Poetry Books

Book SynopsisSix short plays in two complementary programmes, exploring estrangement and loneliness, moving towards redemption and hope. Inside looks at the lives of three women forgotten by the world, but not by themselves. Guidesky and I by Deborah Bruce When the Daffodils by Joel Tan Ursa Major by Joe White Outside presents three stories of finding connection in the darkness and coming together after so long apart. Two Billion Beats by Sonali Bhattacharyya The Kiss by Zoe Cooper Prodigal by Kalungi Ssebandeke The six plays were first performed at, and livestreamed from, the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, in March 2021.Trade Review'Electrifying... the Orange Tree makes a triumphant return' * Theatre Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThe Crump family is adrift. Widowed Godfrey is under the spell of Sweet Father Divine, while his daughters, Ernestine and Ermina, immerse themselves in Hollywood illusions to escape racial prejudice. But things change when free-spirited Aunt Lily shows up.Trade ReviewImagine a pairing ... between Tennessee Williams and Lorraine Hansberry, a memory play about a black family, a Glass Menagerie in the sun. New York Post; Lynn Nottage has packed so much life, love and history into her panoramic memory play that her use of the word "crumbs" almost seems misguided. No matter how pain-filled and obstacle-ridden this tale of the coming-of-age of an adolescent African-American girl in 1950s Brooklyn might be, what drives this play is the pervasive sense of life as a great and exhilarating feast - a cornucopia of passion, imagination, knowledge, experience and yes, confusion, too. Chicago Sun Times; Lynn Nottage may be one of the most humane playwrights in our contemporary canon. Her plays give breathing space for her characters to find their voices, no matter how constricted their own circumstances may be. Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisMothers who are blissed out. Mothers who are pissed off. Mothers who are great, or grateful, or grating. Mothers who have changed, mothers who can't, mothers who can't even change nappies. Women who aren't mothers. Welcome to the 'hood. The Motherhood Project draws together dramatic monologues and real-life reflections by some of the UK's leading writers, artists and thinkers, and explores all the guilt, joy and absurdity, the regrets, pressures and taboos surrounding motherhood. Contributors: Kalhan Barath, E.V. Crowe, Juno Dawson, Suhayla El Bushra, Jodi Gray, Hannah Khalil, Katherine Kotz, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Siggi Mwasote, Irenosen Okojie, Anya Reiss, Naomi Sheldon, Lemn Sissay, Athena Stevens and Joelle Taylor. The project was produced online in 2021 by Katherine Kotz in association with Drift Studio, and presented in association with Battersea Arts Centre, London.Trade Review'An intimate, powerful portrayal of motherhood's role in society and all of our lives' * The Stage *

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Book SynopsisJohn Kane sits on a hospital trolley. Very shortly, a giant lobster, two women called Mary, a very old man and a jazz percussionist arrive. Then everything starts. Enda Walsh's Medicine is a dark and frequently absurdist play. Devastatingly funny and profoundly moving, it examines how, for decades, we have treated those we call 'mentally ill'. It was first produced by Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival as part of the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival, prior to performances in Galway and New York. It was directed by Enda Walsh, with a cast including Clare Barrett, Aoife Duffin and Domhnall Gleeson, with drummer Seán Carpio. This edition also includes Walsh's play The Same, about two women who meet in a psychiatric institution. Published here for the first time, it was produced by Corcadorca in 2017, and won The Irish Times Irish Theatre Award for Best Play. 'One of the most fiercely individual voices in the theatre today' New York TimesTrade Review'Flamboyant, funny and surreal' * Guardian (on Medicine) *'Taut and energetic, frequently bleak, but shot through with touches of absurdist humour... burns with searing honesty... It's chilling, powerful, and unforgettable' * Whatsonstage (on Medicine) *'A heartbreaking yet hugely energising and thrilling journey through one man's troubled psyche' * Scotsman (on Medicine) *'Takes the stage by storm... It's bizarre, quite extraordinary and mind-boggling' * Broadway Baby (on Medicine) *'Devilishly satirical... cuts disturbingly close to the bone' * Sunday Times (on Medicine) *

