The Firework-Maker's Daughter by Philip Pullman

First published in 2010 by Oberon Books Ltd
    Electronic edition published in 2012
    Oberon Books Ltd
    521 Caledonian Road, London N7 9RH
    Tel: 020 7607 3637 / Fax: 020 7607 3629
    e-mail: [email protected]
    www.oberonbooks.com
    Reprinted in 2011
    The Firework-Maker’s Daughter stage adaptation copyright © Stephen Russell 2010
    The Firework-Maker’s Daughter copyright © Phillip Pullman 1995
    Stephen Russell is hereby identified as author of this stage adaptaion in accordance with section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. The author has asserted his moral rights.
    All rights whatsoever in this stage adaptation are strictly reserved and application for performance etc. should be made before commencement of rehearsal to The Agency (London) Ltd., 24 Pottery Lane, Holland Park, London, W11 4LZ ( [email protected] ). No performance may be given unless a licence has been obtained, and no alterations may be made in the title or the text of the play without the author’s prior written consent.
    You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or binding or by any means (print, electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
    A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
    PB ISBN: 978-1-84943-069-2
    EPUB ISBN: 978-1-84943-518-5
    Cover Photography by Sophie O’Reirdan
    Cover design by James Illman
    Printed, bound and converted in Great Britain by CPI Group (UK) Ltd., Croydon, CR0 4YY.
    Visit www.oberonbooks.com to read more about all our books and to buy them. You will also find features, author interviews and news of any author events, and you can sign up for e-newsletters so that you’re always first to hear about our new releases.

The Birmingham Stage Company’s production of Philip Pullman’s The Firework-Maker’s Daughter was first performed at The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham on 20 October 2010 with the following cast:
    LILA, Laura Durrant
CHULAK, Ben Wong
LALCHAND, Chris Talman
RAMBASHI, Craig Painting
GODDESS OF THE LAKE, Natasha Lewis
HAMLET THE ELEPHANT, Matt Williamson
HUNGRY PIRATE, Iwan Tudor
KING, Jak Poore
FRANGIPANI, Jennifer O’Neill
CROCODILE, Alexander Scott
    Creative team
    Adapted by Stephen Russell
Director , Phil Clark
Designer , Jackie Trousdale
Lighting , Jason Taylor
Music , Jak Poore
Sound , Mike Beer
Puppeteer, Toby Olie
Costume Supervisor , Gemma Hughes
Production Manager , Digby Robinson
CSM , Simon Sinfield
DSM , Judith Barrow
Sound Operator , Matt Gibson

Characters
    LILA
    CHULAK
    LALCHAND
    RAMBASHI
    GODDESS OF THE LAKE
    HAMLET THE ELEPHANT
    HUNGRY PIRATE
    KING
    FRANGIPANI
    CROCODILE

ACT 1
1 - LALCHAND’S WORKSHOP
    LALCHAND’s workshop. Workbenches, chemicals, rockets, etc. A fuse is laid leading to a firework. A scruffy and dirty girl, LILA, comes onstage. She carefully adds a tiny amount of delicate powder to the firework, thinks about it, adds a tiny bit more. She thinks “why not” and pours a load in. She steps back and lights the fuse. It burns quickly towards the firework. LILA takes cover offstage.
    A man, LALCHAND the Firework-Maker, walks into the workshop. He watches the fuse for a moment, then stands on it, putting it out.
    LALCHAND: Lila!
    LILA returns.
    LALCHAND: What’s this?
    LILA: A rudimentary experiment, father.
    LALCHAND grunts.
    LILA: A standard Java Light, with cloud powder instead of flowers of salt.
    LALCHAND: ( Impressed .) Have you given it a name?
    LILA: Tumbling Demons.
    LALCHAND: Excellent. If it works I’ll put it in the New Year Festival display.
    LILA: That’s three of my fireworks in your display.
    LALCHAND: I know, and I’ll let everybody else