Books published by Samuel French Ltd

Panic grips West Lynstead when a famous dress designer is raped and strangled. Andrew Wingate, headmaster of the local school, sets up his own "neighbourhood watch" and, disguised as a woman, walks the woods at night, laying himself open as bait for the killer. Suspense builds in this exciting play as Andrew is accused by an anonymous caller of attempted rape and a schoolgirl is lured into the hands of the killer...3 women, 4 men

The year is 1657 and an infirm Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, is nearing the end of his life. But who will succeed him? Parliament want him to be king which will unite the people but is against Cromwell's republican principles and will mean his ill-suited son, Richard, succeeds him. But the alternative is a military dictatorship under Cromwell's second-in-command, John Lambert. This elegant, witty play presents a very human portrait of Cromwell.2 women, 6 men

A wicked young squire Edward seduces then murders a beautiful werewolf Xenia, who bites him then dies. He then seduces Victoria and her maidservant. When Victoria goes into childbirth, Edward's illegitimate progeny is revealed to be a werewolf...With seven murders, three seductions and numerous bite marks, this exhausting melodrama is a campy evening's delight, perfect for Halloween entertainment.6 women, 3 men, 1 boy or girl

After The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams went on to create Dirk Gently, a detective with a belief in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things, a unique relationship with the laws of probability, and a love of cats and pizza. In Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Dirk finds himself on the trail of a gruesome murderer who is somehow involved with the works of Coleridge, quantum physics, and the enigmatic study of the Cambridge Professor of Chronology. Ultimately, the stakes of the case are far greater than a single murder, but go to the fate of life on Earth. Confused? Don't be - everything is connected.

Helen has happily remarried, her first husband being reported dead by the French police. Her daughter, Susan, distrusts her stepfather and thinks he only married Helen for her money. Michael, Susan's boyfriend, receives a blackmailing phone call which is followed up by two anonymous letters. After the mysterious Mr. Watson has received several visitors, it appears that certain people know more about the affair than they're prepared to talk about.5 women, 4 men

John's Bowen's adapation of THE BACHAE by Euripides.7 women, 6 men

In an isolated house on the cliffs of north Cornwall the sibling rivalry between identical twins Max and Ashley Hennessy is coming to a murderous climax. They both know one of them must die, but, trapped in his wheelchair, Ashley knows the odds are now against him and he is in mortal danger - but does DI Fergus believe him?

Michael Pertwee is one of today's foremost comedy writers. He is responsible for a number of Brian Rix successes, including She's Done It Again! and Don't Just Lie There Say Something! He wrote his first West End play, aged twenty-one, with Guy Beauchamp entitled Death on The Table which was presented at the Strand and in New York in 1938. Among other plays he wrote The Paragon with his father, Roland Pertwee. He wrote the book of the musical The Four Musketeers with Harry Secombe at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The French play, Birds o f Paradise, was adapted by him and enjoyed a successful run at the Garrick Theatre with Moira Lister in 1974.|2 women, 3 men

Set in London's Criterion Theatre in the Spring of 1941, this play traces the struggles of the cast of Variety bandwagon, a BBC light entertainment show, broadcasting for the first time live to America.

Dream Date is a teenage comic-strip magazine which crams its pages, and the heads of some of those who read it, with glamorous fantasies of romance, pop stars and boyfriends. Contrasted with this is the central character, Kathy, a sixteen year old who has turn her back on her own life and friends in search of a fantastic Mr. Right, as personified in the feature articles of Dream Date.Large flexible cast

Merton United FC is a mediocre Second Division club but when the team reach the FA Cup Semi-Final the effect produced on the town is devastating. For the Merton males football becomes the total obsession to the increasing fury of the Merton female population who find themselves ignored and taken for granted. Cup fever reaches its climax as a TV crew arrive in town and girlfriends and wives decide it's time to make their presence felt by announcing they are going on strike.|8 women, 10 men, 24 women or men

Alan Brown's pantomimes recreate those of Victorian times, blending traditional elements - including Harlequin interludes and suggestions for period songs - with subtle updatings to suit modern young audiences.Large flexible cast

The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk was first presented at Nottingham Playhouse on 23rd December 1953.|5 women, 7 men, 2 boys

A basic pantomime in three acts.|Large flexible cast

It's a bad day for David Richmond and his team at the hotel, Tony the barman, porter Sean, barmaid Tanya and ditzy waitress Lucy.

