Books in the Acting Edition S. series

A year ago successful novelist Paula Barlow was badly injured in an apparent accident which totally destroyed her memory. On returning home, instead of finding security in what should be familiar surroundings, she faces tension, lies and deceit until the past returns to confront her in a truly dramatic climax.3 women, 3 men

In this moving play by the science editor of Pravda, victims of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station embark on a non-return journey in a terminal radiation clinic. The arrival of nine survivors from the disaster starts a string of confessions and recriminations which ends in a powerful condemnation of the bureaucratic muddle and official cover-up.6 women, 12 men

The suburban house of the Bakers' adjoins a recreation field, which is useful since football and cricket play a large part in the story. Peter, who works for Graham, brings his fiancee to the house and Graham, as usual, makes a bee-line for her. However, it is Mrs. Baker's brother, Leonard, to whom Joan strays. Leonard, poetic, a fumbler, who moons around holding conversations with the garden gnome, has always roused the bullying Graham's malice and scorn, who is horrified when he catches the younger man very much with Joan.-2 women, 3 men

The Salamander, a sort of dragon, is in trouble with the Fire Flies, because he is unable to create a fire by breathing on a pile of sticks. To redeem himself he is sent on a mission to burn down Papertown. The paper inhabitants, including the Papertown Crier (a newspaper), the Postman (an envelope), Professor Paperback (a book who runs the bookshop), Mr. Quid (a pound note who is the Bank Manager) and Lady Carrier Bag - gather their resources to meet the threat. Spike the Pen (the litter collector), Fireman Silver, and even the cheeky Litterbug become involved, and the two petty criminals, Blotch and Carbon, are released to join the forces.Flexible cast

In Denmark more than a 100 years ago, a soldier returns from the war. A witch sends him to an oak tree, where he finds treasure guarded by three dogs. When he loses his new wealth he remembers that the witch sent him to retrieve a tinder box with powers to conjure up the magical dogs.

Stanley and Brenda Parker are driving about France on their vacation. When they find themselves in a village near the German border on the eve of a local festival, they consider themselves lucky on finding a hotel room. But this kind of luck, no one would want to endure for long.|3 women, 4 men

The Pied Piper is based on the traditional tale made famous by Robert Browning, and uses much of Browning's poem. This adaptation has the Piper making his first appearance as a modern busker, delighting the children with his music.3 women, 5 men, 20 men or women

What Brutes Men Are is a comedy for four women. Janet and Carol get into casual conversation over a drink in a hotel lounge. Carol has just left her husband, Godfrey, and tells Janet she was sick of his comparing her with his first wife. Janet realizes' Godfrey is her own divorced ex-husband . Over more drinks Janet says she was sick of being compared with Godfrey's mother. Suddenly Godfrey's mother, Linda, arrives by a previous arrangement with Carol. This might be awkward, but it transpires that Linda herself was sick of Godfrey who even as a baby had criticized her as against her elder sister, Beatrice. Finally all three omen go off together to open a teashop in Scotland , leaving Godfrey presumably to compare Beatrice with all three of them.

Compared to her mother, the heiress Catherine Sloper seems dull and lifeless, or at least that''s what her father believes. With her lack of confidence Catherine becomes easy prey for fortune hunter Morris Townsend who deserts her on finding out she has been disinherited. Two years later, we see Catherine, her father dead, having matured considerably after her experiences and prepared to take revenge on Morris Townsend.|6 women, 3 men

Written for London's Theatre Royal, Stratford East, this pantomime combines all the traditional elements with original characterizations, imaginative and innovative staging ideas and witty, melodic songs.-5 women, 7 men

Babes In The Magic Wood has an original storyline, and does not resemble the usual pantomime versions. Widow Crockett and her babes, Simple Simon and Contrary Mary, run a toyshop, their biggest job being the making of toys for Father Christmas's order.The British master of children's theatre has adapted this enchanting fairytale into a lively stage adventure with charming, original songs.

The Bed Before Yesterday is a comedy for four men and four women. Alma, a rich but physically far from lovely widow, has had no sexual experience since the sole, off-putting occasion of her wedding night some twenty years ago. She marries the impoverished gentleman, Victor, now equally uninterested in sexual activities, on the understanding that their relationship shall be based on friendship and convenience. However, various surprising circumstances, connected partly with Victor's son and unconventional girlfriend, and partly with her own free-and-easy cousin, warm up Alma's long-cooled fires, with unexpected, but presumably satisfying results for both her and her new husband.4 women, 5 men

Albert Nuttal, aged 11, is special - some would say backward. He is a poet and visionary who, as he grows into manhood, inspires unexpected depths of emotion in other people. This play, designed to be enacted entirely by adults comes from the author of "Straight and Narrow".

