Böcker utgivna av Samuel French Ltd

Conservative MP Philip Grantly has a loving wife, loving mistress, two teenage children and a good chance of a seat in the Cabinet. One by one his wife discovers his affair, his daughter is suspended from school for snorting cocaine and his socialist son is involved in a public brawl. Finally a newspaper discovers his affair and threatens to publish, resulting in a comedy which combines romance and wit with fun and suspense.4 women, 4 men

This fast-paced, romantic comedy focuses on Giles Short, successful editor at a once-prestigious publishing house - a kind, honourable man. But he is also a kind man with a wife, a mistress, a lunch date, and an undertaking to tell the truth for the next 12 hours.

Elsie and Norm have decided to have a bit of a bash at culture by staging a production of Macbeth in their living-room. After a spot of judicious re-writing by Norm to make it snappier and more punchy, and undaunted by the large cast, Elsie and Norm set out to act "one of the greatest pieces of literature what has ever been wrote in the English language", playing all the characters between them.1 woman, 1 man

David Freeman, approaching 50, is tired of life. His only desire is to control the timing and manner of his death. But his plans are disrupted by the demands of those around him. Alone at last, he carries out his plan, hears news that changes his mind, but the vagaries of chance have it otherwise.

Two Into One is about nothing more than the hilarious attempts of a Member of Parliament to arrange a dalliance with a secretary for the PM in an out of the way little hotel. Unfortunately, he engages one of his aides to arrange the whole thing. The aide is something of a charming bumbler and he gets everything all mixed up. Also on hand are the pompously disapproving hotel manager, a venal ethnic waiter and a female Labour politician who crusades against pornography on the one hand, while on the other she is trying to lure the bumbling civil servant into bed!-5 women, 5 men

In this play, Sarah's desperate attempts to have a nice, civilized week end culminate, not surprisingly, in disaster. Ruth, Norman's wife, is summoned but Norman still contrives to cause havoc involving, finally, all three women. Matters are not helped by such events as the slow thinking Tom mistaking Ruth's intentions during a conversation they have together. Eventually the horrific week end draws to a close.3 women, 3 men

A fast-paced comedy about an amateur dramatic society gathering for the technical rehearsal of a play by their producer Gordon. Minus the set, director and stage crew, new-recruit Val frantically tries to improvise. Matters become increasingly frenetic with the arrival of Gordon''s dypsomaniac wife Ruth, and an assortment of people totally unconnected with the drama group!|4 women, 3 men

This delightful comedy of errors follows the fortunes of Perkin and Wat. Perkin is royal odd-job man to the court of the Emperor. His friend, Wat, has recently been demoted from court pastrycook following a disastrous batch of cakes (Wat swears he was framed by the head cook). Wat is the comic focus, meaning well, but repeatedly foiled. Our heroes triumph at the last, Wat regaining his status and Perkin winning the heart of Princess Sophie.|Large flexible cast

 The See-Saw Tree, an ancient oak, stands on ground which is ear-marked for development into a children''s playground by Mr. Jay, owner of the nearby supermarket. A public meeting is called in the village hall to discuss his proposals, which include cutting down the three-hundred-year-old oak tree. The audience votes in favour, but Mr. Bunn, an environmental activist protests and shows us the devastating effect such plans will have on the inhabitants of the tree - the main part of the play tells the story of these creatures (who can be played by their human equivalents), their panic, their resilience and their evacuation from the tree.|4 women, 4 men

This entertaining and funny musical ghost story introduces Sammy, a clever schoolboy, and his unusual parents, brainy Egbert and witty Gloria. They have just moved into a new house overseen by a creepy housekeeper and a kindly, bumbling gardener. When weird things start happening, curious Sammy insists that that the gardener admit him to the wildly overgrown garden where they find proof that a witch has enslaved enchanted flower children. Sammy and his friend Alice save the day: the children are released from their spell and even the witchy housekeeper is won over.|8 women, 3 men

In the summer of 1936, Jean, Barbara and Olive hope for some excitement as they holiday in South Devon. It is Barbara who first spots the mysterious woman who wants to remain incognito, and Jean who overhears ''Mrs Chisholm'' plotting a murder. Easy to stage and costume, this delightful play has a twist or two up its sleeve and a neat ending.|7 women

