Books in the Acting Edition series

Cecily Harrington has led a staid and proper existence. After winning a large amount of money in a sweepstake she desperately yearns for a life of adventure. Enter Bruce Lovell, a handsome and charming stranger who sweeps her off her feet. In a whirlwind romance, she recklessly abandons her job, friends and fianc¿ to settle in the remote and blissful surroundings of a country cottage. However, her newfound "love from a stranger" is not what it seems and in an astonishingly tense final scene, Cecily discovers the ghastly truth of her new love. "The final act is sure of its effect. The suspense is maintained; each turn of the story is clear and striking; the terror-stricken self-control of the girl and the man's gross and abominable insanity are depicted with every refinement. A successful thriller."THE TIMES "There is authentic and tremendous suspense about the struggle between Bruce and his wife. One feels that, if any bird did nest near this cottage, it would be the croaking raven or the fatal owl." THE OBSERVER

In a tatty provincial theatre "Fecund" is being staged. This comedy introduces us to those involved: from the stage manager (with a blinding hangover); to the leading actors (from the bitter to the plain incompetent) and others. The second act focuses on the audience, an equally mixed group.

The Affair is a 1962 play by Ronald Millar based on the novel by C.P. Snow. A group of professors at Cambridge University try to hire an old colleague back even though they all don't like him, they all agree he was dismissed unfairly.

Flora Poste, orphaned at twenty, decides to go and live with her relatives at Cold Comfort Farm. Once there she discovers they exist in a state of chaos and feels it is up to her to bring order.

Alexandre Dumas's yarn of those famous swashbucklers, Porthos, Aramis, Athos, and D'artagnan has been transplanted into pantoland. With the Musketeers re-cast a a bevy of thigh-slapping lovelies, a host of hissable villains, this adaptation offers a colourful new setting for this classic tale.

When unexpected guests are inflicted on Barbara, she receives milk, comfort, and more from the milkman.-3 women, 3 men

Three sisters gather at their ailing mother's bedside; all have reason to hope her death will be soon. Jean needs some extra cash to start a new business; Fay's wildlife sanctuary could do with money; and the lonely, exhausted Margaret, who has nursed Mum, wants her freedom. Family tensions spill over into arguments and expressions of disappointment and regret.|4 women

Glasgow, 1890. Andrew Baird calls upon Flora McNeil to settle a debt owed by her late husband. It is a bank holiday, however: no money! Baird is determined and refuses to leave; Flora has to resort to violence. Pistols are brought out for a duel; but first, Baird must teach her to shoot...1 woman, 2 men

Following their adventures in Utter Garbage, Dumpster, an idealistic young rat, and his sensible Uncle Binlid live happily in a clean city park, until the reappearance of Lord Vermin and his vile helpers. But Drumpster wants to look at the stars and soon the good rats are building a spaceship from rubbish. Propelled into space by the child-people in the audience, they meet Volga Ratskaya, a space laboratory rat. But they must battle with Lord Vermin before they can return safely.Large flexible cast

"Based on characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle"--Cover.

One night Stephen Barlow invites one of his young pupils home for additional tutoring. There is an evident bond between them; his is one of regard, and hers is one of admiration. But Stephen's wife, Grace, misreads the bond, and persuades herself that the two are in love. The sudden prospect of losing her husband's love to a young girl leads her to a cruel attack upon the girl, who is mortally embarrassed and conscience stricken. She runs away into the night. Stephen goes after her, but is not able to find her. Days pass, and there is no sign of her. The police drag the river and search every corner. Stephen is openly suspected of having seduced and murdered the girl.8 women, 2 men

All the tragic majesty of Thomas Hardy's celebrated novel is captured in this arresting and theatrically exciting adaptation, narrated by a masked Chorus in the style of Greek tragedy (Hardy's favoured form of theatre) and using songs to counterpoint and underline the action. Michael Fry's adaptation provides a clear and thrilling experience and an enlightening and fascinating re-evaluation of a familiar text.Large flexible cast

