Books in the French's Acting Editions series

Teresa oversees a women's charity, smugly imagining that she dispenses invaluable advice to any with the temerity to walk through the door. So when dowdy, middle-aged Melanie turns up to volunteer, Teresa soon puts her straight. The arrival of patronizing Mrs Castle-Kettle, daughter of the charity's founder, ruffles even more feathers.

Gregor Antonescu arrives at the Greenwich Village apartment of his illegitimate son, Basil, for a business meeting. After achieving apparent success, he finds everything collapsing around him and learns from Basil that a warrant is out for his arrest. Basil offers help, but Gregor acquires a conscience and determines his own way out.

This sophisticated, witty take on an extra-marital affair was joint runner-up in the National Drama Festival Association's George Taylor Memorial Award. Caroline is married to dependable Robert, has two children and works in an employment agency.

Shocked at her father's sudden death, Susan has rushed home from London where she is rehearsing a new play. As she and her mother, Margaret, return from arranging the funeral they are immediately at loggerheads - as ever. Even the arrival of kindly Aunt Lilian, Margaret's younger sister, can't melt Margaret's hard exterior. But as Susan privately recalls childhood memories, a shocking truth begins to emerge. Cleverly interspersing thirty years past with the present this is a family drama with reconciliation at its heart.3 women

Alexa Romanes's play for young people traces the fortunes of the poorest of the human chain in Victorian London, from the mudlarks who scour the Thames mud for a pittance, to the crossing sweepers, costers and pickpockets. Into their midst comes a mysterious stranger, Sal, a maid-of-all-work from the country who is running from her Rotherhithe employer.12 women, 10 men

It's a cold winter's evening and bitter, irascible divorce Henry is enjoying a Scotch and some classical music in glorious solitude. He is soon disturbed, however, by the unwelcome appearance of his son Matthew, bringing with him his new girlfriend. This is just the beginning, for who should arrive next but Henry's ex-wife, Matthew's mother, Sue.