Books in the Acting Edition S. series

Collaborators is a comedy about marriage set in a dingy, infested flat in Belsize Park in the late 1950s. Henry Winter, a struggling young barrister, is also struggling to cultivate his writing career. At the invitation of Sam Brown, an American film producer of somewhat hazy credentials, he starts work on a film strip about marriage.2 women, 2 men

An obsessive, psychopathic Scotland Yard detective and a likable but murderous master criminal square off in this fast moving psychological thriller.1 woman, 3 men

Phillipa James has plucked down and out Duncan McFee from London's Embankment and installed him in a luxury apartment, purely as a business arrangement based on Duncan's uncanny resemblance to her late husband Richard who unfortunately died just prior to his forty fifth birthday when he would inherit a million pounds.1 woman, 1 man

In the depressing atmosphere of the busmen's canteen, minor irritations become insurmountable problems. The inspector is twittering with nerves; buses are late, staff are missing and a number 642 has disappeared completely. The missing bus eventually reappears, Bert having catastrophically driven under a too low a bridge; now his bus is the first open-top double decker in the fleet.Large flexible cast

The story of a willowy little man who comes to an office for an interview. He has a long wait, and to kill time he shows the receptionist his photographic collection. Finally, the important man arrives and the little man is given his forms to fill out. Don't bother too much with the answers to the questions, he is told; just concentrate on the replies. The little man leaves, but returns shortly a changed man, and forthwith begins interviewing and lecturing the important man himself. A thought provoking, topsy turvy comedy.2 women, 2 men

Beryl Tidy, whose life is dominated by her elderly, irascible and demanding father, works at the library and finds that it is her only escape. She has a new boss at the library, Mr Gostilow, who has just moved to the North from London. When Beryl storms out of work after an uncharacteristic fit of temper and fails to return, Gostilow visits her to find out why. Despite the idiosyncratic and often hilarious comments from Beryl's father, Gostilow succeeds in showing her that she needs and is needed by the world outside. This is a touching and gently humorous portrait of a woman's life.1 woman, 2 men

Kate is paralyzed from the waist down following a horrific car accident four years earlier. Cutting herself off from all friends, she copes bravely in her remote European country cottage with daily help from her "treasure," Mrs. Ponsello. Now Mrs. Ponsello is to move and Kate faces a bleak future.3 women

In this rich and humorous portrayal of eighteenth-century rural life, Geoffrey Beevers remains true to George Eliot's original novel. Adam Bede, a young carpenter of integrity, loves Hetty Sorrel, a pretty and self-centred dairymaid, who herself dreams of Arthur Donnithorne, the young squire. Arthur cannot resist seducing her, and their passion has tragic consequences for the whole community.|3 women, 3 men

Lady Isabel is cunningly seduced by the villain into believing that the clandestine meetings of her husband and another woman are for romance rather than business. In despair, she abandons home and children, only to come back in later years disguised as a governess to her own children and to die in her husband's arms in heartbroken penitence and forgiveness.-5 women, 4 men

An original, highly-imaginative and stimulating entertainment for children, whether as actors or members of the audience. Based on the classic characters created by Edward Lear's verse set to music adapted from traditional folk tunes.-Large flexible cast

Ben finds himself transported to the Land of Dotties. He discovers he can only return home if he lights up the Five Magic Stones. The Rhythmic Dice, the Joker, the Master crossword and Jigsaw each present Ben with a puzzling test which he must complete in a time set by the King. This delightful play by Carol Younghusband is a funny and exciting tale with a moral, for performance to children aged 4 to 9.|Large flexible cast

A modern morality play wherein Michael and Tom, petty thieves, are interrogated by a Man and and a Woman who wish to be rid of a certain man. They send the thieves to spy on him but Michael runs away rather than betray him. Tom informs but later regrets his action. Both are taken out to die on either side of the man.|1 woman, 3 men

K.O. Samuel's adaptation of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood - a pantomime.Large flexible cast

All the traditional elements are intact in this new pantomime which is set just after the English Civil War, when the Puritan Witchfinder General is trying to stamp out Christmas jollifications and meeting spirited opposition. A brisk yet enchanting pantomime, offering a traditional festive flavour of Olde England, but played out before a very appealing and colourful historical backdrop, with lots of excellent opportunities for most attractive costumes and settings.5 women, 7 men, 1 woman or man