The peaceful atmosphere of a hotel on the Italian Riviera is shattered by the arrival of Agatha, an outspoken widow, and her timid sister, Fiona. Agatha crushes all protests as she rounds up the guests into communal games, her unflagging spirit of togetherness invading the private lives of the other characters. All the ingredients of package holidays, late flights, double bookings, foreign food etc. - provide an evening of uproarious and innocent fun.4 women, 3 men

This clever spin off of The House of Frankenstein finds the Baron, Baroness and their repulsive retainers, Igor and Frau Lurker, going to stay at a macabre Transylvania fortress. Excitement turns to terror when they are greeted by more than a few of their mortal (and immortal) enemies. They are to take part in an unholy survival test involving ghouls, ghosts and the fiendish Dr. Jekyll. The Frankensteins flee from cellar to attic, desperate to escape a fate worse than death!-5 women, 7 men

Baron Victor Von Frankenstein, bored with his attempts to give life to the lifeless, has turned his attention to curing the supposedly incurable! In a grim castle in the Carpathian Mountains he and his long suffering wife Elisabeth, the unsavory hunchback Ygor, the Valkyrian Frau Lurker and the Monster play host to various mysterious and menacing denizens of the night (invited or otherwise) who visit the Baron to beg him to rid them of their vices. But this challenge, although a welcome diversion for the headstrong young scientist, proves to be no picnic ... more of a living nightmare! A highly entertaining wise cracking comedy horror!-4 women, 6 men

Gerald Coates wife, Babs, arrives home drunk from a day racing with a disreputable man. She is always getting drunk. They argue and in the struggle she is stabbed to death. Gerald panics and hides the body.3 women, 6 men

Tony accepts the situation somewhat philosophically, but his American fiancee, June, has other ideas. When she learns that there is to be a by-election - Cleghorn having been raised to the peerage - she secretly puts up the deposit money and gets the butler nominated as the Conservative candidate. She also breaks her engagement to Tony, who has decided to contest the seat again, this time as a Socialist, and who turns to Bessie the pretty parlourmaid for consolation. Beecham wins the seat, and Tony announces his intended marriage to Bessie. As the new M.P., Beecham applies for the Chiltern Hundreds and happily resumes his job of butler, revealing his love for Bessie, who promises to be his wife.4 women, 4 men

In "Theft", Chappell's comedy-thriller, two seemingly happy marriages and one formerly strong friendship are destroyed by the burglar with his own brand of subversive observation. This play is packed with one-liners, daring reversals and comments on marriage, money, and crime.

When their father dies, the Dashwood girls are forced to move to a Devon cottage. They are befriended by Aunt Jennings who determines to find them husbands. Marianne, trusting her sensibliities falls for the dashing Willoughby, while Elinor applies her sense to her feelings for Edward Ferrars.

Ralph, in his seventies and terminally ill, has two final missions: to be reconciled to his long-abandoned son Michael, and, secretly, to ensure he is not a burden to his younger, devoted wife Anna as he goes "into that good night". But Ralph wrecks all hope of reconciliation when he picks a fight with Michael's girlfriend. Later, alone, Ralph receives the "Visitor" whose services he has hired to provide the painless ending. But the visitor plays a devastating trick.|2 women, 3 men

A comedy of errors centring around the home of union member Albert Hellewell, whose wife declares strike action herself and moves out, leaving Albert to cope with the arrival of glamorous variety actress Mrs Flannel and her daughter, who get rather too comfortable in the Hellewell home.

Miss Moffat settles in a remote Welsh mining village and starts a school for the local boys, one of whom, Morgan Evans, shows great promise. Miss Moffat determin's to do everything to help Morgan's application for a scholarship to Oxford. But Morgan rebels against help from a woman and falls prey to the flashy charms of Bessie Watty. His chances of success are almost destroyed but Miss Moffat's courageous wisdom and her affection for him win the day and Morgan wins the scholarship.5 women, 10 men