Books published by Samuel French Ltd

Piers is a successful middle-aged businessman with a luxury London flat, a couple of Turners hanging on the wall, a pregnant young mistress, Larissa and an enraged middle-aged wife Rosie. When Larissa's husband, Darren, calls on Rosie, the two embittered partners commiserate and plot their revenge.

The beauty of Exmoor dominates this blend of romance and adventure that is R.D. Blackmore's novel "Lorna Doone". Spanning 13 years, all the characters are here from the ruthless Doones to the peace-loving Ridds with the love of John Ridd for Lorna Doone at the heart of the play.

It is Christmas Eve in the tropical prison colony of Cayenne. Felix Dulay, a hopeless storekeeper, is fearfully awaiting the owner, Gaston. Providence has given the Dulays three guardian angels - three convicts! In no time they have cooked Christmas lunch - and Felix's books - and will loose their own executioner on Gaston for his cruel behaviour!3 women, 7 men

A pantomime based on an English legend involving real people.

Norman Robbins' fun-packed pantomimes tell the traditional stories in a clear fast-moving style and can be staged simply or elaborately, as required. The choice of music is left to the director.|Large flexible cast

Elizabeth, who is rebuilding her life after the death of her husband, moves into an ancient, thatched roof cottage called Crossways in the village where her parents and closest school friend live. While alive to its picturesque charm, Elizabeth is drawn to Crossways by a psychic feeling that she knows the cottage intimately. When a psychiatrist with a special interest in regression arrives in the village, a chilling, sixteenth century witch hunt is set in motion with Elizabeth as the victim.|7 women

Lord Greycoat lost his son when the boy's carrycot dropped from a plane over the African jungle. An expedition is mounted to find the adult Zartan, who suffers from a split personality and doubts about his extraordinary size in comparison to his ant 'parents'. Through Greycoat's secretary, Jane, Zartan discovers his true identity - and love.-3 women, 6 men

The committee of an amateur dramatic group is meeting to discuss a new play written by one of its members. We notice that, strangely, the presentation of the meeting to us is reflecting the ideas put forward by the committee - making the play a demonstration and discussion of those ideas.

When Miss Pickhart visits the illusionist Ratchet on official Town Hall business, she discovers a sinister secret. Alone in the cellar after Ratchet is called away, she confronts the ghost of Rosalinda who met an untimely death during the saw the woman in half trick. |2 women, 1 man

When Kate and Dave meet at their mutual friend's Tupperware party, they have no idea that the chance encounter will change the course of their lives forever. Cue a disastrous first date, a mini-break in the Lake District, a drunken misunderstanding and Dave finds himself somehow engaged to Kate.

George and Seraphine run a cafe in a small French town. Seraphine is fed up with the drudery of her daily life, and feels that George doesn't appreciate her. George seeks solace with his mistress, Yvette, but she too is becoming disgruntled, living in a leaky apartment and longing for a comfortable housewife's existence.

Anti-hero vigilante, one Henry Arthur Milton, aka The Ringer, a legendary assassin who killed for personal vengeance. On Inspector Wembury of Scotland Yard's first day as the new commander of Deptford Division; his immediate superior Chief Inspector Bliss, is back from America full of ideas, his fianc¿e has just taken a job as secretary to a local lawyer Maurice Meister, a murderous criminal who Wembury knows - but cannot prove - was responsible for his fiancee's brother ending up in jail term for a robbery. Wembury's day is made miserably when the news that The Ringer confirmed dead in Australia, is back in London and desiring vengeance.-Large cast

A trip to the theatre changes a meek bank clerk's life as he undergoes hypnosis and leaves without being woken up. Suddenly, he believes he is the world's greatest lover and becomes a terrorizing Casanova. First produced in 1950 and filmed in 1953, with Vernon Sylvaine adapting his own play for the screen, with George Cole in the leading role of Henry Sterling.

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

Emily Bronte's classic is set on the bleak Yorkshire moors, where the drama of Catherine and Heathcliff, Heathcliff's cruel revenge against Edgar and Isabella Linton, and the promise of redemption through the next generation, is enacted.

