BEGGAR YOUR NEIGHBOUR

4f

‘a highly entertaining plot’ (Amateur Stage)

Mrs Freebody has copied every detail of Mrs Lightfoot’s living room - or has she? Then Mrs Lightfoot reports the disappearance of her husband and twelve children. Mrs Freebody is responsible - or is she? Constables Boulter and Cadbury investigate, and are about to make an arrest for kidnapping, body snatching and mass murder when the truth is revealed.

 A BIRD IN THE BUSH

2m 3f

 "...can only be described as hilarious..." (Amateur Stage)

One hot summer night and Bernard's stomach ache and his hatred of a cooing pigeon combine to keep his whole family awake. When he determines to track the pigeon to its lair, his daughter's fiance and the next door neighbour become entangled in his growing fixation. Eventually the police are called and Bernard has to face the consequences - and the wrath of his long-suffering wife.

CHAIRS

A light comedy for an all-female cast - or for six women and a token man.

Marion, an enthusiastic young lecturer, is determined to foster better communication among the college staff. She and her colleague Kath re-arrange the chairs in the staff-room, hoping it will encourage the staff to talk to each other. Long-serving lecturer Mrs Douglas and newly-appointed Tessa become involved in a feud about where each should sit. Feelings are hurt and tempers rise, Kath gives up her job, and Mrs Douglas has a break-down.

FLUSHED

A multiple festival award-winner for three women

 "...a fun choice for the Festival circuit from one of Scotland's most prolific playwrights...  (SCDA Scene)

 "...if you've ever been on a girls' night out, you'll relate to this one...  (What's The Show)

It’s a singles night, and Jan and Meg are taking a break in the Ladies Room. Jan is criticising Tara, unaware that Tara is hiding in one of the toilet cubicles. When Tara’s presence is revealed a fight ensues and Jan confesses the reason for her jealousy. Then Meg discovers that the door to the room seems to be locked, and the succeeding series of mishaps and misfortunes ruins Jan’s appearance and assurance. Tara eventually manages to open the door, but on the threshold of escape they find that Meg is trapped in one of the cubicles.

FLUSHED AGAIN

The sequel to "Flushed" for three women. It's Jan's wedding reception and Jan. Meg and Tara are taking a break in the Ladies Room. Feelings run high when Jan accuses Tara of having ruined her hen-night party. Then Meg discovers that the door to the room is jammed, sparking off a series of mishaps and misfortunes. Leaks appear in the ceiling, lights fuse, and pipes burst before help can arrive.

MURDER AT THE CATHEDRAL

3m 3f

‘highly entertaining’ (Amateur Stage)

‘crackles along ... very enjoyable’ (Waddington Dramatic Society)

Henry King is furious that his Cathedral Amateur Dramatic Society (CADS) haven’t won anything at any drama festival since the defection of leading actor Tom Becket to the rival Priest’s Players three years ago. Sally Knight and Toby Barron decide to do something about it, and Tom Becket disappears. Did Knight and Barron murder the Priest to please King?

PIG TALE

A multiple festival award-winner for 12 male or female characters - doubling and trebling possible

Shortlisted in the Youth section of the Drama Association of Wales One Act playwriting competition 2008. "By far the funniest play in the competition. The only play that made me laugh out loud, not once but several times. Ron Nicol has a wonderful and quirky sense of humour." ( Angharad Elen, D.A.W.)

An updated re-telling of the tale of the Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs. Mummy Pig throws the Three Little Pigs out into the big wide world to seek their fortunes. They have to cope with the demands of relating to others, gathering materials, building houses, and keeping the Wolf from the door. The Narrator also has problems to deal with in the shape of an insufferable Prompter and a wily and wilful Sheep.

SCOUNDRELS AND STRATAGEMS

A festival award-winner for 4m 5f

"a combination of superb comedy and fast action melodrama" (Menorca Charity Players)

Lady Pinchbeck wants to acquire Charity's inheritance. Squire Buzzard wants to win the hand of Prudence, but she loves Gerald, so Buzzard is plotting to discredit his rival. Lamprey has schemes of her own. Sergeant Quickly and Constable Muggins investigate. Suspicion falls on Gerald. After a great deal of confusion and a lot of hilarity, Prudence takes a hand and everything is resolved.

THICKER THAN WATER

2m 7f  9m/f.

With multiple casting and a bit of ingenuity, it’s possible for the eighteen speaking characters to be played by a company of six, although any number of performers may be used.

