SOAP BOX SPEECHES

24 Apr 2025

DORSET CLUBMEN - ALMOST FORGOTTEN  ACTION:   BANNERS organising: Gill & Sue; Clare & Eva; Tuppy & Pippa; Jackie & Helisha; Haydn & Sheila Share them out and give to soapboxers (?? & to audiences) at end of soapbox sequence – just before song/finale. SOAPBOXERS & LEAFLETEERS GROUPS 1. Stewart & Heather plus Luke   2. Jane & Will plus Dave & Amy;    3. Jeff & Shaine plus Sandra & Alan;   4. Barbara & Lauren PLUS Izzie & Annemarie  A = STEWART; JEFF; JANE; BARBARA B = HEATHER; SHAINE; WILL; LAUREN C = LUKE; DAVE; AMY; SANDRA & ALAN; IZZIE & ANNEMARIE

  • Carrying leaflets, the 4 Groups spread out down stage to audience boundary
  • As they go, WILL encourages everyone to find their right places – maybe with verbal instruction e.g. “Obadiah, you take that group and Mary, you that one!”
  • 4 spread out – Group 1 facing left side of audience; 2 & 3 facing centre; 4 facing audience on right
  • ‘A’s climb onto soapboxes
  • ‘B’s stand close by – to side. They need to be nimble and dart from side to side of partner.
  • ‘C’s echo B and chant chorus parts and hand out fliers to audience/
ALL   (coming forward and speaking to audience):  (Secretively) Shh! Take these! Sisters! Brothers! (Handing out pamphlets) B: Pass these (leaflets) along now! A: (louder): Sisters! Brothers! C: Sisters, brothers! A: Do you agree  we’ve had enough of soldiers rampaging across our land? B: Stealing our horses! Burning our barns! A: Destroying our crops! B: Forcing our sons to fight their unjust war! A: Haven’t we had enough? (Wait for response) B & C: (raising flags/sticks): Enough! A: Are you with us, sisters and brothers? B:  We can’t hear you! C: Are you with us A:  (Holding up leaflets) It’s all written here!  If you want peace, join the Dorsetshire Clubmen! EVERYONE:  at Badbury Rings! B:  Hear our Declaration! A: And sing our song with us – the words are on the back of the flier! B: You may use your lanterns! (Flag spreaders arrive and say) “It’s time for the Declaration! C: It’s time!” ‘Come!”