Books in the Acting Edition S. series

It is Christmas Eve and Fergus, Santa Claus's Chief Forebrownie, is bustling about preparing Santa's sleigh. However, three goblins - Sneergripe, Snottle and Bug - are plotting to kidnap Santa Claus and hold him to ransom! The goblins stage the kidnap and it is up to Tommy and Anna to find Santa and safeguard Christmas for the children of the world.12 women or men

Divorce Me, Darling! is a nostalgic and amusing take-off of the musical comedies of the 1930s and a sequel to the technique used in The Boy Friend for the 1920s. The charming young pupils of Mme Dubonnet's finishing school who married their respective 'boy friends' now come together again after ten years of marriage at the Hotel du Paradis in Nice.13 women, 13 men

With Catesby's Cabaret Club as its central setting, this musical show traces the conspirators' fated attempt to blow up Parliament in 1605 by planting gunpowder under the House of Commons.

In a mock Tudor manor gone to seed lives 70 year old Maud and her younger son, forty five year old Mo. She speaks more to the soundless television than to him and he plays New Orleans jazz on his drums. An attempt to destroy this happy way of life is made on the occasion of the father's funeral by Hedley, the older son, and by Queenie, Mo's twin sister from California. But the cloistered pair prefer to remain in what is, in effect, a shed in the garden of Heartbreak House.2 women, 2 men

On the Feast of Stephen, the Chancellor of Bohemia is preparing a surprise for the King - a golden statue. The King, however, is beginning to have doubts about the difference between his wealth and the poverty of his subjects, a difference created, without his knowledge, by his Chancellor's cruelly hard taxes. The King leaves the palace in disguise and discovers the true nature of his Chancellor's actions on his behalf.2 women, 5 men

Rodney and George are to provide a dramatic interlude at the Sherlock Holmes Society's annual congress. Events turn truly dramatic when George discovers the body of Rodney's financial director, dressed as Moriarty, in Rodney's cupboard. Proudly acknowledging he's the murderer, Rodney is piqued when others make the same claim. All are thwarted when the body staggers from the cupboard and passes a suicide note to inspector Jobling-- all to the accompaniment of The Pirates of Penzance!5 women, 4 men

Based on the best-selling book by Michael Foreman, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish is an ever-topical musical play for young people, with an environmental theme.Large flexible cast

Left a widow with five grown up children, Mrs. Dermot turns to brother Dan for help. Uncle Dan arrives to find an idle family ready to live on his money. He announces that he is doomed to die in three years and that he will leave his money to the member of the family who has made good by then. Each sets to with such determination that Oliver becomes a successful inventor, Evangeline a novelist, Bobbie a composer and Sylvia a film star; even Joyce, finishing her school career, distinguishes herself.-6 women, 4 men

When Mother unexpectedly plans a trip home from America, she is expecting to find her beloved garden in the state in which she left it. Her son Gerald's work on the garden has fallen short of her expectations, however, and the garden is now a jungle. Neighbour Pip comes to rescue Gerald with a brilliant idea; why not try a house-swap? Things seems to work out until a news reporter from Happy Gardening comes on the scene...3 women, 2 men

Max is planning to murder his wife Janet, collect her life insurance, and enjoy life with his girlfriend when Mary and George arrive on their Greek island with news: Mary and Janet are beneficiaries of a huge fortune. Plans and plots hatch, and soon everyone is bent on murder. All that stands in their way is the presence of a neighbor who knows a thing or two about murder, crime writer Edgar Chambers.3 women, 3 men

Cherry Hellin'sworth is fulfilling her Community Service stint by working at a Village Hall as the Functions Manager. But she's not terribly good at it. On one evening she manages to to hire out the hall to the Village Drama Society, the Cricket team, a Singing Telegram and a Country and Western group called the'southern Fried Chickens.13 women, 13 men

Geraldine and Reg, ageing hippies now trapped in Green Belt respectability by Geraldine's domineering mother, Mrs Carmichael, are giving a dinner-party. Geraldine decides to liven up the evening a bit by impersonating Reg's imaginary brother Rollo, a cad and a bounder. When Reg retaliates by dressing up as Rollo's eccentric wife, Lillian, chaos ensues. Olwen Wymark's suburban comedy is a rebel's fantasy, a hostess's nightmare, and a hijinks treat for its audiences.3 women, 3 men

An ingenious set greets the audience of this award winning play: the cross section of a Victorian house that has been divided into three flats. The owner, a fastidious, elegant executive named Barbara, contentedly occupies the ordered, male free ground floor visible in its entirety. The basement ceiling can be seen and this is were Gilbert, a boorish postman and handyman, is painting a nude study of his landlady. Barbara is letting Nikki, a schoolfriend, and her fiance use the upstairs flat even though she has taken an instant dislike to him. Ever life's victim, Nikki is destined to suffer yet again when Barbara succumbs to an unexpected and violent passion.-2 women, 2 men