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Book Synopsis'It is really small. Whatever it is. But it's here. It's definitely here.' A teenage girl has something growing inside her. She doesn't know what it is, but she knows it's not a baby. It expands. It has claws. Eventually it takes over the entirety of her body. No one must know about it. She has to keep its presence, its possession of her, concealed. She pulls away from her friends. She refuses to speak, in case 'The IT' is heard. But she can't contain it forever. Sooner or later something's got to give... Presented in the style of a direct-address documentary, Vivienne Franzmann's The IT is a darkly comic state-of-the-nation play exploring adolescent mental health and the rage within. Written specifically for young people, the play formed part of the 2021 National Theatre Connections Festivals and was premiered by youth theatres across the UK. It was named Best Play for Young Audiences at the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards 2023. The IT offers opportunities for a large, flexible cast of any size and mix of genders.Trade Review'The standout text [of the Connections festival] for character development, plot and vivid use of language and imagery... perfect for the age of information with an exciting, darkly enticing pace' * Red Pepper magazine *

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Book Synopsis'It's been a year since I died, and still nobody has found me.' Summer, 1827. In a red barn in Suffolk, Maria Marten awaits her lover. A year later, hidden in a grain sack under the floor of the barn, Maria's body is found, barely identifiable - and the manhunt begins. The Red Barn Murder had all the hallmarks of a classic crime drama: a missing body, a country location, a disreputable squire and a village stuck in its age-old traditions. But whilst sending shockwaves throughout the country, Maria's own story was lost. The Ballad of Maria Marten rediscovers her story, bringing it back to vivid, urgent life. Beth Flintoff's thrilling play was first performed by an all-female cast in a production by Eastern Angles in July 2018. Subsequent national tours were produced with Eastern Angles by Matthew Linley Creative Projects in association with the Stephen Joseph Theatre.Trade Review'A glorious piece of folk theatre' * The Times *'The genius of what Beth Flintoff has done is that it is not about the gruesome murder... but the person. Vital, layered and empowered, a beautiful piece of theatre' * A Younger Theatre *'Flintoff restores dignity to Maria... unexpectedly joyous' * Guardian *'Rich and transporting' * The Stage *'A unique and engrossing historical play, perfect for a group of female students... Flintoff's play may be set in the past but it's definitely written to highlight things that we must seek to change in the future. A captivating read' * Drama & Theatre Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'We – artists, thinkers, creators – have a responsibility to communicate the truth of the climate emergency. The world is shape-shifting and our culture must too.' This book is a guide to one hundred brilliant plays addressing the most urgent and important issue of our time: the climate crisis. The plays – drawn from around the world, written by one hundred different writers, and demonstrating a vast span of styles, genres and cast sizes – all speak to an aspect of the climate emergency. Encompassing both famous plays and lesser-known works, the selection includes recent writing that explicitly wrestles with these issues, as well as classic texts in which these resonances now ring out clearly. Each play is explored in a concise essay illuminating key themes, and highlighting its contribution to our understanding of climate issues, with sections including Resources, Energy, Migration, Responsibility, Fightback and Hope. 100 Plays to Save the World is a book to provoke as well as inspire – to start conversations, to inform debate, to challenge our thinking, and to be a launch pad for future productions. It is also an empowering resource for theatre directors, producers, teachers, youth leaders and writers looking for plays that speak to our present moment. Above all, it is a call to arms, to step up, think big, and unleash theatre's power to imagine a better future into being. The book includes a foreword by Daze Aghaji, a leading youth climate justice activist. 'This book is a kind of miracle, a thrilling compendium of plays that speak to the enormous environmental crisis of our time. Freestone and O'Hare have exquisite taste and brilliant analysis, illuminating plays I've never heard of, as well as plays I thought I knew. 100 Plays to Save the World should be required reading for everyone who believes in the power of theatre to move the world; I will certainly never plan a season again without referring to it.' Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director, The Public Theater, New York 'This book is dynamite. Through lively play analysis and accessible environmental know-how, it will galvanise theatre-makers to step up and artists to be heard. Theatre must play its part in the climate fight and this book shows us how.' Kwame Kwei-Armah, Artistic Director, Young Vic Theatre, LondonTrade Review'An invaluable guide that deals with the environmental crisis head-on' * Broadway World *'A fascinating, brutally honest collection of essays demonstrating the power theatre has to predict, dissect and shout about the climate emergency… this book could easily be dry, but it is anything but. It is an engaging and stimulating delve into the breadth of incredible playwriting out there that can contribute to the fight of activists around the world' * Everything Theatre *'An unexpected pleasure... The writing is always cogent but urgent... The list of playwrights is both dazzling and diverse... In addition to finding introductions to unknown plays and reminders of some classics, readers will also learn a great deal about the climate crisis, often viewed from unexpected perspectives... a chilling read that is nevertheless both worthy and worthwhile. It is one of those books that should be put on the desks of government ministers around the world' * British Theatre Guide *'A brilliant selection of options for tackling the climate crisis with drama students… a great read that can kickstart theatrical direction but also provoke debate… each play's inclusion is brilliantly rationalised, and I loved the fact that the appendices have a raft of resources to further explore the subject… presents quick, pragmatic hooks to get you to choose plays beyond the usual, plays to excite, educate and inform in equal measure you and your performers, as well as their audience' * Drama & Theatre magazine *

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Book SynopsisTwo compassionately subversive plays about identity, by Young Jean Lee, a Korean American playwright whose work is groundbreaking, humorous and often thrillingly transgressive. In Straight White Men, it's Christmas Eve, and Ed has gathered his three adult sons to celebrate with matching pyjamas, trash-talking, and Chinese takeaway. But when a question they can't answer interrupts their seasonal cheer, they are forced to confront their own identities. Raucous, surprising and fearless, Straight White Men takes an outside look at the traditional father/son narrative, shedding new light on a story we think we know all too well. It had its UK premiere at Southwark Playhouse, London, in 2021, following US productions including a Broadway run that made Lee the first Asian-American woman to have a play produced on Broadway. In Untitled Feminist Show, six charismatic stars of the theatre, dance, cabaret and burlesque worlds come together in an exhilaratingly irreverent, nearly wordless celebration of a fluid and limitless sense of identity. Untitled Feminist Show isn't a show about feminism – it is a feminist show. It premiered at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, in 2012 before transferring to the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. 'Young Jean Lee is, hands down, the most adventurous downtown playwright of her generation' New York TimesTrade Review'Young Jean Lee's Untitled Feminist Show is one of the more moving and imaginative works I have ever seen on the American stage… what makes it so transcendent is its delicious ability to alternate the pain of being different with a sense of humor about lives not lived among the status quo' * New Yorker *'The twisty, turbulent, argumentative work of Young Jean Lee… will make you flinch, but it's hard to look away… Lee has always been interested in exposing how we perform our identities. But in Straight White Men, she drills into something more core. Shuck off, subvert, cleave to your gender or race all you like, but a universal horror of weakness remains – a collective orientation toward status, power, control' * New York Times *'A timely identity study that gives a powerful critique of 21st-century white male psychology' * Guardian on Straight White Men *'Funny, well-observed, often surprisingly gentle, and refreshingly nuanced' * Evening Standard on Straight White Men *'A subtly judged balancing act, an often fascinating blend of absurdism and realism' * The Stage on Straight White Men *'Hilarious and probing satire' * Arts Desk on Straight White Men *

