Bücher der Reihe French's Acting Editions

A multi-layered, witty thriller involving two men and two women. A Russian doll of a play, it moves from a seemingly innocuous domestic playreading through a murder mystery in the classic style, to a final terrifying and violent climax.

In a guest house in the Peak District, Marjory Pike is wrongly identified by another guest as the author of a book declaiming certain mediums, one of whom had committed suicide as a result. The son of the deceased medium is staying at the guest house, so when he arrives bruised, and Marjory is found dead, the finger of suspicion points at him.

In this one-woman play, middle-aged Angela attempts to find a new life when husband Max leaves for a younger woman. Using a blend of comedy and pathos, Geraldine Aron recounts Angela's journey back to happiness...

When Tom Kerwood and his wife Linda nervously await Mrs Potter from the adoption agency, who's to assess them at home, it's not surprising that events get out of hand. Dick has returned from a French smuggling trip with brandy and cigarettes - and two Kosovan refugees. Meanwhile, hospital porter Harry has embarked on an ambitious plan.

A work based on the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, the legendary New York heiress and socialite who wanted to be a great operatic diva despite having one of the worst signing voices in history, and who used all her money, charm and unstoppable willpower to make it happen.

Characters: 4 male, 2 female plus children''s chorus (optional)Scenery: Various setsWizzpopping wonder and fruit filled fun abound in this stage adaption of Roald Dahl''s greatest adventure story. James is a lonely young boy who is forced to work like a slave for the most revolting aunts in England. One day a mystical old man gives him a bag of magic. When he accidently spills it near the old peach tree, the most incredible things happen! "Pure fun for the whole family. A remarkable theatrical feat!"- Northampton Chronicle "Move heaven and earth to see this wonderful adaptation!"- Sunday Mercury "A first class show. If I were a child I''d scream for a ticket."- Birmingham Post

Pete and George are old friends. In fact, such good old friends that George has been Pete's best man at both of his weddings. Pete, now happily married to Sarah, is appalled when George arrives with the news that his first wife Jessica was not killed in a climbing accident as they had thought but is alive and keen to resume her life with Pete.

Recently widowed, Anna is visited by her three middle-aged children who have decided that the family house must be sold and Anna move either to a residential home or sheltered housing. In fact, anywhere so long as it's not with any of them.3 women, 1 man

In 1974, Alan Bennett encountered Miss Mary Shepherd, an elderly eccentric who was living in a van in the street near his home in Camden Town. He eventually allowed her to park her van in his garden, the idea being that she would stay three months - but those three months extended to fifteen years.

Women are serving community punishment orders and are growing the vegetables for soup kitchens on an allotment. It is the first morning for Daisy, the new probation officer, and she is brimming with new ideas for the women's rehabilitation. However, the tables are turned when a traumatic event in Daisy's past catches up with her.

Danny learns of his father's secret passion for pheasant poaching in the estate of the greedy Victor Hazell, the local wealthy landowner. In the early hours, Danny awakes to find that his father has failed to return after a night of poaching. Fearing that his father may be in grave danger, Danny sets off on a courageous journey to rescue him.

In a West End synagogue, three septuagenarians, Sophie, Hetty and Magda meet every Tuesday to play the card game Kaluki. But all this is about to change when their synagogue is to be sold to a strip club owner. These intrepid ladies decide to take direct action. Can they succeed or will their constant bickering put paid to their plan?

Judith leaves her ex-boyfriend a desperate message on his answerphone saying that she is not coping with their break-up, that she has brought some razor blades and some henna in order to either slash her wrists or dye her hair and she might be pregnant. However, it is his new partner, Ros, who hears the message and it is she that rushes to Judith's bedsit. An evening of emotion, combined with subtle humour, ensues that will conclude with the two women, despite their differences and rivalry, finding friendship and gaining something positive from each other.2 women

Relief drama teacher, Mary faces an uphill struggle when she tries to interest sixteen-year-olds Stacey, Kelly and Maggie in dance. She isn't helped by the science-obsessed headmaster, nor by the girl's patent lack of commitment, nor by the lack of funds and resources, but she ploughs doggedly on.

Enrolled in Camp Confidence, Maria (terrified of birds), Blanche (agoraphobic), Donna (single mum on probation) and Cherry (an obsessive cleaner), are led by the skilled but harassed Julia and her uncertain assistant Fiona. The four learn a great deal about each other and themselves and emerge happier and more secure. This is their story.

