A6 - highway connecting Stockport to the center of Manchester and to London, known locally as Stockport Road
A.C. Milan - stands for Associazione Calcio Milan; Italian football club based in Milan
A-Levels - Advanced Level General Certification of Education - two years of schooling in the British school system, just prior to entering college or university
Bluebell Hotel - deserted hotel in Edgeley; see pictures here and here
buggerlugs - affectionate term for a child
Burnley - football club in Burnley, Lancashire
Buxton - town about 20 miles southeast of Stockport; known as a "spa town" for the mineral springs there
County - shortened name for Stockport County Football Club; their home stadium is Edgeley Park
crisps - chips
dozy prat - an idiot
Dresden - 800-year-old German city in the Saxony province, in eastern Germany, close to Poland; known for its historic buildings, beautiful views on the Elbe River, and extensive green spaces; American forces destroyed nearly 90% of the town center by firebombing in World War II
Dunham Massey - large historic Georgian home and grounds, about 15 miles west of Stockport; maintained by the National Trust: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunhammassey
Edale - small village 20 miles east of Stockport; known for its connections to many walking paths; serves as a gateway to the Peak District, a nearby national park
Edgeley - Edgeley Park, the football and rugby stadium in Stockport
estate agent - a real estate agent
fag - British slang for cigarette; in our production we will replace it with "cig"
fiver - five pound note
flat - apartment
genie - any contraption to start a fire using the powder from fireworks, or using a group of matches; the flash fire makes a big puff of smoke, like a genie rising out of a bottle
gobsmacked - astonished, astounded
holiday - vacation
Jap Stamm - Dutch footballer who played for Manchester United from 1998-2001. Paul wears a Stamm uniform in the play, even though Stamm had left the club three years earlier.
local derby - a sporting match against two long-standing, local rivals; often called a "crosstown rivalry" in the U.S.
Longsight - town of about 16,000 in Greater Manchester, about 5 miles northwest of Stockport; where Sarah is headed when she returns later in the play
Lyme Park - historic estate in Stockport; setting of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice; run by the National Trust: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-lymepark
MA - master's degree
mobile - cell phone
mong - slang for someone who is mentally handicapped; similar to the American insult of calling someone "retarded"
motorway - highway
National Service - mandatory government service, usually military service; Charlie worked with the Engineers for his National Service, and was stationed in Dresden, Germany, where he met Ellen (serving as a nurse)
nicked - stolen
Nottingham - city in the East Midlands region of England, roughly 65 miles southeast of Stockport, population just under 300,000. presumably Ellen's hometown. Like Stockport, it was an old industrial city, known for producing lace and bicycles. Also know for the legend of Robin Hood, particularly the Sheriff of Nottingham.
nowt - nothing
on/off your tod - Cockney rhyming slang; means "on your own"
pillock - idiot or fool; originally slang for a penis
pissed - drunk
Polos - mints made by Nestle:
http://www.polomint.co.uk (we are substituting the word "mint" in our production)
Red - Manchester United fan (because of Man U's red uniforms)
Renault - French auto manufacturer; presumably the characters are talking about a standard Renault sedan they see on the highway
Ringway - original name for the Manchester Airport; still used as a nickname for it:
http://www.manchesterairport.co.ukRoy Keane - footballer who played for Manchester United from 1993-2005; served as team captain. Known for his rough behavior on the field, including his feud with Norwegian player Alfie Haaland. Keane fouled Haaland seriously in 2001 and was banned for five games and fined 150,000 pounds.
Sainsbury's - grocery store chain in the UK:
http://www.sainsburys.co.ukscav - a mooch, someone who borrows but never gives in return
sixth-former - someone studying the two years for their A-level exams
sling your hook - pack up and head out; comes from old sailing phrase. To sling your hook meant to haul up your anchor and set sail
Solpadeine - a brand name for pain relief medication, containing two painkillers, one of which is codeine - used for mild pains like headaches, sore throats, etc. - codeine is addictive, so it's often recommended users don't take this medication more than three days in a row
spas - short for spastic, an out of control person
St. Paul's - probably St. Paul's Church, Heaton Moor, Stockport; Susan's house was presumably the old parsonage for it:
http://www.stpaulsheatonmoor.org.uk/
Stepping Hill - main hospital in Stockport, run by the National Health Service: http://www.stockporthealth.nwest.nhs.uk/
Stockport - setting of the play - a town in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, England, situated on the River Mersey. Population around 136,000. Known historically as an industrial city, working in textiles, and known for its hemp, rope, and hat-making trades. Stockport is roughly 7 miles southeast from Manchester city center (i.e. how far Ellen wants to walk to go to the cinema).
telly - television
tenner - ten pound note
trainer - tennis shoe
Winter's - an estate agent
Year Seven - final year of compulsory school, for students aged 11-13