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Book Synopsis'Dear Miss Tweetwell, the ladder is where I live. For at the top lies reputation and wealth and at the bottom: ignominy and squalor.' When noble heroine Miss Phoebe Virtue receives worrisome news on Instagram that her twin brother Jack may be endangering his reputation in London Town, she decides she must visit herself, and investigate... Set in contemporary, post-pandemic London, full of illicit sex, political hypocrisy and the machinations of a fame-hungry elite, Scandaltown is a comedy for the new Restoration of the theatres. Mike Bartlett's play was first produced by the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, in association with Fictional Company, at the Lyric in April 2022, directed by Artistic Director Rachel O'Riordan. '[Mike Bartlett] is one of the prime movers in a new golden generation of British playwrights' Independent Trade Review'A rambunctious, modern-day Restoration comedy... a springtime pantomime with knowing humour, smut, silliness and arch references to the hypocrisies of the state... joyfully silly stuff' * Guardian *'Laugh-out-loud funny... the mashup of Restoration cadences and modern argot is spot on' * Evening Standard *'Extremely funny... Bartlett's writing is always clever and lively, and he hits his targets' * WhatsOnStage *'A lot of fun... Bartlett has a knack for verse, and turns out Restoration-inspired insults for his characters to chuck at each other... really smart... full of nice gags' * Time Out *'A cheeky, boisterous contemporary comedy of manners... Scandaltown is big... Bartlett puts hypocrisy and fictitiousness on display, gorging on the shock still carried by immorality today... filled to the brim with one-liners and throwaway wit' * Broadway World *

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Book SynopsisIt's Christmas Eve. As the cold, bleak night draws in, the penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge is confronted by the spirit of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. Bound in chains as punishment for a lifetime of greed, the unearthly figure explains it isn't too late for Scrooge to change his miserly ways in order to escape the same fate. But first he'll have to face three more eerie encounters... Mark Gatiss' spine-tingling adaptation is faithful to the heart and spirit of Charles Dickens' much-loved festive ghost story – with an emphasis on the ghostly. Commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse, the adaptation premiered there in 2021, starring Nicholas Farrell alongside Gatiss, and directed by the theatre's Artistic Director, Adam Penford. A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story subsequently transferred to Alexandra Palace Theatre, London, produced by Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Eilene Davidson Productions.Trade Review'Fabulous... irresistibly theatrical... Gatiss has pulled off a clever trick... a big, bold, inventive, yet remarkably faithful staging of Dickens's evergreen opus' * Telegraph *'Gatiss's script is surprisingly faithful... remind[ing] us of the inherent theatricality in Dickens's storytelling... Gatiss also includes Dickens's dark comedy that is so often overlooked... a clever twist and a great surge in festive feeling' * Guardian *'Superb... spooky and darkly funny... puts a smile on your face' * The Times *'Transports us with its magical stream of verbal and visual narratives... Gatiss's adaptation keeps much of the original text of the well-known classic story yet brings it even more alive by blending in deft verbal brushstrokes of natural language fashioned with such a keen ear for story-telling that he never loses the sense of history' * Whatsonstage *'Mark Gatiss gives us his own interpretation that demonstrates there are still new ways of looking at Dickens's 1843 novella... a slick, clever, uplifting production' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book SynopsisFive ambitious and exciting plays by the multi-award-winning playwright, hailed as ‘one of the prime movers in a new golden generation of British playwrights’ (Independent), and introduced by the author. Earthquakes in London (National Theatre & Headlong, 2010) is an epic drama about climate change, population explosion, social breakdown and worldwide paranoia, travelling from 1968 to 2525 and back again. ‘The theatrical equivalent of a thrilling roller-coaster ride’ (Daily Telegraph) Love, Love, Love (Paines Plough & Drum Theatre Plymouth, UK tour, 2010; Royal Court & Paines Plough, 2012) examines the baby boomer generation, from coming-of-age in the 1960s to retirement-age more than forty years later, in a play that ‘does the clash of generational world views with a devastating precision’ (Guardian). The Enemy is a short play in which a journalist seizes an opportunity to interview the man who shot Osama bin Laden. It was staged by Headlong as part of Decade (St Katherine’s Dock, London, 2011), exploring 9/11 and its legacy. 