Jess and Joe Forever

(Paperback)

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Description

Meet Jess and Joe. They want to tell you their story. Joe is Norfolk born and bred and wears wellies. Jess holidays there with her au pair and is slightly too tubby for her summer dresses. They are miles apart even when they stand next to each other. This is a story of growing up, fitting in (or not), boys, girls, secrets, scotch eggs and maybe even love, but most of all, its about friendship. Spanning several summer holidays, Jess and Joe Forever is an unusual coming of age tale that explores rural life and what it means to belong somewhere, if you can really belong anywhere. A layered and thoughtful play about finding your place in the world when you only know a small corner of it. This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere of the play at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, in September 2016.

Reviews

Zoe Cooper's skilful and touching account of an unlikely teenage friendship brings to mind The Catcher in the Rye. * Guardian *
. . . sets tear ducts going and send stomachs soaring. You'll want to punch the air. **** * WhatsOnStage.com *
Jess and Joe Forever is that rare thing, a well-made play. Beautifully crafted, sweet and succinct, the story sells itself as ice cream on a dull summer's day. * Exeunt Magazine *
This is a small play with a big heart, a romantic comedy that's genuinely funny but also unexpectedly powerful. **** * Standard *

Author Bio

Zoe Cooper's credits as a playwright include Petrification (Theatre503) Nativities (Live Theatre), Utopia (Live Theatre / Soho Theatre), The Winters Tale (adaptation for The Globe Theatre), Longshore Drift (Old Vic New Voices) and Learning How to Swim (ATC/Root Theatre). She has also had work developed or produced with the RSC and National Theatre Studios, as well as with Ovalhouse, Theatre503, Nabakov and the Tristan Bates Theatre. She is currently doing a PhD at Newcastle University and is an Artist in Residence for Newcastle City. She has an MPhil in Playwriting at the University of Birmingham and was on the Royal Court Young Writers' Programme. She worked as literary assistant at Hampstead Theatre and now works as a freelance dramaturg and theatre education officer.