It is 1999. Hannah is sixteen. She loves karaoke and her bloke Bullfrog; she hates her hometown of Margate and the Kosovan asylum seekers who have come to live there. Hanna is also sixteen. She loves karaoke, loves Margate - and is one of the asylum-seekers. Slowly and unexpectedly, the two become friends, Hannah being forced to face up to her prejudices. This play for two young women addresses important issues through comedy, personal drama and the uniting power of music.2 women

The four boyfriends, with the help of the members of their school's drama class, set up a witty scenario designed to fool the girls into thinking that they should never have called off their relationships - because one day soon the lads will be the world-famous boyband Awesome. The current obsession with celebrity is satirized with the lightest of touches in this intelligent comedy for teenagers.7 women, 7 men

A play set in the foreseeable future when everything has changed except human nature; a future where TV daytime soaps are performed by android actors emotionally programmed by the control room. One, JC 31333, finds herself humanized as Jacie Triplethree, complete with a sense of humour and Adam, a young scriptwriter, falls for her.

The orchestra of Ridley Road, a state school, is to give a concert in Moscow at the European Festival of Youth, playing Tchaikovsky''s Fourth Symphony before an audience of cultural bigwigs. But their instruments have been impounded by Customs. Luckily, Alex, the Russian boy who cleans the hall, is a devout Pinball Wizard fan who comes up with a plan that saves everyone.|Large flexible cast

Specially commissioned to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Southwark Playhouse, Samuel Adamson's new version of A Doll's House brings zest to this classic play.4 women, 4 men

Miss Julie is an aristocrat's daughter who, drunk after a party, flirts with her father's chauffeur and sets, in train, a series of events that lead to tragedy. This work, a version of Strindberg's classic "Miss Julie", features class suspicions and resentment, the erotic collusion of antagonists, and the struggle against repressive social mores.

Several Russian folk tales are fused together in this charming and magical adventure for young and old alike. Prince Ivan's mission to capture the Firebird takes him first to the castle of Koschei, the sorceror, from whom the Firebird has been stolen by the wicked Baba Yaga.

Gregor Antonescu arrives at the Greenwich Village apartment of his illegitimate son, Basil, for a business meeting. After achieving apparent success, he finds everything collapsing around him and learns from Basil that a warrant is out for his arrest. Basil offers help, but Gregor acquires a conscience and determines his own way out.

Teresa oversees a women's charity, smugly imagining that she dispenses invaluable advice to any with the temerity to walk through the door. So when dowdy, middle-aged Melanie turns up to volunteer, Teresa soon puts her straight. The arrival of patronizing Mrs Castle-Kettle, daughter of the charity's founder, ruffles even more feathers.

Charlie Conrad is a celebrity. His talent? He hasn't got one; the nation took him to their hearts for very publicly being unable to do anything competently. On a fateful day Charlie has an encounter with Marsha, a children's entertainer otherwise known as Mr Chortles, and his marriage and his career go into freefall...

Victor and Harlan are two philosophy professors who have been friends and pranksters since their student days, but things have changed: Victor has turned into an hedonist, while Harlan has become a Stoic. They are on holiday with their wives, and Victor has devised a prank to shake Harlan out of his passionless state, which goes horribly wrong.

Tobias, struggling to pay tuition fees as he finishes his doctorate in moral philosophy, works as a chef in an unpopular tapas bar. His girlfriend, Casey, is a waitress and T-shirt entrepreneur manque who needs capital to realize her dreams. Monday is the deadest night of the week, but their luck looks about change when the enigmatic Leila walks into the bar which is situated just down the road from MI6...|2 women, 1 man

Royston Chatsworth is commissioned to film a sanitized documentary contrasting old-style mental health care with the improvement 1990s care-in-the-community has brought. But as Royston experiences a flashback into his own life, he makes a life-changing decision.

One sunny evening, ten-year-old Rhona goes missing. Agnetha, an American academic, comes to England to research a thesis entitled "Serial Killing: A Forgivable Act?". Then, there's Ralph, a loner with a bit of previous who's looking for some distraction... Drawn together by horrific circumstances, these three embark upon a long dark journey.