13 (National Theatre, 2011) is a panoramic drama in which a young man returns to London, a city riven by social protest and upheaval, with a radical vision for the future. Premiered on the National’s largest stage, it confirmed Bartlett’s ability to tackle epic themes with supreme assurance: ‘His ambition is distinctive and immense’ (Evening Standard). Medea (Headlong, UK tour, 2012) is a startlingly modern version of Euripides’ tragedy, exploring a woman’s private fury at her husband’s infidelity, while imprisoned in her marital home. ‘A savage play for today, superbly well done’ (Mail on Sunday)

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Book Synopsis'To be honest with you, before I went secondary school I thought that the kids they would be like really mature and like by the time I reached Year Ten I'd be fully mature and everything. And I'd lose my like funsense and stuff... But, I don't know if it's just my class in particular but we really haven't matured at all... I don't want to be the serious adult and have serious children and have serious future in a serious house and serious everything.' Alecky Blythe's engrossing verbatim play tells the stories of a generation. Created from five years of interviews with twelve young people from across the UK, Our Generation is a captivating portrait of their teenage years as they journey into adulthood. Often too extraordinary to be fiction, this funny and moving play is for anyone who is – or has ever been – a teenager. It was co-produced by the National Theatre, London, and Chichester Festival Theatre in 2022, directed by Daniel Evans.Trade Review'Extraordinary... shines a light on a generation dealt a spectacularly bad hand... a terrific piece of work' * Evening Standard *'Magnificent... masterful... will steal your heart' * Guardian *'Dazzling... a beautiful and funny journey through twelve young people's lives... The dialogue in this extraordinary state-of-the-nation play is comic gold dust... Through a dynamic distilling of her ongoing encounters with these young people, Blythe and her team respect and explore each of them as individuals... It's a thrill to spend time inside these young people's lives; it's hard to imagine getting so close to these characters without the immersive documentary-style process that Blythe has honed over several plays... eye-opening, generous and brilliantly inventive' * Time Out *'Thrilling... a frank, fond tribute to the agony and ecstasy of generation Snapchat' * Daily Telegraph *'An extraordinary show... we grow to love these kids, fear for them, celebrate with them, laugh and cry with them' * Broadway World *'Wise, beguiling, hilarious and gut-punchingly moving: a living portrait of adolescence, in all its overwhelming intensity... supremely lovable' * iNews *

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Book Synopsis'Our wars may come in many forms. On the battlefields. Within ourselves.' Mahatma Gandhi: lawyer, champion of non-violence, beloved leader. Nathuram Godse: journalist, nationalist – and the man who murdered him. Anupama Chandrasekhar's play The Father and the Assassin traces Godse's life over thirty years during India's fight for independence: from a devout follower of Gandhi, through to his radicalisation and their tragic final encounter in Delhi in 1948. An essential exploration of oppression and extremism, this gripping play opened to critical acclaim at the National Theatre, London, in May 2022, directed by Indhu Rubasingham – and was revived there the following year. It was a finalist for the 2022-23 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.Trade Review'Exhilarating... big, bold political history that commands the National Theatre's largest stage... Chandrasekhar artfully unpicks the forces of history with a tale of violence and colonialism that echoes into today' * Guardian *'A terrific, stirring new play. It is both epic and easy, filling the stage with the sweep of history but, more importantly, with an engaging play of ideas... a play full of humour and humanity as well as analytical thought' * WhatsOnStage *'Blackly hilarious... a brilliantly entertaining historical drama... a tremendous piece of writing, and very, very funny' * Time Out *'Epic but accessible... sharply incisive... viscerally affecting' * The Stage *'Colourful, ambitious, fast-paced storytelling' * Arts Desk *'A lavish political thriller and a riveting psychodrama... punchy and electrifying... a majestic theatrical tapestry' * Broadway World *'Fascinating and topical' * Telegraph *'Bold and invigorating theatre... a timely look at the way an idealistic young man can change aspirations and turn to murder' * British Theatre Guide *'Extraordinary... historical theatre at its best, magnificent, and gripping, subtly condensing history into a two-hour tale that educates and entertains' * British Theatre *

