Books by Peter Horsler

Claire has separated from her husband Steve and is now living with her boyfriend Derek. Her daughter Libby tells Steve that Claire is short of money and is advertising for a lodger, so, while Claire is absent, Steve is given the room by the unspuspecting Derek. Steve's idea is to stay in the house for a month so that Claire can judge both men on their merits; old animosities quickly reat their head, however, and the play ends with Claire and Libby leaving the house, which Steve and Derek decide to share as bachelors. Witty, fast-moving and acutely observed, The Upstairs Cuckoo is a riotous farce with a very human heart. | 2 women, 2 men

Gerald, an archaeological lecturer, rents a remote country cottage for the weekend, ostensibly to work on a local site, in reality hoping for a little middle-aged philandering with his attractive college librarian, Ruth. Gerald introduces her to the landlord of the cottage, Bill Flack, as his secretary. Their privacy is soon invaded, first by the former occupants, Dora and her lovesick daughter, then by other locals including a very pregnant young woman and a menacing bull, Hamish and finally by Gerald's wife, Alison, whose nursing experience comes in unexpectedly useful.|6 women, 4 men

The young, altruistic Dr Glow is perturbed when his National Health Clinic is hired out to Dr Boxclever, a private consultant who extorts outrageous fees from his patien's by prescribing unnecessary treatmen's and useless medicin's. Boxclever persuades Dr Glow to impersonate an eminent specialist and so begins a slide into malpractice.5 women, 4 men

Bill is caught by Adrian while breaking into a suburban house. When Helen, Adrian's wife, appears, Bill calls in Linda, heavily pregnant, from the garden. Adrian shows them that the visible affluence is a facade for enormous debts. Bill urges Linda to be absolutely honest, whereupon she removes the cushion from her jumper. Later it appears Adrian and Helen are guilty of untruths, as they are not the actual houseowners.|2 women, 2 men