When Terry Bailey appears on the eve of his daughter''s wedding after twenty years away in America, it is not surprising he receives a cool reception from May, the wife whom he deserted, and from her best friend Dora especially as she is the one who has to break the news of his arrival. Dora''s plan to keep the two apart goes miserably wrong and results in Terry and May coming face to face in a blistering confrontation. Terry tries various methods to achieve a reconciliation, but his wife gives vent to twenty years of suppressed anger. Only as the play ends does she agree to his being present at the wedding and does there appear to be a glimmer of hope for the future.|2 women, 2 men

This intense triangle of a clandestine affair between a middle-aged husband and father and his male lover becomes a scalding drama when the man's wife discovers and confronts both men in shock and outrage.

A female professor has been teaching a course on the literature of love with a younger male colleague.

Hugo, a PR consultant on his way to an important meeting, and Martha, a Museum Education Officer with a case full of liberty bodices, are trapped in an overturned railway carriage following a rail crash, waiting tensely to be rescued. A touching relationship begins to develop between them, but they are torn apart by tragedy.|1 woman, 1 man

This beautiful and moving play confronts the basic question of how successfully two blind people can live in a world made for the sighted. Working on two levels, the play is a sharp study of the experience of blindness, and a picture of love trying to shut out the dark.|2 women, 1 man

Apart from a surprising change of heart and bid for sympathy at the final momen''s of this version of the classic story, Todd glories in his villainies throughout and gleefully slaughters right and left until the cast is almost eliminated. Commendably, the''story is treated seriously and ''guying'' is discouraged.|3 women, 8 men, 2 boys

The Whooperdink is a rare fantastical bird with hidden magic powers, seen only by the Urgles who reverently feed it on strawberry jam. So when Professor Potterton is informed by a fellow scientist of a sighting in Urgleland he eagerly sets off with his daughter Crystal. Along the way they encounter Salmonella, a wicked witch in disguise, her son Seth, cursed into idiocy twenty years earlier by a spell, and the Snowfl ake Maker, doomed to travel about creating snow and all the while dreaming of sun-kissed beaches.|2 women, 3 men

It is the 60th wedding anniversary of Tommy Pasmore and his wife. Their three children, Colin, the friendless academic who has bought the house in which his parents now live, childless Wendy, forsaking marriage for politics, and pragmatic Eileen, have returned home to celebrate, if that is the right expression. The senior Pasmores live together despite each other and as the layers of formal affection and bickering banter are peeled back we discover deep wells of disappointment and despair, not only for themselves but also for a society that appears to have exchanged one kind of poverty for another.3 women, 3 men

Lord Arlington is dead, poisoned. His daughter, obsessed by Hamlet, is convinced that her mother and a family friend are responsible and so sets out to exact a terrible revenge. Madness, murder, passion, and retribution are themes of this play, set in the Edwardian era, but with modern sensibility.

A family's package holiday to Spain proves to be an even greater change from Blackpool than expected.7 women, 4 men

The play Mistress o f Novices recounts the story of Bernadette and themiraculous vision she claims to have been granted, and also the conflict that this assertion causes in her relationship with the sceptical and strongwilled Mother of Novices. Set mainly in the convent of St Gildard, Nevers, it follows the life of Bernadette until its agonized end, moves to Lourdes for a final scene when the Mistress of Novices is an aged woman and closes with the announcement of Bernadette''s canonization.|14 women, 3 men

A group of women gather at a bus stop and indulge in gossip to pass the time. There are two women, unamed, joined by Mrs Hickery armed with a bag of chips wrapped in newspaper and then by Mrs Finney carrying a shopping bag which she scatters all over the floor. Two well-dressed and not very frequent bus users arrive and there is a little touch of class conflict which never gets very deep. Finally they are confronted by a 'Bookworm', who, when she sees them standing there, informs them that they are going to have a long wait - there is a bus strike!7 women

Sir Fennimore Truscott, a retired Judge, sits under his mulberry tree and 'tries' his next-door-neighbour Tom Marjoriebanks for - allegedly - seducing Truscott's wife Margaret many years earlier.1 woman, 2 men

A derelict park is threatened by developers and a group of young people try to rescue it by writing and performing a play. But the project soon falters: the developers hover, the cast bicker and the hot weather breaks with a violent storm. But the park exercises a strange hold over them.|Large flexible cast

Geoff Tippet has arranged a special birthday treat for his old friend, Bob. The treat is a hotel room for the night, a double-bed which folds up into the wall and an attractive girl called Mimi. Add a shy Kate who anxiously awaits her computer agency date - Dick, who has been shown into the wrong room; Bob''s wife Liz, who believes she is dining with Geoff, and a connecting door between the two rooms and you have the recipe for a fast-moving and hilarious comedy.|2 women, 3 men

About the Suffragette movement activities in 1908 where alderman's family and staff are involved.|9 women, 5 men

The infamous banker Silas Snaker and his clerk Bowler have contrived to rob old Captain Noble out of his savings. The Captain expires from the shock, leaving the lovely Miss Lucy in dire straights. When Bowler sees her plight, he repents and compels the villain to pay back all of the money. This delightful melodrama must be played in the grand manner.|2 women, 5 men