Bücher der Reihe Acting Edition S.

Based on the best-selling book by Michael Foreman, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish is an ever-topical musical play for young people, with an environmental theme.Large flexible cast

Left a widow with five grown up children, Mrs. Dermot turns to brother Dan for help. Uncle Dan arrives to find an idle family ready to live on his money. He announces that he is doomed to die in three years and that he will leave his money to the member of the family who has made good by then. Each sets to with such determination that Oliver becomes a successful inventor, Evangeline a novelist, Bobbie a composer and Sylvia a film star; even Joyce, finishing her school career, distinguishes herself.-6 women, 4 men

When Mother unexpectedly plans a trip home from America, she is expecting to find her beloved garden in the state in which she left it. Her son Gerald's work on the garden has fallen short of her expectations, however, and the garden is now a jungle. Neighbour Pip comes to rescue Gerald with a brilliant idea; why not try a house-swap? Things seems to work out until a news reporter from Happy Gardening comes on the scene...3 women, 2 men

Max is planning to murder his wife Janet, collect her life insurance, and enjoy life with his girlfriend when Mary and George arrive on their Greek island with news: Mary and Janet are beneficiaries of a huge fortune. Plans and plots hatch, and soon everyone is bent on murder. All that stands in their way is the presence of a neighbor who knows a thing or two about murder, crime writer Edgar Chambers.3 women, 3 men

Cherry Hellin'sworth is fulfilling her Community Service stint by working at a Village Hall as the Functions Manager. But she's not terribly good at it. On one evening she manages to to hire out the hall to the Village Drama Society, the Cricket team, a Singing Telegram and a Country and Western group called the'southern Fried Chickens.13 women, 13 men

Geraldine and Reg, ageing hippies now trapped in Green Belt respectability by Geraldine's domineering mother, Mrs Carmichael, are giving a dinner-party. Geraldine decides to liven up the evening a bit by impersonating Reg's imaginary brother Rollo, a cad and a bounder. When Reg retaliates by dressing up as Rollo's eccentric wife, Lillian, chaos ensues. Olwen Wymark's suburban comedy is a rebel's fantasy, a hostess's nightmare, and a hijinks treat for its audiences.3 women, 3 men

An ingenious set greets the audience of this award winning play: the cross section of a Victorian house that has been divided into three flats. The owner, a fastidious, elegant executive named Barbara, contentedly occupies the ordered, male free ground floor visible in its entirety. The basement ceiling can be seen and this is were Gilbert, a boorish postman and handyman, is painting a nude study of his landlady. Barbara is letting Nikki, a schoolfriend, and her fiance use the upstairs flat even though she has taken an instant dislike to him. Ever life's victim, Nikki is destined to suffer yet again when Barbara succumbs to an unexpected and violent passion.-2 women, 2 men

Nancy is at the helm of the unhappy Empson family who, for the sake of Father's health, move to a small country village. Their new house is in a state of disrepair, but they find that a local handyman, Winston, is keen to help them out. He breaks their resistance to him with his irreverent wit, gourmet cooking, free repairs and liberal doses of sexual advice. Gradually the family are transformed by his presence.-4 women, 4 men

This is an adaptation of one of the most exciting Arabian Night stories of all time. The staging can be simple or elaborate and casting flexible - only a few thieves on stage at any one time. The plot is full of suspense and excitement, though the blood-thirstiness of the original story has been toned down. Full of humour and song, with the villians getting their comeuppance.2 women, 4 men, 7 women or men

When Tom Lambert, botanist and TV gardening personality, receives a call from Inland Revenue enquiring about his public relations consultant Joanna Flint, he can honestly say he has never heard of her. By lunchtime, he knows all about Miss Flint: his accountant and ex wife confesses that she invented Miss Flint as a tax dodge. This tricky situation sets the stage for sparkling comedy.-3 women, 3 men

This play, ideally suited to younger actors, concentrates on a very important topical issue - pollution. Nora, a member of her school's Environmental Studies Society, attempts to have analysed samples of water from local caves which she suspects is being contaminated by a factory of which her father is a director. Excitement and tension mount when Nora threatens to drink the water.2 women, 4 men

Stranded in an airport lounge during the inevitable delay of a holiday flight to Spain, Rosemary - "I`m a one-parent family, you see" - and her carbon-copy, not-very-bright daughter, Mandy, draw the reluctant Dennis and Shelia Tippit into a conversation.3 women, 1 man

No one would have blamed it on the boots if only Kate had produced Macbeth instead of Hamlet or Ophelia hadn't been so attractive and naive or Eric had smaller feet and wasn't the drama group's prize flirt or Liz's father hadn't been an actor who once trod the boards at Stratford in those self same boots.3 women, 1 man

A very funny comedy, written with Frank Vickery's usual panache and style. Nancy and Cyril are to meet their son's girlfriend, Susan. Cyril, naturally bald, goes into hiding when his wig disappears, and reappears in disguise. But there are further problems when Susan loses a contact lens in the salad - Cyril is soon on his way to hospital wearing a dead kitten on his head.2 women, 2 men