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Book Synopsis'The smaller you are, the quicker your heart beats. But it doesn't matter what size your heart is, we all only get an average of about two billion beats over our lifetime. It's just a pump at the end of the day, right?' Seventeen-year-old Asha is a rebel, inspired by historical revolutionaries and unafraid of pointing out the hypocrisy around her – but less sure how to actually dismantle it. Her younger sister, Bettina, wide-eyed and naive, is just trying to get through the school day without having her pocket money nicked. With essays to write, homework to do, and bus journeys home, the two sisters meet every afternoon, outside the school gates, to tackle the injustice of the world. Sonali Bhattacharyya's play Two Billion Beats is an insightful, heartfelt coming-of-age story and a blazing account of inner-city, British-Asian teenage life. It was originally presented in the Inside/Outside season, livestreamed from the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, before receiving a production there in this full-length version in 2022, directed by Nimmo Ismail.Trade Review'In Bhattacharyya's entertaining play, two teenage sisters negotiate the battlefield of school while learning about the political battlefields of the past' * The Stage on Two Billion Beats as part of Inside/Outside *'A bold, passionate play about family conflict and the legacy of historic ideologies... Bhattacharyya's dialogue is beautifully nuanced' * LondonTheatre1 *

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Book Synopsis'It's not a game for gentlemen we're playing, Political and civilized. This is Historic' 2024. As America goes to the polls, democracy itself is on the brink. Who takes the White House – and at what cost? Mike Bartlett's viciously funny and foreboding The 47th is a dazzling glimpse into the underbelly of the greatest political show on earth: the US presidential race. It was first produced at The Old Vic, London, in March 2022 by The Old Vic, Sonia Friedman Productions and Annapurna Theatre, directed by Rupert Goold, and featuring Bertie Carvel as Donald J. Trump, Tamara Tunie as Kamala Harris, and Lydia Wilson as Ivanka Trump.Trade Review'Gripping... relentlessly enthralling... a wilfully audacious drama... and my god it's entertaining: the plot grips mercilessly... tremendous' * Time Out *'Mike Bartlett's satire blends billionaire pomp with political chicanery, dynastic family drama and blank verse... the play sparkles with delightful lines' * Guardian *'Utterly, utterly gripping... the serious imaginative heft of Bartlett's writing is thrilling... both fascinating and frightening... sensational... a knockout punch' * WhatsOnStage *'Exceptionally entertaining' * Broadway World *'Taps into the heightened, malevolent energy of the Trump years in a fantastical account of the US presidential election campaign to come in 2024' * The Stage *'A picture of US politics drawn broadly but boldly with all the skullduggery of its Shakespearean prototypes... a rich mix of comic and serious... unpredictable, totally engrossing, and also very funny' * British Theatre Guide *'A riff on Shakespearean tragedy with a punchy contemporary angle... Mike Bartlett has crafted an epic' * Independent *'Funny, outrageous… seduces us into a twilight zone of gulping speculation' * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisMeet Ashraf and his 'Habibti' – his daughter Shazia. He's an Egyptian, Muslim taxi driver; she's half-Egyptian, half-Wiganese, and more interested in the last call at the bar than the call to prayer. Their relationship is put to the test when Ashraf introduces Shazia to his new Egyptian bride, whilst she is attempting to break the news of her own secret engagement. In Ashraf's taxi they must navigate driving lessons, sing karaoke and explore whether, despite their differences, family can win out regardless. Habibti Driver is a heartwarming and hilarious play, based on Shamia Chalabi's real-life