Books published by Samuel French Ltd

In light of the police shootings of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and John Crawford III in Beavercreek, Ohio, among others, The New Black Fest commissioned seven emerging black playwrights to write 10-15 minute monologues that explore their feelings about the well-being of black in a culture of institutional profiling.

Twenty-five years ago, a motley group of friends met as kids at a summer camp where the head counselor secretly taught them that their disabilities could be "cured" through the power of prayer. Today, the group has gathered to mourn the untimely passing of one of its members. Over the course of the night, old wounds are uncovered, friendships are tested, and the truth surrounding their late friend becomes troublingly clear.

Jack is a former jeweller who made his living buying and selling diamonds via late-night TV ads. He lives in a rather luxurious, privately-owned retirement home along with his fellow residents: the visually challenged techno-wizard Rose, the artistically gifted but forgetful Flora, and the narcoleptic beauty Blanche. Unbeknownst to the four of them, however, the man to whom they've entrusted their life savings - a smooth-talking financial advisor named Barney Effward - has been arrested

Rod thinks the game is fixed. Momo's still learning the rules. Twee doesn't think winning is enough. JJ hates his hand. And why the hell is Henry still playing? Two families (and some guy named Henry) panic with hilarious and heartbreaking results when they realize their parents won't be around forever. Can anybody prepare for the inevitable moment when they're the ones left holding all the cards?

Walbeck, a thoroughly hated man who cheated hundreds of people out of their money, suddenly returns home from Joliet prison when his sentence is reduced. He is greeted by two people: his attorney, who informs him that Walbeck's wife has fled to California, taking his daughter with her, and a new maid, Bernice, the self-proclaimed "best cook in Chicago" recently hired to keep the home going. Bernice, it turns out, served time for murder, and the advice she gives Walbeck on how to deal with his future allows Wilder to explore the nature of pride. Decisions have to be made quickly when Walbeck learns that his daughter is still in Chicago and coming by to see him at any moment.

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

The river upon which this play is based in the Parret. The river rises in Dorset and flows into Bridgwater Bay on the Somerset coast. It is 36 miles long and is tidal for a good deal of its length. For generations fishermen have trapped and netted salmon in the dangerous tidal waters that surge and flood across the Somerset flats. But advancing civilisation has polluted the river, the fish are dying and t here are now only three licensed fishermen left.1 woman, 2 men

Daisy has recently been employed as a waitress at an hotel restaurant and as a result Roland, a regular and rather particular customer, is getting more than he ordered. From polite conversation to an outright invasion of privacy, Daisy attends to Roland in her unique and inquisitive way.

Barry, 39 and recently divorced, sets off around the world on a trip of a lifetime in this comedy. His travelling companions are his parents, whose cheery optimism and parochial ways drive Barry to distraction. Paris, Turkey, Egypt, Hawaii and New York are among the many places they visit.

Years ago, Tom had an affair with Catherine who became pregnant and had an abortion - or so he thinks. Now he is married to Vie and their relationship is on the rocks because she cannot conceive and Tom is desperate to be a father. Enter Smokey, a nineteen-year-old runaway whose girlfriend is none other than Catherine's and Tom's daughter Belinda.2 women, 3 men

Between June and November 1902, the year of the Coronation of Edward VII, Bellingford Amateur Dramaticks Society is rehearsing A Midsummer Night's Dream. It has the usual range of different personalities - stalwart group members, young lads about town, daughters of local businessmen and also the wealthy diamond-trade man, a devotee of Henry Irving, who is underwriting the production. This man's murder, set against Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, the new craze of ping-pong and the invention of finger-printing broadens the plot and develops the characters. Commissioned to commemorate Sutton Amateur Dramatic Club centenary in 2002.12 women, 8 men

Amy cares for her Aunt Sylvia who has Alzheimer's. Amy is loyally devoted to her Aunt so finds herself seriously tested when she meets and falls in love with Gregory, an antiquarian bookseller. As she tries to deal with the situation, Amy begins to see that a different, happier life is possible.

Five teenage girls waiting for interviews with an employment service dream of the romantic, exciting jobs they would like-- derived from television series and films. The dreams are enacted by all the girls together. In each case there is a rude awakening. Finally, Beverly, the clearest sighted, brings them down to earth, forcing them to realize that their characters and abilities will fit them for only the drabbest of occupations.|5 women

It is a light-hearted, almost farcical, comedy which revolves around the mother's deep anxiety and attempts to avoid scandal after she confuses two men (both called David) and accidentally sets up her daughter with 'David Hoylake-Johnston' (who has a reputation as a philanderer) instead of 'David Bulloch' (who she believes to be the perfect match for her daughter).5 women, 3 men

