Placing wartime and lockdown life side-by-side, Alan Ayckbourn's 85th play is a touching, tender and, of course, funny reflection on the ability of love to rise above adversity and reach across the years.Veteran actor Rob Hathaway, stuck at home during the summer of 2020 with only his sensible older sister for company, has little to do but relive his glory days. One day Rob spots a stranger hanging out the washing in the adjoining garden - but the neighbours haven't been around for months. So who is the mysterious girl next door? And why is she wearing 1940s clothing?
One of the 2023 winners of the CT-sponsored Untapped Award, we're delighted to be publishing this to coincide with the opening at the Edinburgh Fringe this year! Skewering society's ableism with real wit and humour, this is a scathing satire on the monetisation of identity politics that spares no one. We're excited to be supporting this and know it's going to be a big hit at this year's fringe! Publishing in conjunction with the production opening on 3rd August at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Tabitha is - or rather was - a cat, the property of Lavinia, a dear old lady, who lives with two other dear old ladies in an apartment house owned by Mrs Trellington. Now as a landlady Mrs Trellington has some very unattractive and even tactless habits: she helps herself to the old ladies' little store of whisky; she chooses to put up their rents on Christmas Eve; and - last straw of all- she has done away with the beloved Tabitha. No wonder the three old ladies are roused in indignation, and no wonder the most authoritative of them, Mrs Pendergast - widow of a colonial judge - is tempted to do away with the odious landlady. Under her instruction the others, Lavinia and Janet, dilute a bottle of whisky with the poisoned water that killed Tabitha, knowing perfectly well that even though they lock it up the landlady will find it while they are out. And if she drinks from it - well, isn't it her own fault? When, a few hours later, Mrs Trellington is found dead, the old ladies stare guiltily at each other: but they are also mystified; for didn't Lavinia and Janet relent and swap the whisky for another bottle? Or didn't they? There is only one way to find out and find out they must for Mary, Mrs Trellington's stepdaughter, whom everybody loves, is now suspected of murder. After writing a full, if muddled, account of their part in the event, they drink the whisky themselves. Hours later, a puzzled detective inspector and a mystified young doctor find three elderly ladies genteelly sleeping off the effects of strong drink. But, brought back once more to sobriety, they are able to help the detective prove that Mrs Trellington accidentally poisoned herself in the course of her nefarious occupations.
Nathaniel is a serious romantic, the human manifestation of "I Will Always Love You" (The Whitney Houston version) and every homemade Slow Jamz cassette from the 90s; he sees love as a fine art. He's looking for the Mona Lisa to his da Vinci, and tonight is the night: his date with Destiny...'s Child. Nathan Queeley-Dennis' debut play is a love letter to Birmingham, exploring Black masculinity through Beyoncé lyrics, techno raves, and the deeply intimate relationship between a man and his barber
Three very different sisters meet at their mothers house to await the death of their father, they gradually reveal the complexities of their own lives.
Think you know the story of Robin Hood? Think again. Marian's drunk, Much the miller's depressed, Little Joan and Mary Tuck are at loggerheads, the sheriff's bitten off more than he can chew and young Woodnut wants bloody revenge on those who took her mother's life. There's also a mysterious hooded figure who might just be a hero to the poor and a terror to the rich... but who are they? With lashing of humour, heart, and a forest full of secrets, Carl Grose spins a thrilling new take on the classic tale. Expect the arrows to fly in a bold new direction as trickery and truth collide with wild results! Carl Grose is the writer behind such plays as Grand Guignol, The Kneebone Cadillac and 49 Donkeys Hanged, as well as Kneehigh hits Hansel & Gretel,The Tin Drum and Dead Dog in a Suitcase (and other love songs). He also wrote the book and co-lyrics for the cult West End musical The Grinning Man. "This is how to rewrite a legend. A must see." - The Guardian
A man reliant on wife's money asks for divorce after ten years of marriage, on refusal he attempts to kill her, and other murders ensue...
The Bride and the Bachelor is a 1956 comedy play by the British writer Ronald Millar. After premiering at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, it transferred to the Duchess Theatre in London's West End where it ran for 589 performances between 19 December 1956 and 24 June 1958.