experiences and co-written with Sarah Henley, exploring the clashes, compromises and comedy that come with living in a mixed-culture family in today's Britain. First performed in an earlier version – Burkas and Bacon Butties – at the VAULT Festival, London, this revised, full-length version premiered at the Octagon Theatre Bolton in April 2022, co-produced with Tara Finney Productions.Trade Review'A delight... real heart and real laughs... Habibti Driver will connect with every audience member regardless of their background' * Bolton News *'An endearing comedy that negotiates the minefield of political and religious sensitivities with skill' * Reviews Hub *'An unapologetically camp comedy with plenty of personality' * Manchester Evening News *'A heart-warming, quick witted and intelligent play that will leave you wanting more' * ManchesterTheatres.com *'Warm-hearted and funny... brims with authentic detail' * The Stage *

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Book Synopsis'It's always bad luck for a woman to be on board... no offence.' Corrina, following in her seafaring father's footsteps, boards a cargo ship set for Singapore. Not everyone is pleased to have her aboard – and not everyone will make it to their final destination. Set in the claustrophobic cabins and corridors of a container ship at sea, Chloë Moss's play Corrina, Corrina is a story of power dynamics, superstitions and revenge, exploring what happens when we think no one is watching. This gripping thriller premiered at Liverpool Everyman in 2022, as a co-production between Headlong and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse, directed by Holly Race Roughan.Trade Review'A finely wrought psychological drama exploring more than just life on the high seas... A gripping piece of theatre that approaches its subject matter with bold, compelling realism' * The Stage *'Thought-provoking, compelling and atmospheric' * The Times *'A pressure-cooker drama on the high seas... powerfully conveys the trials of being a woman in a macho environment' * Telegraph *'Compelling and claustrophobic... a persuasive and very powerful piece of theatre' * Arts City Liverpool *

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Book Synopsis'Three options, as I see it – they'll kill it off entirely, you'll let it die of natural causes, I'm going to make it live again.' When the owner of a Sheffield scissor manufacturer dies, the future of the factory site falls into uncertainty. Can it be reborn as a fashionable music venue, converted into luxury apartments, or somehow reinvigorated so the old business can survive? There's more than just money or bricks and mortar at stake. It's about knowing where you fit in the world – knowing that somewhere there's still a place for you. Fresh, funny and heartfelt, Rock / Paper / Scissors are three intricately interwoven plays by Chris Bush about family, heritage and legacy. They were first performed simultaneously with the same cast moving between three theatres in Sheffield – the Crucible, the Lyceum and the Studio – as part of Sheffield Theatres' fiftieth birthday celebrations in 2022. While the three plays can be enjoyed separately, they also offer a uniquely rewarding opportunity for any company looking to take on the challenge of staging them together.Trade Review'The biggest theatrical event this year, and you'd be hard pushed to recall a better one' * WhatsOnStage *'An audacious, sharp-edged trilogy... exhilarating in its ambition... intertwines comedy, romance and political rage to dazzling effect' * Guardian *'A technical and artistic triumph – an incredible achievement... Chris Bush is quickly becoming one of the country's most prolific playwrights, and she's imbued these stories with the kind of heart and warmth we've come to expect from her work... Part of the thrill is watching how all three plays intermesh seamlessly, where any unforeseen delay or error could have a knock-on effect that would be disastrous for the other productions. The scale of Rock / Paper / Scissors only really becomes clear at the end. Having watched these characters develop over the course of eight hours, you realise you're going to really miss spending time with them' * The Stage *'Spectacular – and incandescent... Though any one of the plays could stand alone, watching them all on the same day is thrilling... the productions are precision-tooled, the relationships intricately interlocked... Bush's writing combines slashes of sharp, salty wit with an embracing, warm humanity, and a gimlet-eyed perspicuity about what we most value and why... The dialogue zings and crackles... a triumphant ensemble