder Virk, Ivan Kaye, Ben Crowe, Harry Myers,
Sanjay Shelat, Stephen Critchlow, John Rowe, Amy Enticknap

Damned, Damned, Damned
Cast: Richard Ridings, Lloyd Thomas, Chris Pavlo, Richie Campbell, Paul Richard Biggin, John Rowe, Ben Crowe

This Is the Modern World
Cast: Danny Webb, Stephanie Leonidas, Ann Beach, Carl Prekopp, John Biggins, Alex Tregear,
John Cummins, Sam Dale, Liz Sutherland

Television’s Over
Cast: Kristopher Milnes, Freddy White, Gerard Horan, Fenella Woolgar, Leanne Rowe,
James Daley, Ben Crowe, John Hasler, Amy Enticknap, John Rowe, Dan Starkey,
Nyasha Hatendi, Sarah Bedi, Joan Walker, Tim James

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