Böcker utgivna av Samuel French Ltd

Divorc¿ Graham asks friends Ernest and Pamela to help out with the holiday visit of his children. The children are brought by his ex-wife and her mother, who disapproves of Graham's lifestyle. Pamela, although childless, has strong views on children and organizes a party for them. By having the adults play both the party guests and themselves as children we are given fascinating and funny glimpses of their pasts, making their scenes as grown-ups all the more pertinent.4 women, 2 men

The characters are not naturalistic portraits but rather caricatures of contemporary types. As in the older comedies their names suggest their identities (Midway, Makepiece, Freeman, etc). The model Midland householder, Fred Midway, sedulously climbing the business and social ladders, self-educated by correspondence courses, with his material yardstick, his oratory, self-knowledge and pathetic faith in himself, provides a brilliant centre to a highly entertaining and satiricial play.4 women, 5 men

Frances, Howard and Rachel have always believed that their father, David, died in a boating accident when they were children...but he didn't. When the three siblings gather to clear out the house of their recently deceased mother, several long-hidden secrets are revealed, but none of the skeletons to fall from their collective closets is more tangible or more shocking than David, who arrives with the news that the house is, in fact, now his.2 women, 3 men

Pat and Mary Gormley are an ill-matched couple: Pat is a laid-back publican, a storyteller and musician, whereas Mary is determinedly upwardly mobile, nagging at their children to succeed. Looking back thirty years later, their daughter Kathleen tries to piece together the family's story so that she can understand what drove it apart.

It's a new year. And Juliet - young, smart, and sassy - has got herself a fresh start in a new flat. But there's a problem: amidst the boxes, a strange guy is also moving in - and he won't leave. He says the agency has messed up and her flat is actually his flat. As if that's not enough, the real problem is that, well, he's rather gorgeous... This chic comedy is a modern metropolitan guide to falling in (and out of) love.

A pantomime with a difference and one which is truly a laugh a minute, with plenty of opportunity for a large female chorus for Greek Chorus, Nymphs and Cheerleaders, as well as the principal female roles which include the Three Fates, Wanda, and Venus.Large flexible casst

Norman Robbins pantomime tells the traditional story in which his own wacky style combines with the traditional elements to provide a script that is hilarious and imaginative, with plenty of opportunities for cast and technical crews to show their mettle. The production can be as elaborate or as simple as facilities permit and directors are free to make their own choice of songs and music.Large flexible cast

Dumpster, an idealistic young rat who lives in a rubbish dump, dreams of a brighter, better world. But his dreams are dashed daily by His Ignoble Ratship The Lord Vermin, Ruler of the Refuse, Defender of the Dump and Guardian of the Garbage, who has plans to turn every park and every garden into Utter Garbage! A delightful play about our environment for performance to children, with plenty of opportunities for lively audience participation!-7 women or men

In the sequel to The Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch has stolen the Scarecrow's brains, the Lion's courage and the Tinman's heart. So off Dorothy and her old friends go to the Mountain of Darkness to get them back. Many hazards and dangers are encountered on the journey but they eventually manage to retrieve everything and, with the help of Glinda the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch is whisked off in a whirlwind.8 women, 10 men

When Rachel takes up rowing as a hobby, her husband Victor never suspects that she is meeting another man in her friend, Georgina's house. Why should he? He is himself secretly meeting Georgina, while her husband, Henry, an actor, is at the theatre. But one day Henry returns home unexpectedly.

"Wally" Wallis, an old sea-dog, is by no means the perfect retirement home resident. When his room-mate, Potts, dies and is replaced with the staid George, war is instantly declared. This play is a celebration of the resilience of older people who are determined not to give in without a fight.

When the Harrisons arrive with an unexpected guest, Mary Dickinson, with whom Tom had a passionate affair three years previously, Tom has trouble putting her out of his mind. Will Tom and Alice's marriage survive the seductive onslaught of Mary who seems determined to get Tom to herself at last?

When Dennis, a hen-pecked IT manager stuck in a boring marriage with Anabelle, goes on a rare business trip to Amsterdam with colleagues Bob and Gary his eyes are opened to a world in which every sexual fantasy is available. This is a comedy of sexual manners and an exploration of male desire.

