Books in the Acting Edition S. series

So Mr. Lockwood, the unfortunate builder of this modern monstrosity, gets his Sales Manager, Nigel Pitt, to pretend to be the current owner in order to make a more effective 'sell' to the first prospective buyers in years. To give an additional touch of authenticity he engages an actress to play the part of Nigel's wife, just while Sir Lindsay and Lady Cooper have their look round. But the real complications start when the Coopers are fogbound and have to stay the night-and turn out not to be husband and wife at all.-6 women, 6 men

In this merry comedy of marital mishaps the, scene is set for an evening and morning of riotous misunderstandings and mistaken identities as the guilty parties in question try desperately to keep their romantic secrets secret!|3 women, 3 men

Four people live together in a large old house in London. They include Sherry a wacky girl trying to make it as a comedienne; Paul a pop music journalist; Paul''s girlfriend Marion; and Howard, who is writing a left wing analysis of the corruption of capitalism under the Thatcher government. They all are perfectly content living where they are; until, that is, a developer offers them a huge sum of money to vacate. Soon, their talk about music and idealism gives way to heated discussions about real estate, capital appreciation and negotiating tactics.|2 women, 4 men

Bernard has foolishly asked his mistress, Brigit, to his home on her birthday despite the fact his wife Jacqueline is present. He has also invited his oldest friend, Robert and asks him to pretend Brigit is his mistress. Robert refuses as he is having an affair with Jacqueline, but Bernard cunningly involves him anyway.|3 women, 2 men

When their wives join the Women''s Peace Movement, Nobby, Tommy and Ken, pals in the Territorial Army, treat it as a joke. But as the women become more involved in demonstrations the men become the laughing stock of their TA battalion. Finally, the women, attempting to make their husbands give up the army, go on sexual strike with the slogan "No Nooky Against the Nukes". A wry, amusing look at the nuclear disarmament issue set in the author''s North of England.|4 women, 3 men

Middle-aged Myra and Mavis return home for their mother''s second marriage to a young waiter Ricardo, insisting on a low-key register office ceremony. But Mother is having none of this and makes her own arrangements helped by the charlady and they both have the last laugh.|5 women

Daniel Defoe''s famous eighteenth-century novel about a girl born in Newgate Gaol: "Twelve Year a Whore, Five Times a Wife (whereof once to her own Brother), Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia" who"at last grew Riche, liv''d in Honest and died a Penitent" is brought to the stage in this rumbustious musical written by Claire Luckham.|4 women, 5 men

When the Prime Minister drops dead from an apparent heart attack on the eve of a general election, two cabinet members who fear they need his charisma to get reelected hire an out of work actor to replace the deceased. This dead ringer is suppose to fill in until after the election is won, but he grows to like the role until he discovers that the real PM was poisoned.|2 women, 5 men

Set in 1890s Paris and very typically Feydeau in style, this lively and fast-moving play revolves around the idea of mistaken identity. Lucille awaits her new music teacher but the man who walks into her apartment is Edouard, in the mistaken belief that he is attending a rendezvous with his mistress. A series of hilarious misunderstandings and double entendres ensues.|4 women, 1 man

Mrs Weston, an elderly widow, has been robbed, or at least believes she has - the trouble is, she is so very forgetful. Rosemary a young policeman, investigates, helped by her jokey and somewhat ambiguous colleague, Derek.

Set in the library of a provincial newspaper where battle is joined between the forces of order and chaos, between arid organization in the person of the new library assistant, Leslie, and humane confusion in the person of Lucy, the much-loved resident librarian. Drawing on his experience as a journalist, Frayn draws his gallery of characters with the hilarious accuracy which can only come from first-hand experience. Winner of the Evening Standard's Best Comedy Award after a long run at the Hampstead Theatre and on London's West End in 1975. This edition features the author's revised version of the script presented at the Hampstead Theatre in 2009.

Seizing the opportunity, while her parents are out, Doreen decides to invite round Eric, her boyfriend. However, the evening is doomed to failure for all concerned: Doreen tries to calm Eric's passions while Mam and Dad overcome a ruined hair-do, the losing of all-important tickets and the car's flat battery only to find that they have the wrong night.2 women, 2 men

In this brilliantly drawn and succinct play with amusing, real characters, Robin is organizing the Muncaster Philanthropists' exercise bicycle ride in the shopping piazza. The members are gathered in the early hours, ostensibly to support each other, but feelings get out of hand. Robin argues with Wolf, slaps down deserted dog-tired Derek and blackmails Gerard into taking his turn. Meanwhile the security guard reports evil doings in the car park, a no go area after dark. The event falls apart after Clooney's dog attacks the do-gooders and only lumpen Krystel is left in the glow with shadowy figures surrounding her.-5 women, 6 men

The play charts the fortunes of a group of ATS girls from their arrival as a raw, awkward, ill-assortment of individuals to their passing-out parade as a 'perfectly drilled unit of faceless soldiers', following the shifts and tensions of their personal relationships, the comedy, drama and- in one case - eventual tragedy that occur during their period of training together. The action centres on the girls' barrack room, with small insets in adjacent places.3 women or men