Caught in the Act concerns the affairs of Cherry Winters, who runs a chain of sex shops. Late one night she is expecting the return of her lover, Bill. However, it is not Bill who creeps into her dark flat, but Martin, who has mistaken it for the one opposite, which is inhabited by his own fiancee, Helen. Unfortunately not only does he mistake the flat, but also the bed. Cherry thinks it is Bill and welcomes him with open arms. Worse still, they are later surprised by Bill himself. From this auspicious beginnng flows a flood of complications, not lessened by Cherry's need to cultivate an amorous Arab sheikh for business purposes.2 women, 4 men

Ageing Matthew Cuthbert suffers a heart attack during harvest, 1903, and his grim-visaged sister determines to adopt an orphanage boy to help with the farm work at Green Gables. By mistake, a girl arrives, red-haired, freckled and over-talkative. Her vivid imagination and entertaining flow of chatter endear her to Matthew, but sister Marilla is set on packing her back as soon as possible.13 women, 12 men

In the late 70s, five students on a drama teaching course at a northern college discover sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. Spanning a period of a few years, the play follows the relationships between the five as they fall in and out of love and start their careers.

Beautiful Marguerite Gautier, seduced at the age of fifteen by her Marquis employer, decides on a courtesan life. She meets Armand Duval, son of the Marquis, and the two fall desperately in love. Aware that she is in the initial stage of tuberculosis, Armand persuades her to settle in the country with him, but Marguerite is threatened by the Marquis and forced to return to Paris, dying and reviled by Armand.Large flexible cast

This free structured look at the 1986 Challenger disaster places the teacher who died with six others as they hurtled into space at the center of an exploration of our need to reach beyond ourselves and dare the universe. Defying Gravity artfully interweaves the past with the present and the lives of participants and bystanders, drawing parallels among painter Claude Monet's artistic quest, the zest of the teacher selected to the first civilian astronaut, the perspectives of her grieving

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.

This is a full length pantomime, entirely traditional with lots of humour and with its own original and delightful score by Eric Gilder which is available separately. The large number of both amateur and professional groups who present Crocker and Gilder pantomimes regularly every year is unmistakable proof of their success.|Large flexible cast

Widow, poet and cat-lover Fran Lamb, a writer for local newspaper the Winkham Weekly Snooze, decides to start up her own creative writing group. She is joined at the Winkham Memorial Institute by glamorous P.E. teacher Penny, shy librarian Janet and Annie, a housewife whose mysterious anxiety causes her to substitute the correct words for entirely the wrong ones. From this unpromising beginning, the four women soon form plans to write and perform a play about Boadicea, ancient East Anglican queen and feminist icon. Over the course of several weeks, truths are gradually shared along with tea and vodka, and soon Fran, Janet, Penny and Annie find themselves needing to draw on heroic reserves of their own.|4 women

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.

To the painful ritual of Sunday family visits and empty condescension, Cooper and his friend Aylott reply with humour and wit, aware that life can only be endured if treated as a comedy.|3 women, 3 men

In the Orders Office of Chunkbix Ltd., it is decidedly Mr. Price Hargraves who gives the orders and little Mr. Bloome who obeys them - until Mr. Bloome is astonishingly accused of chasing a young female across the Common.|6 women, 3 men

Clarissa, wife of a diplomat, is adept at spinning tales of adventure but when a murder takes place in her drawing room she finds live drama much harder to cope with. Desperate to dispose of the body before her husband arrives with an important politician, she enlists the help of her guests. Hilarity ensues when they are interrupted by the arrival of wry detective, Inspector Lord.A conscious parody of the detective thriller, Christie delivers a unique blend of suspense and humour. There is tension and laughter in equal parts in an intricate plot of murder, police, drug addicts, invisible ink, hidden doorways and secret drawers.

Each of the Groomkirbys has an idee fixe. Kirby is teaching his speak-your-weight machines the "Hallelujah Chorus"; his mother pays the neighbour to eat their left-overs; his aunt in her wheelchair is convinced she''s touring the Hebrides; his father is building the Old Bailey in the living-room. When this is complete the judge and jury move in with some bizarre results...|4 women, 10 men

"The play peddles the audience along a cross-country bike trip from Boston to California, with stops in big cities and small towns along the way. Our feckless heroine Penny is looking to bring more meaning into her life, to find a lifestyle that suits her and a town that feels like a home... so she drops her clingy boyfriend in Beantown and takes off for Santa Barbara! Along the way she befriends a colorful crew of bikers: Ryan, the health nut biking instructor; Tim Billy, the innocent wanderer; Annabel and Rorie, the badass activists seeking to get gay-married in every state they hit on the trip; and the mysterious Man with the Van who carries their stuff. Featuring a flexible and diverse cast, 'Bike America' is a multi-state, multi-generational odyssey to discover our obsession with happiness"--Page 4 of cover.