Page 67 of The Silent Appeal

“If you boil The Hollow down to its core themes,” he says, “you get a family that is shit-scared of losing the roof over their heads.” I use his very words.

Kevin has chosen Crisis, a homeless charity, to be our beneficiary for this play. However, in consultation with John, he is concerned that rising costs mean our profits are falling, so he proposes we hold a separate sponsored theater-themed event before play week. Publicity for it will promote ticket sales while raising money for the charity. Win-win.

His initial idea was for a “sleep-out” to raise awareness of and money for the homeless. But this was vetoed by Sarah-Jane who will not be sleeping outdoors until she is stone-cold dead in her grave. Kevin had apparently anticipated that, and proposed a sleepover on the stage set itself. We’ll still be in the cold church hall overnight, but in April or May this won’t be too bad. He also proposes to organize entertaining activities for all those taking part.

The committee discussed this and couldn’t see any potential pitfalls. The suggestion was accepted by Emma and seconded by Joel OBE.

The meeting ended at 9:44 p.m.

[Draft Document]:

The Fairway Players Charity event for the homeless

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, you can experience the misery of vagrancy firsthand in a sponsored sleep out at the church hall. Sign up today and look forward to spending the evening:

Set-building

Learning lines with your fellow actors

Listening to a lecture on homeless statistics

Watching a documentary* about urban vagrancy on Kevin’s laptop

*Trigger warning: addiction, mental health, violence, death.

… before bedding down for a night on the floor of the stage. All you need to bring is a sleeping bag, pillow, and some food. Send your sponsors the following Fairway Players JustGiving link—funds go directly to Crisis.

Message exchange between Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald on February 5, 2025:

11:02 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

It’s TERRIBLE!

11:02 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Which bit?

11:02 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

“Vagrancy” is an unacceptable term in 2025.

11:03 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Easily changed. Anything else?

11:05 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Set-building, learning lines, watching a bleak documentary, and listening to a talk about statistics.

11:05 a.m. Kevin wrote:

That’s everything.

11:06 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Who’s giving the lecture, for goodness’ sake?

11:08 a.m. Kevin wrote: