Böcker i Acting Edition S.-serien

In the Orders Office of Chunkbix Ltd., it is decidedly Mr. Price Hargraves who gives the orders and little Mr. Bloome who obeys them - until Mr. Bloome is astonishingly accused of chasing a young female across the Common.|6 women, 3 men

To the painful ritual of Sunday family visits and empty condescension, Cooper and his friend Aylott reply with humour and wit, aware that life can only be endured if treated as a comedy.|3 women, 3 men

This is a full length pantomime, entirely traditional with lots of humour and with its own original and delightful score by Eric Gilder which is available separately. The large number of both amateur and professional groups who present Crocker and Gilder pantomimes regularly every year is unmistakable proof of their success.|Large flexible cast

When Paula answers the doorbell, it is not her lover Mark but a stranger who claims to be her husband James' friend. The visitor seems to suggest they murder James. A death does occur: Mark - not James - dies in an automobile accident that soon is discovered to be murder. The ever increasing tangle of lies and suspicions soon involves Paula's step-daughter. Was Mark the intended victim? Accusations and unexpected revelations culminate in a surprising climax.|2 women, 3 men

A black comedy, the play explores the relationships between two "odd" couples thrown prematurely out of hospital care. Firstly, we see two men conduct fantasy interviews for jobs they will never get, then two women trying to "make plans" as urged to do by the hospital. They all meet when Oz throws a disastrous party with the four desperately attempting the niceties of social intercourse.2 women, 2 men

Kate, a prisoner sentenced for killing her very sick child, has been attacked and driven to attempt suicide. The prison authoritites discover that the attack was made by an inmate, Gow, who has a lesbian attachment to another prisoner, Valentine, and who is insanely jealous of Kate's innocent friendship with Valentine. The investigations also reveal that Kate's husband had killed the child and that Kate, herself innocent, is shielding the man she loves.10 women, 2 men

A group of twentysomethings hang out on the seafront of a northern resort at the end of the summer season, finding little to relieve the futility and boredom of their lives. Casual sex, mindless violence and comic clashes of outlook permeate this entertaining, contemporary and humane play which paints a believable, touching portrait of modern youth.2 women, 6 men

"Since It Gives Me Great Pleasure first appeared in 1972 I have been heartened to hear from so many producers and performers, both amateur and professional, how useful they have found it as a source of help, information and encouragement and above all of inspiration for their own ideas. For this is very much a suggestive publication, if you'll pardon the expression, the intention being to fire the imagination, to suggest a course of procedure rather than to proclaim an ex cathedra list of inviolable do's and don't's. And now my estimable publishers have permitted me in this new edition to update publishers' addresses, to revise the text in the light of a further fifteen years' Music Hall experience, and considerably to expand the Chairman's section."Michael Kilgarriff

Gerald rents Rookery Nook where his wife, Clara, will join him later. He is agreeably surprised by a pretty stranger called Rhoda who comes running to him for protection against her irascible German stepfather. Gerald allows her to stay in one of the bedrooms but as she is clad only in pyjamas, it is vital to conceal her presence from nosy neighbours. Rhoda gets herself some clothes just in time before Clara arrives but Gerald has some difficulty in convincing Clara of his innocence.6 women, 5 men

Beware of mother-in-laws, especially of one like Emma Hornett. Albert Tufnell, A.B., is anxious that his fianc¿e, Shirley, should not take after her mother, Emma. Albert is also disturbed to find that Shirley has weakly acquiesced to living only three doors away from her mother. Albert's only defence is not to turn up at church. Later he makes peace with Shirley and the wedding is on again.5 women, 4 men

This entertainment by and about the Kings and Queens of England includes music, poetry, speeches, letters and other writings. The Hollow Crown has been performed in America and England by stars from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The four readers enact the writings of royals from William I to Victoria; the three singers intersperse songs from the proper period - some of which are sad tunes on the death of kings while others are uproariously funny.1 woman, 3 men

A man schemes to murder his wealthy wife for the love of another woman the sister, an actress friend or the au pair? Victim and victimized become intertwined in this startling drama.-4 women, 5 men

Beautiful Marguerite Gautier, seduced at the age of fifteen by her Marquis employer, decides on a courtesan life. She meets Armand Duval, son of the Marquis, and the two fall desperately in love. Aware that she is in the initial stage of tuberculosis, Armand persuades her to settle in the country with him, but Marguerite is threatened by the Marquis and forced to return to Paris, dying and reviled by Armand.Large flexible cast

Winner of the Royal Court Young Writers' Festival this brilliant debut play shows two brothers and their working-class parents. Jonathan, the high-flier, causes the death of his errant girlfriend's older lover, whilst David, a fighter pilot, is sent to the Gulf War. Both are killers, but one is revered as a patriotic hero whilst the other is imprisoned for his crime passionel.4 women, 6 men

In the late 70s, five students on a drama teaching course at a northern college discover sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Spanning a period of a few years, the play follows the relationships between the five as they fall in and out of love and start their careers.

In Act I of this play, Detective Inspector Bruton questions Celia Wallis about her husband's murder. Celia is obviously in the clear, but the drunken journalist sleeping in her bed seems very shady. Act II, however, takes place before the murder, and turns all our expectations on their heads.

Ageing Matthew Cuthbert suffers a heart attack during harvest, 1903, and his grim-visaged sister determines to adopt an orphanage boy to help with the farm work at Green Gables. By mistake, a girl arrives, red-haired, freckled and over-talkative. Her vivid imagination and entertaining flow of chatter endear her to Matthew, but sister Marilla is set on packing her back as soon as possible.13 women, 12 men

Dirty Linen concerns the investigation of a Select Committee into the moral standards of the House of Commons - a somewhat unconventional investigation, rendered not less so by the presence of an ultra-sexy secretary whose clothes have a trick of whisking off in the hands of various members. New-Found-Land is a duologue between two Home Office officials, with a tour-de-force speech on America by one of them.2 women, 8 men

It is a light-hearted, almost farcical, comedy which revolves around the mother's deep anxiety and attempts to avoid scandal after she confuses two men (both called David) and accidentally sets up her daughter with 'David Hoylake-Johnston' (who has a reputation as a philanderer) instead of 'David Bulloch' (who she believes to be the perfect match for her daughter).5 women, 3 men

This ingenious comedy is about two sisters and the choices they make (or have made for them) over a few months. There are four versions that can be done on different evenings, each stemming from one random and one deliberate choice. The story starts with a funeral at which Dorcas, Abigail and Simon solve a dilemma by tossing a coin: either Dorcas or Abigail wins the toss and goes with Simon. Later, at a picnic, Dorcas opts for either a camping adventure for Abigail or a day of sports for herself. The inevitable end of either choice is a wedding.4 women, 8 men

In this play, three women, Jessica, Rachael and Ruth, find themselves emotionally stranded in Jessica's beach home. Jessica's lover of several years standing has died and as they wait for Jessica's daughter, they weigh the choices they have made as women, as daughters, and as mothers.

Smith commutes to the West End to her work as a secretary at a publishing company. Her evenings are spent at home with her beloved aunt - a world of battenberg cake, gossip, ginger nuts and sherry in tiny glasses. But at the same time as leading this seemingly mundane suburban existence, she is writing the piercing poetry and prose that will one day make her famous. Stevie is a biographical snapshot of both the poet and the private woman. Shot through with wit, this is the story of an endearing heroine, her unconventional life, powerful and popular poetry and her greatest struggle: to keep waving and not drowning.

There are three good friends: a devoted husband, a pathetically invalid wife, and a woman friend of the family. Gradually we learn that there is a terrifying truth beneath the appearance of their friendship. It has an ending you have never seen before, and it will give you the shock of your life.5 women, 5 men

The ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society make another spectacle of themselves and their harassed producer. Vigorous sound effects enhance their spine chilling mystery production, a tale of murder and mayhem that is guaranteed to bring down the house or at least a substantial part of the set.-5 women, 1 man

Gig Young starred on Broadway as a food and wine connoisseur who dabbles in female delectations. He is picked up at a party by a younger woman who is a match for any roue. The new romance bubbles along smoothly considering the contrast between sophisticated gourmet and the modish girl. He finds himself in love permanently but is rebuffed when a young musician/ linoleum layer reclaims her heart.-3 women, 4 men

A sequel to Wild Goose Chase. In the ancestral home the nerve-shattered Chester is again menaced by his old enemies Capone and Wedgwood. In the flower beds Lord Elrood lurks with his shotgun ready to repel attacks by the butcher's boy, the postman and other desperate characters. Through the ancestral living-room wander Maggie and Bert, come for two-and-sixpence-worth of gawp and suitably awestruck by the goings-on of the country-house set.|5 women, 6 men

Peter Graham, TV series hero, seeks refuge at the country rectory with his mild clerical Uncle Humphrey from all the females who continually chase after him, and in particular from Pixie Potter. Humphrey, horrified by the threatened loss of his housekeeper who has been dismissed by his formidable sister, advertises for a wife but absentmindedly omits the important word "marriage". These two occurrences resoundingly shatter the peace of the village.|5 women, 4 men

Six interlinked plays set in a National Health hospital during visiting hour. Alternately funny and sad - with elements of tragedy and comedy in each - your audience will be reaching for the Kleenex one minute and rolling in the aisles the next!-4 women, 2 men

Four typical Ayckbourn misfits are playing a Dungeons and Dragons type game in a suburban living room. Stanley, Hazel, Warren and Rick make the weekly escape from their real life nightmares into a role-playing board game peopled by dragons and monsters. A safe world where the dangers are of their own imagining; where they are free to become heroes of their own devising. But how clear is the dividing line between what they choose to be and what they really are? What would it take for them to lose sight of it altogether?-4 women, 4 men