Books in the Acting Edition S. series

Poppy is a celebration of Victorian values and exposes the hypocrisy, racism, drug dealing, money worship and sexual repression of the time through its favourite entertainment form. Dick Whittington, his man Jack, Sally the Principal Girl, the Dame, two pantomime horses, a flying ballet, a transformation scene and even the traditional song-sheet are all brought on to tell the serious and finally devasting story of the single most profitable crop of the British East India Company.4 women, 6 men

The troubles of Ventroux, parliamentary deputy, begin when his wife Clarisse insists it is so hot that she can only wear a négligé around the apartment. Hochepaix, a former political enemy, visits; Clarisse is stung in a most unfortunate place and pleads with Hochepaix and her husband to suck out the sting for her. When a reporter from Le Figaro kindly administers first aid in full view of the President it seems doubtful that poor Ventroux's political career will survive!|1 woman, 4 men

Caroline marries an unemployed actor, Kevin, whom she supports while he flirts with women and spoils her flat with his oafish behaviour. Eventually he seduces one of her pupils and Caroline throws him out. Miserably isolated, she goes to dinner with Jilly and Ivor and meets Matthew who appears eminently suitable. But their ensuing affair is doomed by Matthew's persistent, precision fault-finding and Caroline realizes she can cope better with the slovenly, but kind-hearted, Kevin sprawling on her sofa. The plot is evolved in clever time-splitting sequences between the present and three years past.3 women, 4 men, 8 women or men

In this reputable English comedy in the grand tradition, a repertory company is holding the second rehearsal for next week's play and things are proceeding in customary confusion. The star is in a hassle with her husband, who also plays the part of her husband in the play within a play. The author, of course, shows up to offer his invaluable talent to the poor producer who is a pretty worried guy at this point. He has just been fished out of the orchestra pit into which he fell after a sally with a left handed carpenter and an amateur electrician who switched off the lights.5 women, 8 men

A top surgeon has disappeared from St Sennapod's Hospital leaving young Dr Boldly in charge of Ward 10. Sinister Dr Scalpel arrives, trying to corner the market in spare-part surgery by snipping off spare parts wherever he can. However, Orderly Jim Pill and the hospital staff succeed in foiling Scalpel's dastardly plans and all ends happily. This fun-filled, fast-moving play for children is easily staged and allows plenty of opportunity for audience participation.Large flexible cast

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.Large flexible cast

Who could tell, in the first decade of the twentieth century, what strange adventures might befall those who ventured to travel by the new-fangled aeroplane? A forced landing, perhaps, in some long-forgotten land where time has stood mercifully still. James Smith, of the well-known London catering concern, drops in on Arcadia, where no-one tells lies, or grows older, where money is unheard of and unemployment a permanent attraction. Far from impressed by what Smith tells them of the joys of life in London his hosts despatch him, with missionary zeal-and two agelessly beautiful Arcadian nymphs-to convert the wretched metropolis. Things do not always go as planned.11 women, 13 men

A hilarious, original, and thoroughly entertaining pantomime, guaranteed to transport all involved to the land of the Arabian Nights.Large flexible cast

Jane and Catherine have an antique cluttered house, unpaid bills, and a memory of marriage to the same man, now deceased. His will states they can live in the house if they don't sell its contents. They discover some jewels and a wily antique dealer gets them to accept a down payment and from then on everything they do to rectify matters gets them in deeper.6 women, 2 men

Flushed by their successes, the stalwart veterans of the Dramatic Society are poised to conquer yet another dramatic idiom: their current production sails the luxury ocean liner SS Farndale Avenue into the world of thirties musical comedy. The ladies prove that the age of elegance, glamour and enchantment is not dead... well, not quite. Circumstances almost beyond their control threaten to wreck the evening's entertainment but the ladies and Gordon, in true Farndale form, soar above such mundane matters to present some catchy numbers and a stunning underwater sequence!-3 women, 2 men

This translation of von Kliest's "Der Zerbrochene Krug", is transformed by a Yorkshire dialect and set in Skipton in 1810. It concerns Judge Adam, the agent of justice, who is visited by the magistrate Walter Clegg, seeking signs of malpractice in a trial where family grievances are unearthed.

An adventure musical for children, in which the 11 principal roles are augmented with much chorus work. Jessie, Maggie and Teddy embark on an eventful journey into the mysterious world of silver-tongued Harry, the Sandman, to retrieve the magical sand.