Resigning himself to the autumn of his life, the Duke prepares to seek a wife from three of his former mistresses, selected by his son, following the tradition of Paris by offering an apple to the chosen one. However when a radiant young girl, Perpetua arrives. The Duke snatches the apple and offers it to her, but she draws on a pistol and shatters it. Her father the agent wishes her to marry the Duke, but the latter resigns himself to marrying the mistress who really loves him.-4 women, 6 men

Seeking peace and tranquility, Gerald goes to spend a few days in a health farm, presided over by the highly moral Mr Potter. But his hopes are soon dashed by the arrival of his secretary (declaring her undying passion for him), his daughter (intent upon naughty assignations with her boyfriend), and his wife.-3 women, 3 men

Ross is a successful, happily married cardiac consultant - until his wife Fay announces she has fallen in love with the notorious womanizer Julian Kane. Later, Ross's assistant discovers two phials missing of Zarabell Four, a drug potentially lethal to cardiac patients. When Julian dies from a heart attack, all fingers point to Ross. But as the play progresses many enemies of the deceased are revealed and audiences will guess right up to the final moments of this well-wrought thriller.3 women, 6 men

Bill announces to his friend and lover, Lucy, that he and his wife, Kate, have decided to separate. The future looks rosy until Lucy's husband arrives and begins to plant seeds of suspicion in Lucy's mind concerning Kate's sudden disappearance. Suddenly the large chest freezer and Kate's abandoned car gain significance until the flamboyant entrance of Kate herself destroys the theory of Bill as a murderer. However, as accusations fly and recriminations grow, speculation turns quickly into reality.2 women, 2 men

It is opening day at Ernst Edelbaum's hotel and already things are going wrong. His English niece turns out to be Leslie, a male punk, most of his guests don't arrive and the tour company are about to discover that his required wife doesn't exist. As for the guests, they all have their own problems ... But this hilarious farce, complete with man in drag and indoor tobogganing, ends happily of course.3 women, 3 men

It hasn't been Griff's and Ruby's day. They discovered that their son Nigel is both a drag queen and gay; hours later Nigel is in hospital after a car crash in which his lover Kevin, has incurred much worse injuries. Tensions and emotions rise even higher as they meet the "in-laws".

Flora Crewe, an unconventional, young English poet living in India in 1930, is having her portrait painted by local artist Nairad Das and writing letters home to her sister Nell. Intermittent scenes, which are set in England in 1980, focus on Nell as she sorts through the cherished letters to aid Flora's would be biographer, Eldon Pike. Within this context, Indian Ink weaves a captivating, whimsical love story that underscores aspects of relationships between cultures and between the sexes that are indelible.-4 women, 14 men

Based on the television series "Only When I Laugh", this hospital comedy traces the fortunes of a trio of patients who form an uneasy alliance against the confusions and insecurities of hospital life.

Harold Brighouse manages to extract the maximum of comedy from a farcical situation. Zack is the half-witted son of a wedding purveyor whose cheerfulness and good-heartedness are a greater assett than his brother's crafty greed, and the'story shows in most amusing fashion how he eventually wins self-respect and a bride.4 women, 6 men

Spanning three generations, from 1947 to the present, this compelling saga vividly captures the dreams, ambitions, joys, fears, heartaches and disappointmen's of the Parker sisters, Annie and May, whose hopes centre on May's son, Paul, and his academic success.3 women, 3 men, 5 women or men

Inspired by a television documentary, Peter Terson's play looks at the world of the North-East England strippers, centring on Wendy and Bernard, a young couple whose lives are up-ended when Wendy turns, reluctantly, to stripping to support the family after Bernard is made redundant. Although Bernard quite happily watches the 'exotic dancers' over a couple of pints at the club, when it comes to his wife it's a different matter.6 women, 4 men

Set in York in 1392, this play tells of a performance of the Mystery Plays. For the townspeople the competition is fierce to attract the attention of the Royal Party and to impress them at all costs. But the message of Mystery cycle as performed is strong, clear and truthful. This remarkable and beautifully written play is highly original, often very funny and ultimately deeply moving.-4 women, 12 men

The nuns of St Ursula's Convent, led by the Prioress, Sister Jeanne, accused Urbain Grandier, Vicar of Loudon, of sorcery. He was tried, tortured and burned. On this baldly terrible foundation, Whiting has built a powerful, complex play, interweaving the personal dilemmas of Jeanne and Grandier with the political necessities of the time. Although it is set between 1623-34, essentially it is no more a period play than Miller's The Crucible.6 women, 13 men

The well-known fairies from A Midsummer Night''s Dream and Peter Pan are under continuous attack from the hazard of waste brought by humans. Unexpectedly they stumble on a copse which promises to be a safe haven and yet it seems all is not well. The fairies soon find themselves faced with the prospect of living their lives in public view. Can they escape before it is too late?|6 women or men

Staff Nurse Kitty, popular, good-natured and ever willing to help, is giving evidence at a medical tribunal investigating a patient''s death. Suddenly she finds herself carried along by events that she hardly comprehends and is condemned before she can even defend herself. Support which she felt that she could count on diminishes in the cause of self-interest, and helpful deeds performed at the time are misinterpreted. Based on a true-life incident, we see the pattern of her life in flashbacks, using imaginative lighting, heightened dialogue and delightful theatrical effects.|3 women, 1 man

Four English students gather for a picnic in Germany in 1938. Then Esther, a Jewess, appears, hunted by Karl of Hitler Youth. She is dragged away and thunderclouds form over what had previously been a fine day. A Narrator tells us of the fate of five of the party but we can only guess at Esther''s fate.|3 women, 3 men