Verne Morgan's pantomimes are clear and straightforward, following the traditional stories closely. Choice of music for songs and dances is left to the director.4 women, 12 men

On her wedding morning Pam is so appalled at the gravity of the promises she must make that she refuses to be married to Joe. Her doubts increase on meeting her father, Paul, long divorced from her mother. Pam was taught to think him an abandoned bounder, but fin''s so charming she is convinced that if his marriage disintegrated then he''s is bound to fail. Paul intervenes and incites Joe to elope with Pam whilst he himself enjoys a reconciliation with his wife.|5 women, 3 men

When Chief Constable Henry Potterton and his sister arrive at the peaceful country house of their late, lamented brother Bernard, they are astonished to find several scantily clad ladies wandering about. During Bernard''s visit to a religious commune, his housekeeper turned the place into a "house of sin" and now she hastily tries to hide the truth. This leads to hilarious comings and goings, and when Bernard turns up alive, the household is thrown into further chaos.|6 women, 3 men

Jack has just been acquitted of manslaughter, and regales his girlfriend Maggie and their neighbours with a disparaging account of the trial. According to the evidence (most of it Jack''s), the victim, Philip Mercer, had broken in late at night, and, on being confronted by Jack, produced a gun which Jack got hold of during the ensuing struggle and then used to kill Mercer. A clear case of self-defence. Or was it?|2 women, 2 men

Angry and bitter after throwing out her unfaithful husband, Julia is only too ready to succumb to the good-looking Welshman who comes ostensibly to update her husband''s computer. Julia enjoys playing games with the computer, particularly when it invites her to play the Murder Game and she can fantasise about how easy it would be to commit the perfect murder by computer with her errant husband as victim.|3 women, 1 man

One of the "Tonight At 8:30" series, produced in London and New York. In the middle class drawing room of amiable and hard working Henry Gow passes most of the family life surrounding his harridan wife Doris, his brat daughter Elise, and his complaining mother in law Mrs. Rockett.3 women, 1 man

A truly outstanding, genuinely funny play, with a wry twist at the end. Frank has erected signs for a commercial letterer for twenty-five years. With trainee Alan, he attempts to spell ''Forshaw''s'' - the letters collectively forming the play''s third ''character''. He is nonplussed when the right letters do not appear and then realization dawns.|2 men

A play about Paddington Bear for children.

After her disappearance several years ago, Emma finds that her memory is damaged; there is much she does not recognize or understand. Why does she appear familiar with certain Russian phrases; why has she such a horror of a harmless silver bell, of a portrait on the wall, of knives? Is she, in fact, Emma Cranwell? Behind these questions looms a menacing mystery which finally erupts into violence and horror.3 women, 3 men

The sequel to Captain Blackboot''s Island opens with the Captain and his crew puzzling over the whereabouts of their octopus, Oliver. Luckily James, Sally and Victoria arrive, overhear some wreckers plotting and discover that Oliver is to be made into an octopus stew! A happy ending is assured, however, following their victorious battle with the wreckers, and when Oliver appears from the sea, it seems that the Wallamagrumba may not be so bad after all.|9 women, 13 men

Class 6 are well-behaved, hard-working... and bored. Every day is much the same and then Mr Parker, the supply teacher, sets them an interesting project: to re-enact Sir Francis Drake''s circumnavigation of the world in 1577. Within minutes the room is transformed into an Elizabethan sailing ship and the brave adventurers set sail!|30 women or men

An amusingly chaotic day in the life of Alec Partridge, Manager of the Thurlow Playhouse. The director of an amateur production of Oklahoma demands real horses in the show; an Arts Council agent arrives to assess the theatre''s eligibility for a grant…|5 women, 3 men

From the fifteenth-century morality play Everyman and Hugo von Hofmannsthal''s Jedermann. Everywoman is a ruthless, successful careerist who has sacrificed everything for her own advancement. When Death appears, her successes fail her; only Faith, her deserted husband, and Crystal, her child, remain by her. Her eyes are opened, she repents, and is saved.|Large flexible cast

Alan Brown''s pantomimes recreate those of Victorian times, blending traditional elements - including Harlequin interludes and suggestions for period songs - with subtle updatings to suit modern young audiences.|Large flexible cast

Fred Cochran, the hero, is a down-at-heel gangster, trying to make a comeback. Lil Smith is his loyal moll, a tart with a heart of gold, who longs for respectability and keeps a marriage licence ready for her lucky day. Fred''s shpieler (gambling den) provides a refuge for the failures of the underworld: Paddy the gambler, Tosher the ponce with his girls Betty and Rosey, and Redhot, a sad little burglar who never manages to get warm. They all look to Fred for a living and when he wins on the horses it seems the gang may be back in business.|4 women, 9 men

This collection of Peter Barnes' plays comprises three duologues and one three-hander. "Humour Helps", "Waiting for a Bus", "Acting Exercise", and "Last Things" are all centred on actors and actresses - acting out "the absurdly tragic and the tragically absurd".