Nancy is at the helm of the unhappy Empson family who, for the sake of Father's health, move to a small country village. Their new house is in a state of disrepair, but they find that a local handyman, Winston, is keen to help them out. He breaks their resistance to him with his irreverent wit, gourmet cooking, free repairs and liberal doses of sexual advice. Gradually the family are transformed by his presence.-4 women, 4 men

This is an adaptation of one of the most exciting Arabian Night stories of all time. The staging can be simple or elaborate and casting flexible - only a few thieves on stage at any one time. The plot is full of suspense and excitement, though the blood-thirstiness of the original story has been toned down. Full of humour and song, with the villians getting their comeuppance.2 women, 4 men, 7 women or men

When Tom Lambert, botanist and TV gardening personality, receives a call from Inland Revenue enquiring about his public relations consultant Joanna Flint, he can honestly say he has never heard of her. By lunchtime, he knows all about Miss Flint: his accountant and ex wife confesses that she invented Miss Flint as a tax dodge. This tricky situation sets the stage for sparkling comedy.-3 women, 3 men

This play, ideally suited to younger actors, concentrates on a very important topical issue - pollution. Nora, a member of her school's Environmental Studies Society, attempts to have analysed samples of water from local caves which she suspects is being contaminated by a factory of which her father is a director. Excitement and tension mount when Nora threatens to drink the water.2 women, 4 men

Stranded in an airport lounge during the inevitable delay of a holiday flight to Spain, Rosemary - "I`m a one-parent family, you see" - and her carbon-copy, not-very-bright daughter, Mandy, draw the reluctant Dennis and Shelia Tippit into a conversation.3 women, 1 man

No one would have blamed it on the boots if only Kate had produced Macbeth instead of Hamlet or Ophelia hadn't been so attractive and naive or Eric had smaller feet and wasn't the drama group's prize flirt or Liz's father hadn't been an actor who once trod the boards at Stratford in those self same boots.3 women, 1 man

A very funny comedy, written with Frank Vickery's usual panache and style. Nancy and Cyril are to meet their son's girlfriend, Susan. Cyril, naturally bald, goes into hiding when his wig disappears, and reappears in disguise. But there are further problems when Susan loses a contact lens in the salad - Cyril is soon on his way to hospital wearing a dead kitten on his head.2 women, 2 men

Verne Morgan's pantomimes are clear and straightforward, following the traditional stories closely. Choice of music for songs and dances is left to the director.4 women, 12 men

On her wedding morning Pam is so appalled at the gravity of the promises she must make that she refuses to be married to Joe. Her doubts increase on meeting her father, Paul, long divorced from her mother. Pam was taught to think him an abandoned bounder, but fin''s so charming she is convinced that if his marriage disintegrated then he''s is bound to fail. Paul intervenes and incites Joe to elope with Pam whilst he himself enjoys a reconciliation with his wife.|5 women, 3 men

When Chief Constable Henry Potterton and his sister arrive at the peaceful country house of their late, lamented brother Bernard, they are astonished to find several scantily clad ladies wandering about. During Bernard''s visit to a religious commune, his housekeeper turned the place into a "house of sin" and now she hastily tries to hide the truth. This leads to hilarious comings and goings, and when Bernard turns up alive, the household is thrown into further chaos.|6 women, 3 men

Jack has just been acquitted of manslaughter, and regales his girlfriend Maggie and their neighbours with a disparaging account of the trial. According to the evidence (most of it Jack''s), the victim, Philip Mercer, had broken in late at night, and, on being confronted by Jack, produced a gun which Jack got hold of during the ensuing struggle and then used to kill Mercer. A clear case of self-defence. Or was it?|2 women, 2 men

Angry and bitter after throwing out her unfaithful husband, Julia is only too ready to succumb to the good-looking Welshman who comes ostensibly to update her husband''s computer. Julia enjoys playing games with the computer, particularly when it invites her to play the Murder Game and she can fantasise about how easy it would be to commit the perfect murder by computer with her errant husband as victim.|3 women, 1 man

A truly outstanding, genuinely funny play, with a wry twist at the end. Frank has erected signs for a commercial letterer for twenty-five years. With trainee Alan, he attempts to spell ''Forshaw''s'' - the letters collectively forming the play''s third ''character''. He is nonplussed when the right letters do not appear and then realization dawns.|2 men

A play about Paddington Bear for children.

After her disappearance several years ago, Emma finds that her memory is damaged; there is much she does not recognize or understand. Why does she appear familiar with certain Russian phrases; why has she such a horror of a harmless silver bell, of a portrait on the wall, of knives? Is she, in fact, Emma Cranwell? Behind these questions looms a menacing mystery which finally erupts into violence and horror.3 women, 3 men