In the enclosed, insulated world of a London flat the only intrusion into which is a brief outburst of demonstrators' voices against the Home Secretary who lives nearby are worked out the permutations and combinations of Ann and her two lovers. Dave, her previous companion, a journalist, has been away and on returning finds that he has been replaced by Patrick, a conventional man of the office, amiable but dull. Though Ann rules the roost, she herself is weak enough to be unable to do without one of them; and in the end Dave is reinstalled and Patrick dismissed. But how long this will last is anybody's guess.-1 woman, 2 men

When Mr Pullen comes to the office on a Saturday to finish the books for audit, he's astonished to find his employer, Sir Justin Holbrook, in the penthouse flat with a call girl. Unexpectedly, Lady Holbrook arrives and Holbrook passes the girl off as the second Mrs Pullen. A rich Arab sheikh is expected and England's entire fate depends on Holbrook signing an agreement with him, but Holbrook suddenly collapses and Pullen has to impersonate him. The arrival of the real Mrs Pullen and others leads to an impenetrable maze of confused identities eventually resulting in Mrs Pullen going off with the sheikh and Pullen installed, presumably permanently, as Sir Justin with all that entails, including his highly attractive Lady.3 women, 6 men

Crisp, witty exchanges pepper this light hearted and inventive thriller that unfolds with a series of macabre twists. A thriller writer indulges in vitriolic word duels with his estranged wife until she shoots him. An amateur detective from the next flat attempts to solve the murder before calling the police. More deadly games are in store when the corpse rises and the tables are turned more than once for the victim and the killers.2 women, 3 men

Late in life two women start new lives and leave home. But where is home? Did they ever really have one? Ivy and Joan are two intimate, funny and heartbreaking tales of loss.

Genre: Short comedies Characters: Various males and females, extras Includes: Trapped, Oedocles, King of Thebes, Pride at Southhanger Park by Rupert Bean, and Cinderella.

The play is a musical reconstruction of incidents relating to the East End murders which took place between Friday, August 31st and Friday, November 9th, 1888. A solution of Jack the Ripper's identity is hinted at, but the play is an atmospheric commentary rather than an historical re-enactment, shifting between reality and artificiality, with characters representing "real" people as well as members of the music hall audience and players.8 women, 8 men

When Jack, the naughtiest boy in Dame Dimwit's school, puts his thumb in a pie and pulls out the prize jewel in the royal treasure, everyone assumes he has stolen it. Only Jack knows that the real thief is the wicked Lord Chamberlain, Graball, who is planning to steal the rest of the treasure with the help of Vasaleno's gypsies. In true pantomime tradition, Jack manages to prove his innocence, the badies are out witted and all ends happily. This pantomime offers opportunities for elaborate staging or it can be produced simply.Large flexible cast

Norman Robbins' fun-packed pantomimes tell the traditional stories in a clear fast-moving style and can be staged simply or elaborately, as required. The choice of music is left to the director.Large flexible cast

The well known fairy tale has been expanded into a more elaborate adventure story. Goldilocks is the daughter of a vibrant and often hilariously outrageous circus owner. But the circus is doing badly; they are plagued by a rival troupe run by villainous Benjamin Black. They need a really original animal act. A good fairy disguised as a bareback rider saves the day when Goldilocks encounters the three Bears and they become circus stars. Black plans to seize the Bears and many adventures ensue.|Large flexible cast

The play is a pantomine on conventional lines with a dame, wicked witch, good fairy, haunted bedroom, and knock about scenes, contemporary songs to choice, references to local names, etc., but based on the less usual story of the four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. When the King's magic crown is stolen, his kingdom is reduced to destitution, and it looks as if evil has conquered good. But handsome Prince Valentine is finally triumphant. Easily staged settings are alternated with front cloth scenes, may be as elaborate or as simple.Large flexible cast

A musical play in which the garden insects, tired of being sprayed but unable to agree on the best method to stop it, begin warring among themselves while the garden goes to ruin. No music included.

Two longtime companions, hair-stylists on their off day give each other trims, manicures, and what only they can give one another, the love of outcasts. A hit in London and New York and later a film co-starring Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. "Blunt honesty...Succeeds in being compassionate without losing humor or dignity." The New York Post2 men

Jeremy is a writer who is low on money. This changes when he contacts his ex-girlfriend, Ruth, and learns he may well be a father, so he needs to become financially stable. Proving it's not what you know but who you know, he soon has three important clients eager to hire him for some freelance editing. But is that really all they are after?