'enjoyable, with a touch of dark humour' (SCDS Scene)

Mrs Prince makes her son a vampire cloak for his birthday. Harold is captivated, and bites a girl at his birthday party. He decides on a career as a vampire, and his reign as the self-styled Prince of Darkness begins. He and his mother encounter horrified parents and a succession of angry teachers, until his fumbling attempts at seduction lead to the deaths of a number of women. Combined with his new career, this results in Harold’s downfall and his destruction in the traditional vampire manner – a stake through the heart.

THREE'S A CROWD

3f 1m

Tim brings Tanya to a pub to propose to her, but Tania is more interested in texting her best friend Tilly. Barmaid Tamara decides to take a hand and things come to a head. Tilly arrives, Tim takes a stand, Tanya storms out - and Tamara takes charge.

TOO MANY BRIDES FOR DRACULA

3m  7f  1m/f

Loosely based on Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Jonathan visits Transylvania to meet Count Dracula. When he returns to his fiancee Mina he's a changed man. When Dracula also arrives in England, Mina's friend Lucy mysteriously becomes ill. Doctor van Helsing is sent for. The Doctor suspects Dracula of being the cause of Lucy's illness and determines to track the evil Count to his lair. After much confusion - and a great deal of hilarity - Dracula is defeated.

TWO BODIES AND A BOTTLE OF SAUCE

3m 4f

A murder mystery rehearsal is about to start, but cleaner Molly finds make-believe corpse Anastasia and calls the police. When Inspector Whelping arrives, Bertram and Cassiopeia try to bluff things out instead of revealing the true state of affairs. Truth and invention become blurred by misdirection and misunderstanding, complicated by the intervention of aspiring actress Esmeralda. The body disappears, is replaced by another, and then re-appears, while a bottle of tomato sauce seems to be a crucial piece of evidence. Whelping eventually leaves, but Bertram has a real murder in mind.

NEARLY ALL AT SEA

3m 3f 2m/f

"...it's hard to explain the plot, as quite frankly, it's far too silly to have one. The Nearly plays have the same line of humour as Monty Python and Spike Milligan" (Ealing Times)

Sir Henry Nearly and hapless Mortimer Leeveme set sail on a voyage of discovery with Cap’n Codfish and Barnacle the Mate. Unluckily for them, the fabulous island they discover is simply the Isle of Wight, now inhabited by the vindictive Henrietta and irksome Aurora.

NEARLY PULLS IT OFF

3m 3f 3m/f

Intrepid adventurer Sir Henry Nearly and his incompetent associate Mortimer Leeveme set out with bungling Cap’n Codfish and feisty Barnacle the Mate on a quest to find the Lost Temple of Howjahdoodah. Followed by Henry’s indomitable wife Henrietta, Mortimer’s sweetly silly wife Aurora and a Tiger who thinks it’s a rug, they manage to find the Lost Temple – or do they?

NEARLY UP A GUM TREE

3m 3f 3m/f

Heroic explorer Sir Henry Nearly and his gallant follower Mortimer Leeveme explore a desolate wilderness which bears a striking resemblance to the shrubbery at the bottom of Henry’s garden. With Henry’s authoritarian wife Henrietta, Mortimer’s innocently trusting wife Aurora, Queenie the cook and Tweenie the maid hot on their trail, they make an exciting discovery.

NEARLY UP THE POLE

2m 3f 3m/f

"...a cross between Victorian Melodrama, Monty Python and the Goon Show" (Bucks Free Press)

"Nearly Up The Pole" nearly brought down the house" (Les Rigolettes, Newfoundland)

Intrepid adventurer Henry Nearly and his sidekick Mortimer Leeveme set out on a expedition to find the Pole – any Pole. Led by expedition expediter Jules Goudeau (aka as Jessie Boggs) and hampered by husky Rowff, they merely encounter Henry’s indomitable wife Henrietta and his irritating daughter Aurora.

WEE AGGIE AND BIG MAGGIE

2m  3f  5m/f

with doubling, trebling and quadrupling can be played by a cast of five plus a dummy.

Penniless Aggie lives by her wits, making money with a series of crafty ploys involving an amorous wife, her jealous husband and an ardent sexton, two market traders, a violent Innkeeper, an old Doctor and an ancient Cowherd. Envious Maggie tries to copy Aggie’s get-rich-quick schemes but fails miserably. The competition between the two bitter adversaries escalates until Maggie finally determines to dispose of her rival.

WOLF TALE

3m 4f  2m/f

'sure to appeal to all ages' (Amateur Stage)

A re-telling of the tale of Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. Wolf tries to turn events to his own advantage, but despite the warnings of his cousin Big Bad nothing turns out the way he expects. Little Red won’t co-operate, Granny’s more troublesome than anticipated, the Woodland Fairy is less than helpful, a pair of infuriating Sheep complicate proceedings, and the arrival of Robin Hood finally throws a spanner into the works.