Three women are waiting in a cellar. One is a captain in an organization pledged to bring freedom to the city, which is in the throes of a struggle for power; another is a witness; the third is an informer in the coming trial. A frightened girl is brought in and severely questioned regarding her alleged betrayal to the authorities of hidden stocks of ammunition. She is acquitted of betrayal but led away to be punished for fraternization. The proceedings have, however, uncovered the guilt of another woman present-the informer herself.5 women

The wise Sophia enters a starving village and declares she will feed everyone with her magical stone soup, thereby gradually encouraging the villagers to share their own hoarded goods for the benefit of the community. She is labelled a subversive by the autocratic government figure, General Mayhem, who attempts to nationalize the pot of soup and place it under government control. However, the play ends with the cast and audience alike dancing merrily.Large flexible cast

This delightful version of Aladdin and his Magic Lamp is told in time honored pantomine fashion with all the well loved characters and Aladdin himself and, of course, the well hated character of Abanazar, the evil magician, who provides plenty of opportunity for boos and hisses from the audience!2 women, 3 men, 5 women or men

When her husband Dermond plans to be away in Cork with his partner Fintan, Grainne decided to seize the opportunity of spending the night with an ex flame, now a TV personality. She also involves the partner's wife, Niamh, in the plot. Things begin to go wrong when Niamh's furiously jealous husband returns unexpectedly and finds her performing what seems to him to be an exceedingly compromising task. Matters are further complicated by the new manageress of the new motel turning out to be the spurned love of the TV personality.3 women, 4 men

Why sould Ron Corley MP, the Minister for the environment, be searching for the seaside bungalow of his ex-mistress Donna on a Friday afternoon in the summer? And where does the pizza boy fit in? All is explained in this farcical drama.

A two-act play in which young Penguin comes from Iceland to search for his mother and father.

A fairy tale in which a strange little man saves a miller's daughter from death by spinning straw into gold and demands her first born child in exchange. He will only allow her to keep her if she can discover his name.

The audience are taken back to Nursery-rhyme land for this lively pantomime of adventure, comedy and magic with all the traditional favourites: the good fairy, Georgie Porgie, Old King Cole, and his scatty Queen Mattiwilda, Dame Sprightly and her son Tom, who rescues the Princess from the naughty Knave of Hearts and his not-so-naughty villains Buckett and Spade.-Large flexible cast

Combines the traditional tale of Mother Goose with spirited songs and dances (to be chosen by the director). Plenty of opportunity for audience participation, led by irascible Billy, Mother Goose's son. Fun packed action centers on the wicked squire's bailiffs and Priscilla, the Magical Goose, instantly endears herself to all. And Fairy Harmony succeeds in helping good overcome evil and happiness prevails once more.-3 women, 1 man, 7 women or men

Paul Reakes' pantomimes include many original twists to the familiar stories, with plenty of audience participation. They can be staged as simply or as elaborately as desired. Choice of music is left to the director.Large flexible cast

John Garrard is a successful manufacturer who is driven by a compulsion to use and consume the world and the people around him. He is briefly intensely curious about everything he comes across, particularly other people's worlds: their religious beliefs, their sexual and artistic yearnings and their feelings about him. During one climactic night amid the hectic activities of a trade fair in Germany, it looks as if he will be forced to turn his sharp eyes upon himself and come face to face at last with silence and darkness.2 women, 11 men

When Brian takes up jogging, his wife Hilary is not surprised. She has often told him he should exercise more after all the business lunches he consumes. But when Brian is ostensibly running round the park, he is, in fact, spending a couple of hours with his girlfriend, Wendy, in his good friend George's flat. The arrangement works well for some time, for while Brian is visiting Wendy, helpful George knows that there is no danger of his own dalliance being discovered; for the object of his affection is Brian's wife, Hilary! It is all plain sailing until George's wife Jessica returns too soon from a business trip to America and puts the cat among the pigeons.-3 women, 2 men

Forming the first part of the David Hare Trilogy (which also comprises of Murmuring Judges and The Absence of War) Racing Demon focuses on the Church of England. A disparate body, the Church now finds itself attracting unwanted publicity, wracked by the dissension of its members on matters of doctrine and practice and at odds with the government. In this climate the Reverend Lionel Espy and his team of clergymen struggle to make sense of their mission in South London, as the arrival of a zealous young curate intensifies their personal and professional problems.3 women, 8 men

The television drama department is short of performing space. Director Guy's drama is shunted into a small room and he is beset with problems. The cast come to loggerheads but after a 'calming' break return to find their space double-booked by would-be contestants on an idiotic panel show. When the Head of Drama drops into the rehearsal the drama turns into a farce...12 women, 5 men

Absurdity, taken with seriousness and decorated with the ridiculous, and logic foundering in bizarre situations these are the farcical formulas well exploited in this play. George is getting into his fifties, his sexual virility nagging at him, one way or another. He is having an affair with twenty year old Jane. His wife, Clare, sensing that something of the kind is going on, fixes up a way of dealing with the situation. Jane has a boy friend, Nick. The quartet play out their charades in a double setting, the living room of George and Clare's home, and Jane's flatlet.|3 women, 3 men