Books in the Acting Edition S. series

Isabel Merryweather runs an antique shop with her Rear-admiral father. One of her eccentric customers leaves a baby in the shop and Isabel's strong maternal feelings are aroused.Assisted by her most eccentric visitor of all she sets about an unconventional adoption plan.The unexpected results are astonishingly successful, affecting not least the Rear-admiral.6 women, 4 men

In a neglected graveyard we encounter both the quick and the dead. Deceased Harry is waiting for his wife, Beth, to join him. Unable to be seen, or to communicate with the living, Harry can only watch helplessly as his daughter Angie wheels the deaf and ailing Beth to his graveside.

In a hospital housed in an old palazzo, two Englishmen recovering consciousness both see the ward ceiling, covered by a huge painting of Heaven, and imagine they have 'passed on'. In conversation it transpires that Fletcher, a rather rough type, has led the sort of Byronic life that scholarly Luby has only written about.|2 women, 5 men

Frank and Mary Shaw have a child after twelve years of interesting but unfulfilled marriage. Through their poignant soliloquies, and scenes replayed from Andrew's, their son's, formative years, it is revealed how he becomes the centre of their separate worlds. Without wanting to leave Mary, it suits Frank to have a longrunning affair. When Mary finds out she smothers her own hurt so that Andrew remains emotionally secure.|5 women, 4 men

This adaptation of the Pied Piper tale centres on the figure of Blankenfeld, the one member of the Town Council to feel a moral obligation towards the Piper once he has rid the town of rats. He alone is exempt from the doom the town brings upon itself by ignoring the Piper?s demands for his payment.|2 women, 13 men

Father has raised Alan and Emily single-handedly. Now Father has left for a new life in America and Alan is at a loss as to what to do. Should he sell the house - and help pregnant Emily who needs money - or marry Rita and stay where he is?|3 women, 2 men, 1 girl, 1 boy

Leah discovers her author husband Gordon is having an affair with Ursula. Meanwhile, Gordon remembers Umjana Land, the childhood dream world he inhabited with his sister Agnes, and determines to write. When Agnes appears, having written a Booker Prize-nominated book about Umjana Land, Gordon is left strangely alone as his daughter Leah, Ursula and Agnes find a common bond.|4 women, 3 men

Marcus Wade, a successful stockbroker, has found himself saddled with a curious gift: he can see into the future. At first he uses this power to his advantage, but his pleasure turns to terror when he finds his vision only extends a certain distance into the future. What lies beyond "the edge"?

A couple - shall we call them Adam and Eve? - unsure of their whereabouts on Millennium New Year's Eve, come into a hotel, seeking directions while Church bells peal out their message. The receptionist, however, has no quick answers. One's place, he claims, depends on one's vantage point in time.

Newlyweds Penny and Tom Gilbert are entertaining Tom's colleague James and his wife Alice to dinner, when they are unexpectedly interrupted by Harry Barton, a character from Tom's past. Harry has come to offer Tom a job; not so surprising perhaps, as Tom is known to be a high flyer in his work with computers. But why should Tom be so alarmed at Harry's offer? What gives Harry the power to threaten Tom if he refuses? And what exactly is the "past" which Tom tries desperately to evade? This tense drama builds to an unusual-and unguessable-twist in the tail!|2 women, 4 men

Ageing and remembrance of ordinary people are explored with startling originality in this award-winning play. Man, a retired manager, is lying in bed, contemplating his past. His thoughts are lost in dreams depicting people who have steered the course of his life, those he cared about, those who hated him, and those he was forced to betray.3 women, 5 men, 2 women or men

There is entertainment and laughter in every line of this fast-paced comedy which explores the influence of the past through characters whose relationships with each other are complex. Stella and Derek are selling their house and are preparing to show prospective buyers round it, very late one night. These buyers turn out to be Romaine Marsh, an old school friend of Stella's, and Amy and Ray. Derek once wanted to make Amy his mistress, but was blocked by Ray. Stella's involvement with Romaine was more than "school chums". The situation is ripe for development and when a necklace is stolen we at last learn the true identities of all!|3 women, 3 men

Americans, Maxwell and Joan, are visiting a country in the far east where Maxwell was posted during the war. Maxwell, while visiting the temple relives a horrfying scene from his army days. They meet a cripple and their patronage turns to fear when they see his terrible scars. A young woman official explains that he is a napalm victim. To the tourists he is an object of fear, to the revolutionary he is an embarassment to the state. He is the innocent.|2 women, 2 men

A letter to Geoffrey, who is blind, informs him that his wife is having an affair with a work colleague. His trip to the leisure centre where Alice works changes both their lives as he confronts the other man. Then Geoffrey's friend Anton meets Amaryllis, his ideal woman, at the centre.

