Live Like Pigs

John Arden

London 1958, Published: 1961

Drama in 17 scenes; prose and songs

Scenes and settings: Council estate in northern English industrial town, 1950s
Cast: 6m, 7f, 1 child (f), extras

The Sawneys, a family of travelling people, are unwillingly being resettled from their derelict tramcar into a home on a council estate. They comprise Sailor, the 70-year-old patriarch; his woman, Big Rachel, a tough woman about 40; Rosie, a 22-year-old single mother of Sally and baby Geordie; and Rachel's son Col, a belligerent teenager. Their neighbour Mrs Jackson comes to welcome them, but is chased away with abuse. Mrs Jackson's daughter Doreen befriends Col, and Mr Jackson is dangerously attracted to Rachel.

Blackmouth, Sally and Geordie's father, suddenly arrives to impose himself on the Sawneys, bringing with him the dotty Old Croaker and her manipulative teenage daughter Daffodil. Jackson goes to bed with Rachel, but cannot cope with her passion. Blackmouth finds Col in bed with Daffodil and threatens him with a knife, but is driven from the house by Col. Doreen claims that Col sexually assaulted her. An Official from the Housing Department warns the Sawneys that they will be evicted if they do not look after their house better. Mrs Jackson learns of her husband's infidelity and shuts him out of the home.

The women of the estate set upon Col and claw wildly at him. Pursuing him home, they hurl bricks through the windows. After a night of siege, the police arrive and search for stolen goods. Col and Daffodil run away, Sailor is injured, Rachel sets off on the road, and the Official comes to evict them all.