Tabitha is - or rather was - a cat, the property of Lavinia, a dear old lady, who lives with two other dear old ladies in an apartment house owned by Mrs Trellington. Now as a landlady Mrs Trellington has some very unattractive and even tactless habits: she helps herself to the old ladies' little store of whisky; she chooses to put up their rents on Christmas Eve; and - last straw of all- she has done away with the beloved Tabitha. No wonder the three old ladies are roused in indignation, and no wonder the most authoritative of them, Mrs Pendergast - widow of a colonial judge - is tempted to do away with the odious landlady. Under her instruction the others, Lavinia and Janet, dilute a bottle of whisky with the poisoned water that killed Tabitha, knowing perfectly well that even though they lock it up the landlady will find it while they are out. And if she drinks from it - well, isn't it her own fault? When, a few hours later, Mrs Trellington is found dead, the old ladies stare guiltily at each other: but they are also mystified; for didn't Lavinia and Janet relent and swap the whisky for another bottle? Or didn't they? There is only one way to find out and find out they must for Mary, Mrs Trellington's stepdaughter, whom everybody loves, is now suspected of murder. After writing a full, if muddled, account of their part in the event, they drink the whisky themselves. Hours later, a puzzled detective inspector and a mystified young doctor find three elderly ladies genteelly sleeping off the effects of strong drink. But, brought back once more to sobriety, they are able to help the detective prove that Mrs Trellington accidentally poisoned herself in the course of her nefarious occupations.
A game of cricket deep in the Cotswolds. Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter are padded up and waiting to go in... What could possibly go wrong? Stumped is a shadowy caprice that turns the tables on two giants of twentieth century drama and subjects them to an unwelcome blend of their own worlds created by an unseen figure. "A perfect pitch for lovers of drama and cricket." - The Guardian "The play is a delight. It had me laughing out loud." - Mike Brearley (Prospect Magazine) "Smart, funny and a cricket lovers' dream." - Emma John "Witty, allusive and moving." - Michael Billington "Wow! So enjoyed reading this... it's intelligent and beautifully written." - Stephen Fry
Sketches and Lyrics from Intimacy At Eight-Thirty include: Knit Yourself A Lost Weekend, Coach and Five, Fit To Be Tied, Siren Song, Sustained Objection, Earliest Editions, Business in Great Waters, Soft Show Shuffle, We Come Up From Mummerset, and Peter Patter.
The Land Of Kerfuffle is loosely based in part on The Wallypug of Why by G. E. Farrow and can be performed with either nine men and five women, or five men and nine women with optional extras. It is Christmas Eve and Penny has just been visited by the Carol Singers. Suddenly she hears the Snowman in her garden speak and this is the start of a night of magical adventures. The Christmas tree Fairy comes to life. Penny takes the Snowman into her bedroom which is extremely untidy - in fact in a kerfuffle. With the help of the Fairy's wand which is lying there, the room tidies itself up and then Penny is whisked off to the Land of Kerfuffle where she meets various strange animals, a dictatorial Doctor-in-Law, a conceited Minstrel and the lovable, clumsy, downtrodden Great Panjan drum. After a night she will never forget she is magically returned home on Christmas morning but on the spot where the Snowman stood is only a bunch of snowdrops. Her friend has left her forever - or has he?
The Wrecker is about an old engine driver who thinks his engine is malevolent and self-aware. The finale is a huge train wreck using elaborate stage special effects as per The Ghost Train, also by Ridley.The Wrecker ran for 165 performances at St Martin's Theatre in London's West End. It later played at the Cort Theatre on Broadway in 1928, where itran for 40 performances.
Three act comedy in which the employees of a successful firm have their futures thrown into question after one of the partners is accused ofdisappearing with £20,000 from the company safe.