Set in the room in the house in which the Last Supper took place, this play relates the events surrounding the Easter passion. The story begins with news of the arrest of Jesus on Holy Thursday, and continues through to the final scene on Easter morning.|4 women, 3 men

Herod sends his soldiers to slaughter the innocents and Rachel's son is slain. Finding an officer in the stable she determines to kill him. Then a soldier enters. Revolted by his orders, he had mutinously attacked the officer. His rough, kindly wisdom overcomes Rachel's hysteria. Wearily she leans against the manger and suddenly all bitterness is drained from her, and in its place is charity.|1 woman, 3 men

The Pocket Dream has Shakespeare, audience participation, dancing penguins, several backstage dramas which actually take place onstage and a cast of six playing twenty-one roles between them (plus a few extra fairies).  A thoroughly entertaining broad comedy (and you can''t beat a broad Bottom).|2 women, 4 men

Every morning, George Jackson, a bank-clerk from Peckham, believes that two million pounds will miraculously arrive in the post and when it doesn't he is miserable. Harry, George's son, sends a message to a mysterious website - unicornhelp@elysianfields.com, requesting happiness for his dad.

James Martin's simple, moral upbringing is suddenly shattered by the encampment of the Briggs family in his now disused Methodist Chapel. Their unorthodox lifestyle - Gran Briggs' dependence on gin, Julie's immoral earnings and inability to maintain a conventional job and Pete's simplistic manner all combine to show James a side of life he never knew existed. Uncharacteristically, James decides to try their way of life by moving in with the. A highly entertaining comedy, rich with comic pathos.|5 women, 3 men

Titus lives with his mother Angela and Miranda. Titus obeys every rule, but Miranda wants some questions answered: would their hands really turn into claws if they had kippers for breakfast? Would she go egg-shaped if she broke an egg? When Angela goes out, Miranda sets out to prove its all lies!

Ordered by the Emperor to find the gold "in the skies" and aided by his equally lazy son, they have just four days in which to recover it. They succeed but only after an accidental discovery of the thieves, a trip on the high seas with pirates and a fortunate case of mistaken identity.|Large flexible cast

JB Priestley''s adaptation of Iris Murdoch''s A Severed Head.|4 women, 3 men

The Land of Nursery Rhyme is not the happy place it once was: the subjects are quarrelsome, no-one from the Land of Childhood visits them anymore and there is a general atmosphere of gloom.|Large flexible cast

A prosperous new firm has been founded on the ruins of an old, though it has taken the board six years to recover their good name following an embezzlement by one of their members. One of the creditors of the old firm took his life in despair, and his daughter has taken a position with the new firm in order to avenge him. She had discovered the assumed name of the absconder, and by a very clever ruse arranges for him to be present at the time of a board meeting, where she will have him "tried."|4 women, 8 men

Horrible Harold, an oversized 'baby' with disgusting habits and a liking for Guinness and heavy rock music, falls prey to Mr Slickerbotham. After a near miss with the Dry Cleaning Emporium he is saved by his mum and reunited with his long-lost father. Plenty of audience participation combined with hilarious properties and easy staging make this an appealing play for children of all ages, especially when dirt triumphs over cleanliness.|5 women, 4 men

The Crowns, the King and the Long Lost Smile is a play ior seven men,three women and extras. The play tells the story of how the Crown Troupe -Thomas, Ben, Will and Sally-a strolling band of entertainers, help the Princess Dulcinea find her father the King, who has been kidnapped by the wicked Baron Drax, and thus regain her long lost smile. The easily staged settings encourage plenty of audience participation.|Flexible cast

Three modern-day children suddenly find themselves dressed in Edwardian costume. It seems that Father Time has been kidnapped and the world is out of time. Together with Hickory Dickory Dock and Rekelen, a moth-eaten raven, and with the help of dandelion clocks, the children set off to rescue Father Time. They meet with many varied and interesting characters and situations before they are finally succesful in their quest.|Large flexible cast

Haddleton is in Munich on an important business project, which he has every hope of bringing to a successful conclusion with his German associate, Dietl.|1 woman, 5 men