Finborough Theatre

Year 10 subsequently transferred to BAC as part of their Time Out Critics' Choice season - 28 February - 19 March 2006 - and also played in France at the
Festival “Premières” second edition - a festival organised by the Théâtre National de Strasbourg and Le Maillon with the support of the Union of the Theatres of Europe from 1-4 June 2006; and as part of the Brittany International Theatre Festival in November 2006.
The play was also shortlisted for The Brian Way Award 2007.
A feature film adaptation is currently under commission for The First Film Company.

The script is published by Methuen. Buy copies here

"I walk to parks and stare into space . . just stand there and sometimes I cry, so much that I feel I might not ever stop . . .I stand in the parks with all the fruit bowls, drinking Special Brew and talking to themselves, I'm like a disappointed old man and I'm fifteen years old . ."

The world premiere of a new play. In the suburbs of South London, Jack moves to a new school where he is confronted by aggression, violence and anger. He dreams that time would speed up and hurry by, but then he meets Jamie. And suddenly she makes him wish time could just slow down and stop. An emotionally charged, bruising yet tender story of the journey of a year in the life of a fifteen year old boy.

Year 10 is playwright Simon Vinnicombe's first original play. He is a member of the Royal Court Young Writers Programme. He also adapted the fairy tales of Oscar Wilde as Wilde Tales which enjoyed a sell out run at the Southwark Playhouse, also directed by Max Key.

Directed by up and coming young director Max Key whose previous credits include Wilde Tales (Southwark Playhouse), The Silk Road Tales (Shaw Theatre/ British Library/BBC Proms), Routes (Young Vic Studio); The Nightingale and the Rose (BAC), Blue/Orange, Love and Understanding and Corner of the Room (Soho Theatre Studio), The Glass Menagerie (Young Vic Studio), Oedipus (Grange Court Theatre), and La Ronde (Edinburgh Festival). He is a member of the Young Vic Genesis Directors Project and was a recent nominee for the Jerwood Directors Award.

The Press on Year Ten

TIME OUT CRITICS' CHOICE

**** FOUR STARS THE GUARDIAN

"Jack is 15 and has terrible spots, low self-esteem, a talent for football, a violent temper and a mum who, since her divorce, won't stop crying and listening to Nina Simone. What's more, Jack is the new boy at his bog-standard London comprehensive, and soon he has attracted the welcome attention of Jamie, the most attractive girl in class with an abusive step-dad, and the unwelcome attention of Wes and Jon, a couple of foul-mouthed, evil-minded Chelsea-supporting thugs.
When you come across really promising new writers at the Royal Court or Bush, you raise a smile. When you stumble across the unrefined talent evident here in Simon Vinnicombe's debut play you cheer and give it an extra star. Actually, Vinnicombe's play makes you want to cry, so deft is it at exploding the myth that for today's kids their schooldays are the happiest days of their lives.
It captures all the frustration, anger and fear of the introspective, put-upon teenager, and the helplessness of parents and teachers who try to step in but are hampered by their own misery and by a system that renders teachers impotent in the face of bullies. As Jack observes: "I am like a disappointed old man and I'm only 15 years old.
Vinnicombe's play is too raw and heartfelt to be flawless. But its sweaty, profane energy carries it through, and Vinnicombe demonstrates that high-octane is not his only gear, in a desperately tender written exchange between Jack and Jamie who recognise each other's damaged hearts but are powerless to save each other in a world where yob culture doesn't just rule but is accepted as normal behaviour.
Max Key's production is tough and terrific too and it boasts really superb performances from the cast, young and old. I believed every single word. Which is truly terrifying."
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian on the BAC transfer

"THIS IS A HIT"
Benjamin Davis, Time Out

"SIMON VINNICOMBE’S FEROCIOUS NEW PLAY"
Benjamin Davis, Time Out

"THIS IS A HUGELY PROMISING PLAY"
Ian Johns, the Times

"SIMON VINNICOMBE’S IMPRESSIVE DEBUT…IMMEDIATE AND INTENSE"
Colin Shearman, The Stage

“WE’LL BE HEARING MORE FROM THIS TALENTED WRITER.” Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard

“DEBUT WRITER SIMON VINNICOMBE OFFERS UP A SHARP, POIGNANT, AND AT TIMES SHOCKINGLY VIOLENT PIECE ABOUT A TROUBLED 15-YEAR-OLD AT ONE OF LONDON’S UNLOVELIER [SIC] COMPREHENSIVES.” Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard

"THE PERFORMANCES ARE UNIFORMLY STRONG"
Benjamin Davis,Time Out

"MAX KEY DIRECTS WITH A CONSTANT EYE ON THE SIMMERING VIOLENCE"
Colin Shearman, The Stage

"THE DIALOGUE AND CHARACTERS FIZZ IN TOUGH AND TOUCHING MOMENTS"
Ian Johns, the Times

“DIRECTOR MAX KEY MIRRORS THE EFFERVESCENCE OF THE SCRIPT WITH A SPARKY PRODUCTION” Fiona Mountford, Evening Standard

"JAMIE, PLAYED WITH A HARD-EDGED, FLIRTY CHEEK BY EMMERDALE ACTRESS JENNY GLEAVE"
Colin Shearman, The Stage

"WES AND JON, PORTRAYED SO REALISTICALLY BY BRADLEY GARDNER AND PAUL CHILD THAT THEY PUT THE FEAR OF GOD INTO THE AUDIENCE LET ALONE THE OTHER CHARACTERS"
Colin Shearman, The Stage

"BRADLEY GARDNER’S PERFORMANCE AS WES, THE LEADER OF THE PACK, IS NOT UNLIKE A TRUCK BEING DRIVEN THROUGH THE BACK OF THE THEATRE"
Benjamin Davis,Time Out

"A VIVID CAUTIONARY TALE FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS THEY HAVE EASY ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEMS OF EDUCATION AND DISAFFECTED YOUTH"
Helen Chappell, What’s On in London

"VINNICOMBE…BRINGS A REAL VERVE TO HIS DIALOGUE AND NEATLY CHARTS THE CONSTANT SHIFTING OF ADOLESCENT ALLEGIANCES AND THE VOLATILE ANGER OF RAGING HORMONES. HE’S ALSO ADEPT AT TENDER MOMENTS BETWEEN JACK AND JAMIE AND THE COMEDY OF SOCIAL EMBARRASSMENT"
Ian Johns, the Times