Zeb & Eoin have met, kissed, fallen in love, moved in, got married... What's next?Zeb will be Fun Daddy.Eoin will be Serious Daddy.Beth's job is to decide if they get to be Daddies at all.Together they navigate the exposing road to adoption, forced to lay bare fears and secrets, all in the hope of being deemed 'appropriate' parents.Breeding received its world premiere on 19th April 2023 at the King's Head Theatre, Islington, London, presented by Gabriella Sills Productions inassociation with Mark Gatiss
They may be mother and daughter yet they are strangers to each other, still refusing to face what really happened that day. No wonder they cannot move on with their lives. It takes another stranger, Cassiel, a passing fisherman to help them disentangle the weeds that are drowning them. But Cassiel is more than he appears...A hauntingly beautiful, many-layered tale of love and forgiveness, played out on an abandoned jetty.|2 women, 1 man, 1 girl
Flavia has been poached from the BBC by a tabloid newspaper. Her brief, to dig up the dirt on her old friend, now Secretary of State. Mission accomplished, she hopes to investigage more serious corruption; but the editor and chief whip have other ideas.|3 women, 2 men
rances, middle-aged and unmarried, is ecstatically awaiting the arrival of legendary mega star of stage and screen Ezzlie Harlow. Loyal fan Frances, unbeknown to Ezzlie, has offered her very humble end-of-terrace home to the down on her luck singer. Harlow's agent, eager to be rid of his fading star, has bundled her off with a one way ticket to what she thinks is a little mansion with servant; he forgot to mention Little Mansion is the name of the village at the back of beyond.|2 women, 1 man
Six very different women (17 - 35) have come on a residential weekend to see if they have what it takes for the most difficult job in the world. As we sit in on their awkward interviews, disastrous attempts at teamwork and revealing private conversations, we begin to understand why so few women really have the calling...to be a nun.|6 women
Henry arranges a party holiday in France but finds the g¿te below par. Unwilling to admit his mistake, he berates everyone, driving them to the brink of despair. Forever the victim, Henry believes his wife is unfaithful, the g¿te is surrounded by gunmen, Marcia is demented, and Norman rabid. Finally, his faithful wife resolves the crisis, bringing the hilarity to its moving conclusion.-2 women, 3 men
"Trans people don't often get a chance to talk about this bit. Where you see yourold self in the person you become."Tatenda Shamiso tells the story of his experience as a Black transgenderimmigrant in the UK. Using the songs he wrote throughout his rst year ontestosterone alongside letters, signatures and a whole lot of paperwork, he guidesus through what it takes to validate Black and queer identities in the eyes of thelaw.With laughter, music, and a healthy dose of care, NO I.D. is a love letter to gendertransitions and an examination of how absurd our bureaucratic systems can be.
Edited from seven sensational days of High Court transcripts, witness the case of Rebekah Vardy v Coleen Rooney unfold in their own words.A story stranger than fiction that blurs the boundaries of tabloid scoop, court case and soap opera, this trial explores privacy and celebrity in modernBritain whilst asking who is Davy Jones and where exactly is his locker?While the country was captivated, only a handful of people witnessed what happened behind closed doors. Now you can too.
"Frankie said we should do this, tell our story, cus yeah, it's a mad one, and maybe someone might like it, and find it useful or whatever? So, that's why we're here..."An uplifting new play about two siblings living in a rural community trying to get their heads around gender identity. Frankie is desperate to be understood, accepted, loved. But LGBTQ alphabet soup has got Michael's head spinning. Why's it gotta be so complicated? Why can't they understand? Why can't things go back to the way they always were? Unpicking the complexities of identity and the fierce family love that hopefully holds us together. Pentabus are delighted to present One Of Them Ones - an inspiring and celebratory new play by rising star Charlie Josephine who wrote the critically acclaimed I, JoanAs each year tugs them further into adulthood and life doesn't pan out quite as they imagined, they struggle to hold on to a friendship that they swore would last a lifetime. Sleepova is an ode to black women, their boundless spirits, and wild dreams.Birds and Bees is a new play by critically acclaimed writer Charlie Josephine (I, Joan, Shakespeare's Globe) and a searing exploration of identity, consent, sex positivity, online safety and intersectionality. Birds and Bees originallylaunched digitally during the 2020 lockdown and was watched by over 500 schools across the UK. In 2023, the script was reworked by Charlie alongside groups of young people, in collaboration with Theatre Centre and Sheffield Theatres ahead of a national tour to theatres and schools.
Ernestine Ashworth spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it's her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st. Five generations, an infinity of dreams, and one cake baked over a century.This poignant and funny play will take you through the highlights, heartbreaks, and extraordinary moments that make up one woman's ordinary life.
A charming devil arrives in the quiet village of Edmonton to bargain for the souls of its residents in exchange for their darkest wishes. Elizabeth should be his easiest target, having been labeled a "witch" and cast out by the town, but her soul is not so readily bought. As the devil returns to convince her - and then returns again - unexpected passions flare, alliances are formed, and the village is forever changed. An inventive retelling of a Jacobean drama, this sharp, subversive fable debates how much our souls are worth when hope is hard to come by.
Arnold Ridley's classic comedy-thriller, The Ghost Train, was first produced in 1925 and has been a firm favourite with professional and non-professional theatre companies ever since. Six passengers find themselves stranded late at night in the waiting-room of an isolated Cornish railway station. Ignoring the ghostly tales and dire warnings of the stationmaster, they decide to stay where they are until morning - with terrifying consequences. Finally, all is revealed and the details of a fiendish plot are laid bare.
Based on the Sunday Times bestseller which inspired one of this century's most treasured films, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel takes us on a journey toIndia with an eclectic group of British retirees as they embark on a new life.The luxury residence is far from the opulence they were promised, but as their lives begin to intertwine, they are charmed in unexpected and life-changing ways.The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a joyous comedy about taking risks, finding love and embracing second chances, even in the most surprising of places.
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