When The Long Trick’s Over

Book excerpt: I'm doing this for her because this was my sister's dream. This isn't my natural habitat. I wouldn't normally choose this. But she would have. Two sisters. One dream. The hardest open-water swim in the world. This triumphant play from Olivier Award-winning writer Morgan Lloyd Malcolm moves forwards and backwards in time across the 21 miles between Dover and Calais as a young swimmer harnesses her mind and body to make the crossing. Tackling what it means to grieve, both physically and mentally, When The Long Trick's Over encapsulates the fact that love persists whatever the distance and however perilous the journey is to the other side. And that, sometimes, it means swimming against the tide and against the things that hold you back: the old memories and oil tankers, jelly fish and Jelly Babies. This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere production by HighTide and the New Wolsey Theatre, February 2022.