This fast paced, fun filled farce by two masters of the genre enjoyed a successful run at London's Strand Theatre, starring David Jason as the hapless Fisher.4 women, 2 men

Based on the author's experiences, Fighting Chance is set in a rehabilitation center for neurological patients. It charts the progress of five patients over eight weeks. These five demonstrate humor, frustration, anger and pity and they help each other throughout this funny, touching and ultimately optimistic play.|4 women, 5 men

A zany, fast-moving comedy of confusion. When Tom, an Elvis fanatic, and Alice his fiancee are unable, due to fog, to fly to Miami for an Elvis Convention, they arrive back at Tom's flat to find they have inadvertently picked up the wrong suitcase at the airport and are now in possession of half a million dollars. Confusions arise when Auntie arrives with a bag containing $20,000 as does Frankie, a thug working for the owner of the suitcase dollars, and it takes Inspector Hendy to sort everything out.-3 women, 4 men

Michael harbors an ambition to direct Macbeth and gets his chance with the autumn production of The Shellsfoot Thespians. He encounters problems from finding enough men to telling grande dame Geraldine she is not to play Lady Macbeth, despite her offered bribe which would pay production costs. He casts his wife in the part opposite Frank, with whom she is having an affair (unbeknownst to Michael). It soon appears that the jinx surrounding the play extends to amateur productions and to Michael's life, but he remains determined to get the show on at any cost that includes his job, his wife and finding a new venue when banned from the church hall.|7 women, 6 men

Terry, an ex-petty-criminal, runs a small charity organization which campaigns for freedom of information. When he is handed a not-to-be-missed case it becomes apparent that everybody in the office has something to hide in this comical drama.

This play presents a study of marriage and friendship as well as the English away from home. Tom, despite his misgivings at leaving his wife, joins his friend Andy on a golfing holiday in Spain. The farce, however, doesn't begin until they get home to their wives.

This charming autobiographical play from London's West End creates scenes from the life of aspiring writer Brenda Barnes. From age nine into her forties, she is seen through the eyes of her eccentric and sometimes fiery family, particularly her willfully self descriptive father and her put upon and sometimes hot tempered mum. Hilarious scrapes erupt when Brenda's imagination and intelligence bump against the restrictions of Irish and English customs and society. The play is a captivating and not uncritical look at family life that features some wonderful roles.|5 women, 3 men

Comedy Thriller Norman Robbins Characters: 4 males, 6 females Scenery: Interior Months have passed since the ghastly events in Monument House occurred that are related in A Tomb with a View. Mortimer Crayle, the crusty lawyer, and his secretary have gathered the remaining members of the Tomb family at the house, ostensibly to inform this off beat bunch about their inheritance. In reality, Crayle has designs on the estate that necessitate eliminating all Tombs. Fog descends on the gloomy mansion. In the cobwebby corridors things and people are seldom what they seem. Poison is in every decanter and there are mysterious disappearances. Hosts and guests join the rising pile of bodies in the cellar. Previous acquaintance with the Tombs is not required to enjoy this glorious spoof.

This powerful drama is based on the true story of Hannah Snell who in 1750, disguised as a boy, went to sea in search of her errant husband. For seven years she lived as a man boldly braving wounds, bloody battles and her own troubling visions. After returning home penniless, she was part of a successful stage act until visions of an apocalyptic future forced her to proclaim the horrors of war. Hannah was locked in Bedlam. Rescued, she sailed away to speak out for life and a continuing world.3 women, 5 men

Jeremy and Celia return a week early from their unsuccessful honeymoon to find that both Jeremy's partners have accepted his offer to stay in his house while he is away. The only problem is that they have each brought the other's wife with them. Jeremy discovers one illicit couple, Celia the other. Both issue invitations to them for dinner. Complications pile up thick and fast as, realizing their dilemma and desperate to make a good impression on Jeremy's colleagues, the couple stages two dinner parties simultaneously, one on the patio and one in the dining room.|3 women, 4 men or 4 women, 3 men

The play is a pantomine on conventional lines with a dame, wicked witch, good fairy, haunted bedroom, and knock about scenes, contemporary songs to choice, references to local names, etc., but based on the less usual story of the four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. When the King's magic crown is stolen, his kingdom is reduced to destitution, and it looks as if evil has conquered good. But handsome Prince Valentine is finally triumphant. Easily staged settings are alternated with front cloth scenes, may be as elaborate or as simple.Large flexible cast

Norman Robbins' fun-packed pantomimes tell the traditional stories in a clear fast-moving style and can be staged simply or elaborately, as required. The choice of music is left to the director.Large flexible cast

The play is a musical reconstruction of incidents relating to the East End murders which took place between Friday, August 31st and Friday, November 9th, 1888. A solution of Jack the Ripper's identity is hinted at, but the play is an atmospheric commentary rather than an historical re-enactment, shifting between reality and artificiality, with characters representing "real" people as well as members of the music hall audience and players.8 women, 8 men

Crisp, witty exchanges pepper this light hearted and inventive thriller that unfolds with a series of macabre twists. A thriller writer indulges in vitriolic word duels with his estranged wife until she shoots him. An amateur detective from the next flat attempts to solve the murder before calling the police. More deadly games are in store when the corpse rises and the tables are turned more than once for the victim and the killers.2 women, 3 men