Having packed her mother, Mrs Morgan, off to a neighbour''s house, Bessie and two friends await the arrival of Madame Maria, fortune-teller par excellence. Visited by royalty, consulted by princes and doing house-calls at fifty pence a time, Madame Maria is a rather surprising apparition. However, Mrs Morgan''s sudden reappearance is not as disconcerting as Bessie had expected!|5 women

Five women gather round a skip on a suburban street. Two of them, antiques dealers scavenging for saleable items, become embroiled in a dispute over a reproduction Victorian chamber-pot and a genuine Regency chair, their opponents being two genteel but quietly determined bag-ladies. Watched over by a tramp, the ladies fight to the (metaphorical) death in this warm and witty comedy.|5 women

The Weerd sisters try to make ends meet through fortune-telling. When Lady M calls, Flora discovers she indeed has the gift of foresight, although she does not like what she sees. The sisters'' fortunes are turned. Lady M returns to learn more but this time the truth is held back.|5 women

A large jeering crowd appears on stage. A Narrator tries to analyse why ordinary people can suddenly be turned into an ugly mob. He describes a series of everyday events that upset people who in turn upset someone else. He asks who upset the first man in the chain. It was the Narrator himself.|5 women, 5 men

Long Autumn, appropriately named, is a retirement home for theatricals in the autumn of their lives, where euphemism reigns supreme, together with a firm belief that elderly equals senile. Into their midst is flung Maisie May, a former music-hall star, too much of a burden for her strait-laced son and daughter-in-law, who do not find Maisie amusing. Initially the ever-cheerful, irrepressible Maisie copes with the rigours of Long Autumn in her own inimitable style, but she becomes increasingly depressed. Then one day a breezy impresario, Chris, arrives with big plans for Maisie...|4 women, 3 men

In this grim world of poverty there is little room for finer feelings. The tippers mistrust one another and each sex blames the other for the mess they are all in. The only escape from unendurable reality is football. Maybe with the birth of Annette''s baby, trust and affection will be born amongst them...|2 women, 3 men

A sly, gentle dig at society''s conventions and preconceptions. John Brown arrives at a country nursing home with a case of money expecting hotel-style service. He''s a kind of dropout bound to puzzle a profession geared to treating the sick. He''s not physically ill and apparently not mentally so. He settles into the routine and cocoon-like security. Everyone speculates as to his identity.|4 women, 2 men

This brutal and hilarious one-act play was declared one of the greatest plays of all time for women in Lucy Kerbel's volume 100 Great Plays For Women. Set in an all-girls' boarding school, Numbers depicts a vicious battle of wills between four Sixth Form girls in the hour before a new Head Girl is announced. As the girls vie for the coveted position, old friendships and loyalties give way to ambition and betrayal. Nothing is too extreme in a battle which increasingly proves less ab

Wicked Viking Jarl, Smut the Smug, crosses the northern sea to ravage the coast of England, only to encounter rival Viking, Svein, Prince of the Blue Fjords, searching England for his Princess bride. The villain flees with no booty, except for three exceedingly naughty children, Tum, Dickon and Harald. But Smut is pursued back to his lair in Smutland by the children's outraged and outrageous guardian, the indomitable Dame Dustpan, joined by Prince Svein, who agrees to help rescue the children in return for help tracking down his princess.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.Large flexible cast

David Wood has adapted this fairy tale into a musical play rather than conventional pantomime. Comedy, adventure and lively original songs combine to make these unusual plays sure-fire hits with family audiences.Large flexible cast

Based on the 19th-century story by the French Countess d'Aulnois the story concerns the heir-less King Pat-a-Cake of Euphoria who has three adopted sons. Seeking a successor he sets them a task, offering the throne to the winner.

Pantomime for 13 characters and chorus on convential lines with a bad tempered fairy, a good witch, knockabout scenes, reference to local names and so on, but based on a less usual subject.Flexible cast

Unhappy about going to London to sing on the stage, Percival Pig plots with his animal friends for a way to get back to the farm.

Two old men, Ron and Bill sit on a park bench. Their talk encompasses the soullessness of old people's homes and the disappointments of growing old. But far from being depressed, the two men are full of fighting spirit. Bill's been reliving his honeymoon and Ron has been living it up in Amsterdam.

But Yesterday is a haunting, enigmatic one act play from the sensitive pen of successful playwright, Jimmie Chinn. Set in a vicarage garden, the time is the fifties and before. Prior to leaving on a journey from which he will not return, Robert comes back to the garden of his childhood and relives moments from the past, which become mingled with the present.3 women, 2 men