by Dennis Scott
directed by Yvonne Brewster
The Drill Hall, London
24 June - 19 July 1986
Gallery
Notes by Director
For many years AN ECHO IN THE BONE has been resounding in my mind - I felt I must 'do it'.
When an Arts Council Grant came through for us to produce it I wrote a rather incoherent letter to my friend of many years, Dennis Scott, "
Please", I asked "
What does one do with this play?", or words to that effect. He replied, "
...instructions / wishes? Absolutely not! Just keep it simple and loving, as you intend. And for God’s sake have fun yourself! It’s the only reason people our age should do anything anymore!"
My initial reaction was "
Thanks very much Dennis pal, that’s a lot of help!" I soon realized however what enormous help he had in fact given: Freedom.
The rehearsals have been a process of discovery and re-discovery, of laughter and much pain. In being made to face up squarely to our past with its overwhelming violence, the future beckons more clearly. Thanks Dennis.
As a point of interest the "shawling" device which we have used to indicate the changes in time and place is as old as the nine night ceremony itself; and is used to indicate when the role play or storytelling aspect of this ritual is about to take place. Yvonne Brewster, Director
"
...I NOT GOING TO JAIL FOR THIS YOU HEAR ME! I SUFFERED TOO LONG! THREE HUNDRED YEARS!"
Crew, a black peasant is missing. Maas Charlie, the white estate owner is dead. What killed him?
The answers lie deep in the racial memory, they Echo in the Bone. The year is 1937. The country is Jamaica. Friends and family of Crew, finally convinced he is dead, gather for the traditional ritual held nine nights after a death in order to persuade the soul of the deceased that all is well and to send it away with cheers and rejoicing. During the ceremony the ritual impels the participants to re-enact their history as an oppressed people in order to find some meaning in madness.