Stacey Harrison is a charming, intelligent, successful career woman who unfortunately gets involved in divorce, but several murders as well.2 women, 6 men

As he tidies up an empty stage, the Sweeper is tempted to experiment with the magic power of the theatre--to create life through the exercise of imagination. After a few preliminary tries in summoning up a rabbit and an elephant, the Sweeper plunges ahead and creates a Young Man and a Young Woman. Then, as ever more characters are called for, events begin to go beyond his bewildered control. The most potent forces in human life and society--love, hate, politics, religion--emerge and dominate, and with them the bickering, dissension and decadence which they can engender.5 women, 12 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

Percival arrives in a Rolls Royce at Darren's distinctly working-class house to view a Citroen which Darren is selling. Polite conversation highlights the differences in the two men's lifestyles, but it is not until Darren's wife arrives that the skeletons come tumbling out of everyone's cupboards.

At his firm's Christmas party, Brian is waylaid by Claire - who discovers that he likes to sing Doris Day songs at home. Claire and her friend Wendy set about persuading and training Brian to take part in a talent competition. But is Wendy using him to aid her revenge on another colleague?

Olive and Hilary, relinquishing professional careers, have found true happiness living simply. Monica, Olive's sister and a marketing executive, arrives for a break from her husband Derek who has quit a pensionable job. Olive and Hilary sympathize with Derek, cheerfully resisting Monica's attempts to dissuade them from their chosen lifestyle and Monica's intolerance becomes her downfall in this amusing, very entertaining play!|3 women, 2 men

Edwina and Jonathan Lovelock are to divorce - hardly the best advertisement for 'Perfect Partners', the dating agency they run together. When a prospective client is revealed as a journalist looking to write a blistering exposé of dating agencies, the couple have a battle on their hands. Sparkily amusing, combining a satirical glimpse of the cynical yet romantic world of dating agencies with a witty, touching personal drama.|2 women, 2 men

With the best of all possible motives, needless to say, Winifred and Una come to "sort through" Aunty Dorothy's things after the funeral, and they find that they have been forestalled! The self-righteousness tinged heavily with greed, and the pretensions and pretences that afflict families at such times are perceptively portrayed in this amusing and touching family play.4 women

Unemployed Carlene, her friend Val and the homeless Woman share their mornings in the park. They indulge in mockery of Nanny, another park regular. In Val and Carlene, Nanny recognizes traces of her own past that trouble her conscience. Val and Carlene enact a dramatic flashback to forty years before, in which Nanny dismisses her nursery maid Rosie for 'immoral' behaviour.|4 women

Did the daughter of Tsar Nicholas II die with the rest of the imperial family in 1918? Or was she the girl found in an asylum in 1920? This brilliantly executed drama presents the case for and against "Mrs. Manahan" using only four actors Mrs. Manahan, a police inspector who later plays his own son, and a additional actor and actress who play between them thirty parts. Audiences are spellbound by this compelling play with a final surprising twist.-2 women, 2 men

Sam and Bill, two middle-aged brothers, own and run "Cobblers", a cafe in a seaside town. Their peace is shattered by the arrival of a runaway, Linda, who is after a job, and her grandmother, Connie, who is after Linda. A terrible coincidence is revealed when Connie meets Sam.

This play centres around a chaotic day in the life of Alex Partridge, Manager of the Thurlow Playhouse. He has a lot to deal with: Doreta Mason, director of an amateur production of "Oklahoma"; Ms Murdstone, the agent from the Arts Council; and worst of all Doreta's husband, Clarence.

Bob is a born loser: plain and shy he is no match for Ted whose facile charm impresses "the birds". Bob thinks he has found a different kind of girl and invites her to dinner. Ted bustles about, further reducing Bob's store of confidence. Doreen arrives. Her quiet poise is revealed as foolishness and she finds classical music as tedious as Bob's conversation.1 woman, 2 men

Four friends meet at the Rialto Ballroom to go to the Saturday dance. One of them introduces a shy, gauche newcomer to their hardbitten world. They initiate her into the tough, not to say unscrupulous code of conduct of the dance hall, dressing her up to turn her from her usual retiring self into a sex-symbol - they hope.|5 women

For a brief while in an old house, time merges across four centuries. The Wise Woman, from Tudor times, is expecting a Customer who wishes to make use of her apparently extra-sensory powers. By chance two women from the present day happen to intrude on this event of long ago. An antique buckle provides an eerie link between the two widely-separated periods.6 women