Books published by Samuel French Ltd

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.

Actress Rose Trelawny falls in love with the grandson of a snobbish knight. Unfortunately her visit to her lover's home is a humiliating failure and she finds she can no longer act. But the elderly tyrant relents, unexpectedly developing an interest in the theatre; he even finances a play and finally gives his blessing to Rose and his grandson.|4 women, 7 men

Fans of his Ernie's Incredible Illucinations are sure to enjoy this story. Suzy lives in a cottage with her mother and her dog, Neville. Suave but sinister Mr. Accousticus moves into the big house across the street and Neville suddenly loses his bark. Suzy is certain the new neighbor is responsible so she and Neville search his house. What happens next? It's up to the audience in this imaginative tale.-8 women or men

Just before dawn the play's characters - who represent every stratum of society - come to the wall overlooking a strange city whose gate is shut against them. At daybreak they are admitted and towards the end of the day some have found it to be the ideal earth has never achieved. So that everyone may know of this attainable perfection two of them make the sacrifice of leaving the city to return to their sinful world. Contained in the volume Priestley Plays II.|5 women, 4 men

Superior council house dwellers Betty, Reeny, Vera and their men regard themselves as a close knit family team despite their concealed jealousies and occasional recriminations. When Betty''s daughter Sandra announces she is pregnant and intends to live unmarried with her student lover, the news explodes like an atom bomb.|4 women, 5 men

Ron, a retired headteacher and his wife Yvonne, a middle-aged would-be marathoner, have purchased their first caravan and are trying it out in Yorkshire. Then an elderly caravan appears next to theirs and the sounds of noisy love-making cause Ron and Yvonne to blush. Steph and Grant have arrived!

A servant girl persuades her mistress to write to a man who made her pregnant during a brief romantic interlude. Only after the wedding does the young man discover it is the letter writer he loves.|4 women, 2 men

British suburbanites Laurence and Beverly are entertaining their new neighbors, Angela and Tony as well as Susan, whose teenage daughter, Abigail is having a party to which Susan has been dis-invited. Over drinks and snacks, cliches and fatuous small talk abound.

Ex-secretary and ex-mistress of a wealthy businessman who committed suicide, the unpleasant Laura complains to her neighbour that she would have inherited much more than her cottage if a certain will had not disappeared. The arrival of a strange woman with threats of blackmail results in Laura being deprived of her cottage - and more as she receives her full deserts.4 women

Gambler, journalist, fervent alcoholic and four-times married Jeffrey Bernard writes the "Low Life" column for the Spectator magazine chronicling Soho life as well as offering a very personal philosophy on vodka, women and race-courses. From this, Keith Waterhouse has brilliantly constructed a play (the title being the euphemism used by the Spectator when Bernard is incapable of writing his column) which is set in the saloon bar of Bernard's favourite Soho pub, the Coach and Horses. Having passed out in the lavatory, Bernard awakes in the early hours of the morning to find himself alone and in the dark. Unable to contact the landlord, he is resigned to spending the rest of the night with a bottle of vodka and an endless chain of cigarettes, narrating a story of hilarious anecdotes and witty reminiscences which are enacted by two actors and two actresses who bring to life the various characters who populate Jeff 's world. Starring Peter O'Toole, later succeeded by Tom Conti then James Bolam, the play enjoyed a hugely successful run at the Apollo Theatre, London.

Full of warmth, understanding and humour, this is an affectionate and appealing portrait of an ordinary family struggling with change, bereavement and the generation gap. On his graduation day in 1978, John looks back over his teenage years, from 1967-1973, recalling all the embarrassments, tensions, joys and sorrows of family life in West Yorkshire. Older and better educated, he finds himself alienated from his working-class family who cannot understand his growing intellect and theatrical aspirations.5 women, 3 men, 1 woman or man

George Radfern lives a quiet, uneventful life near London, burdened by sponging relatives and his prospective son-in-law. When George quietly announces he's a leader of a counterfeit ring, the sponges find reasons to leave. His immediate family reacts according to character until it looks as if George has been spoofing them. The ending is one of the most surprising ones ever used in a mystery play. A long time favorite among amateurs.-3 women, 6 men

Louise Underwood's life revolves around the hamburger restaurant where she works, and the "Peppermints" night club, until she discovers Judo. This play charts her progress to Black Belt, involving sacrifices, crises of confidence, and battles with more experienced players.

Unmarried sisters, in their 50s share a flat: Nina is brisk and gainfully employed; Nancy is plump, self-concious and redundant. However, when she becomes a model for a life-drawing class, Nancy glimpses a possible future. while Nina faces her unhappy past.

Annie, the Cinderella of the family, lives in the shabby Victorian vicarage type house where the family was brought up. Reg, her brother, and his wife Sarah come to stay for a week end so that she may go away for a "rest". The general idea is that Annie ought to pair off with Tom. But for this weekend it is Norman, the raffish assistant librarian husband of Annie's sister Ruth, with whom she planned to go. They were to meet secretly but Norman turns up early. When Annie calls the whole thing off Norman decides to stay on at the house and gets roaring drunk.3 women, 3 men

Paul Reakes' pantomimes include many original twists to the familiar stories, with plenty of audience participation. They can be staged as simply or as elaborately as desired.Large flexible cast

Paul Reakes' pantomimes include many original twists to the familiar stories, with plenty of audience participation. They can be staged as simply or as elaborately as desired.3 women, 9 men

Producer Theo has assembled a crack transatlantic team to launch the new musical Whatever Happened to Tomorrow?

For 50 years, Michael Green's The Art of Coarse Acting has been essential reading for anyone with a passion for theatre. It's an outrageous spoof that punctures pretentiousness, pokes fun at incompetence, revels in disaster and lifts the lid on life backstage.

When the Prime Minister drops dead from an apparent heart attack on the eve of a general election, two cabinet members who fear they need his charisma to get reelected hire an out of work actor to replace the deceased. This dead ringer is suppose to fill in until after the election is won, but he grows to like the role until he discovers that the real PM was poisoned.|2 women, 5 men

Celia, lonely and highly strung, is struggling to run her small country hotel. Her charming, rakish step-son, Rex, is no help. Joan and her tearaway sister, Eva, are staying at the hotel which represents something of a romantic pilgrimage for Joan who, after ten years, still believes herself in love with Rex. Events lead to a suicide (or is it murder?). The climax involves mistaken identity and mislaid cyanide!|4 women, 3 men

The Ladykillers is a classic black comedy; a sweet little old lady, alone in her house, is pitted against a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at nothing...

It's Christmas, and Beth Timms is mourning the recent death of her health and safety officer husband, Gordon. Beth's sister-in-law Connie and son Martin have come to stay, but between Connie's drinking problem and Martin's unspeaking and emotionally volatile girlfriend Ella, their intentions prove to be short-lived.

"We all marry the wrong people" announces Edward Gray, looking at his three daughters and their unsuitable partners. But when his daughters change partners and then again - every combination is played out. The outcome being that none of them works any better than any of the others.

Fred sits next to a sign which reads "Stories told here today". The storyplayers arrive, followed by the ageing storytellers, who create the characters and plots for the storyplayers to act out. Reality and fiction mix in this play for young people which combines theatre, storytelling and music.

When Annie's husband John dies of leukaemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow Women's Institute members to pose nude with them for an 'alternative' calendar. The calendar is a success, but Chris and Annie's friendship is put to the test.