Diane and Harold Blott give a party for their silver wedding. Harold becomes sulkier and sulkier, and Diane finally realizes that the cause of Harold's behaviour is the presence at the party of his current lover. Diane faces a dilemma: either to wound Harold's ego, or carry on with her "pretending-not-to-know" farce.|3 women, 2 men

This is a warm, and moving character study of an elderly widow and her new Home Help, Leslie - a man. Leslie's care and humour eventually win Rose round, eventually Leslie moves in to be on hand all the time. The play ends with Rose's death and a scene of poignant farewell.

This humorous and well-crafted play for an all-female cast deals with the class divisions of Edwardian England and is set before the Old Age Pensions Act was passed in 1908. It skillfully depicts the battle of Sarah Dawkins and her mother, Gran Twigden to outwit the local gentry, whose attitude is paternalistic but patronizing. As their battle ensues the audience rapidly becomes drawn into this highly entertaining and socially realistic play.6 women

Outwardly respectable Mrs Bee does "good work" on the Committee of the Bountiful Bequest, a charity for distressed females. However, unbeknown to the other Committee members, she is financing the charity, and feathering her own nest, by running a branch in Brussels where the younger and prettier girls are transported in dubious circumstances. Blackmail ensues...|6 women

Crosby and Gilbert are escaped convicts who couldn''t face the thought of yet another Christmas dinner in gaol. Their adventures on the run, in various disguises, dodging a host of amazing characters are all tremendous fun.|2 women, 7 men

A comedy about a permissive youth, a father and son who cannot communicate, and a wife whose ex-fiance is still around after 20 years of marriage.2 women, 3 men

An odd assortment of characters are passengers on an ocean liner whose destination is unknown. Suddenly the bewildered travelers realize they are dead and headed for Judgment Day. The young man who has lost his faith in himself becomes desperately afraid, the snobbish Mrs. Cliveden Banks prepares to demand certain heavenly concessions, and the old cockney woman goes on with her knitting. Most frightened of all are a young man and woman who have committed suicide. The Examiner comes on board to judge their cases with whimsical perception.|3 women, 6 men

Christmas Crackers is the hilariously funny sequel to Kidnapped at Christmas, written by Willis Hall for Christmas 1975. Crosby and Gilbert, our two convicts, are spending a lonely Christmas Eve eating baked beans on the stage of an empty theatre when they encounter their old enemies - Detective Constable Grummett (and his wife and son) and Mullins and Macbain (now promoted to Constables - 'evening all'). -Large flexible cast

lt is the eve of Nicola Thompson's wedding day; the festivities are prepared, the presents are wrapped. Sheila, Nicola's mother is avidly ticking off her list, and everyone else in the process!-2 women, 2 men

Excitement and intrigue are built into the plot of this entertaining play. Following the publiation of a book entitled "This Village I Know" it transpires that the book bears some relation to a real village. The local people, who feel they have been misrepresented, descend on the authoress Miss Stalk to dispute the scandalous allegations. However, she proves very elusive. Emily, the servant, suddenly stuns everyone by announcing that she is the author. As Emily has worked for all of them the scandal has more truth in it than they would like to admit, and they beat a hasty retreat!6 women

A pregnant wife is loath to inform her husband in case it jeopardises his career. Telling the neighbours, however, does not help…|3 women, 3 men

This is the third Christmas Eve spent in the company of convicts Gilbert and Crosby (the first two being Kidnapped at Christmas and Christmas Crackers). Our lovable heroes are back in prison again with Warders Mullins and MacBain.|2 women, 7 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.|Large flexible cast

An untraditional pantomime. The aristocratic Boronski family live in Siberia in the years before the Russian Revolution. Just as spring is about to begin, their lives are disrupted by the evil Fox, who condemns Siberia to eternal cold and despatches the Wolf to kill Babushka Boronski.

This is a full length pantomime, entirely traditional with lots of humour and with its own original and delightful score by Eric Gilder which is available separately. The large number of both amateur and professional groups who present Crocker and Gilder pantomimes regularly every year is unmistakable proof of their success.Large flexible cast