piece' * iNews *'Startling, challenging, outrageous' * British Theatre Guide *'A theatrical first... a daring coup de théâtre... a technical and thespian triumph... bursts with artistic merit, no glorified gimmick... it genuinely is more than the sum of its parts... Chris Bush has in her sights nothing less than the future of post-industrial England, as refracted through a fictional local story... it all sharpens to a point in Scissors where the wit flies with the welder sparks and the piece asks urgent, political questions about the gulf between the generations and the future of work... theatre's outlook is rosy if it lies in such ambitious hands as these. Triple fist-bump to one and all' * Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'Maybe gender is like life? And like time too? In that it doesn't actually exist, and yet our world revolves around the expectations we put on it.' Starting in the quaint days of dial-up and MSN, Happy Meal is a funny, moving and nostalgic story of transition, following two initial strangers on their journeys from teen to adult; from MySpace to TikTok; from cis to trans... Tabby Lamb's joyful trans rom-com was directed by Jamie Fletcher and produced by Roots and Theatre Royal Plymouth, with ETT and Oxford Playhouse, on a UK tour in 2022, including a run at the Traverse Theatre during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it won a Fringe First Award.Trade Review'Endearing and playful... takes its place alongside iconic romcom classics at Edinburgh's Traverse, from David Greig's Midsummer to Liz Lochhead's Perfect Days... It makes your heart go hoppity-hop... a moreish and irresistible show that takes us to a very happy place indeed' * The Stage *'Generous and warm-hearted... a lovely, smart piece, written with great honesty and full of terrific dialogue... sharply funny, but also instinctively truthful' * WhatsOnStage *'Delightful... both a sweet comedy and an astute exploration of digital relationships and gender identity' * Guardian *'A simple one-hour tale of young love made complicated by society's attitudes to shifting gender... fine and touching' * Scotsman *'Captivating... the voice of a generation... leaves audiences with a Cheshire grin that doesn't leave their faces for hours after watching' * Reviews Hub *'Rapturous... wise, tender and joyous' * Fest Mag *

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Book Synopsis'In the morning they'll shut the streets, roll the tanks in and begin the arrests. Everyone who tries to leave will be taken in for days, weeks, years. If I don't board the flight tonight, I'll be here forever.' Middle-aged, middle-management Dasha is ordered to quell the anti-government protests in her factory in Belarus by firing sixty workers. Her only escape is a one-way ticket to the US, but as she prepares to flee, she cannot escape memories of her rebellious youth resisting the Soviets. As her country heads to the polls, Dasha must make a decision… The Anarchist is a gripping, timely and deeply moving play, which won the inaugural Woven Voices Prize for migrant playwrights. It was first performed during the Footprints Festival at Jermyn Street Theatre, London, in 2022, directed by Ebenezer Bamgboye. Originally from Kazakhstan, Karina Wiedman lived in Russia and Belarus before moving to the UK. The Anarchist is her first play. 'A beautifully written play for our times' Jatinder Verma, Chair of the Woven Voices Prize judging panelTrade Review'Wiedman's award-winning play is a gripping exploration of youthful politicisation and the grinding down of those beliefs over a lifetime of disillusion and betrayal... migrant voices like Wiedman's need to be heard' * Reviews Hub *'Has a diary-like intimacy, lit up by vivid details and an innocent sense of humour... Powerful and beautifully layered... an open-hearted and moving piece of writing' * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'History always ripples on. Even if we don't realise it.' In the Downing Street Press Office an emergency meeting has been called. The Prime Minister has been ad-libbing on live TV (again) and his words are going viral. There is a flurry of accusations, and demands for an apology; but as his team debate what to do next, it's already too late. His words have found their way to dinner parties, bus journeys and newspaper columns across the nation – and not everyone is angry. Rabiah Hussain's play Word-Play explores how language seeps into public consciousness and reverberates with far-reaching consequences that will last for generations. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs, London, in July 2023, directed by Nimmo Ismail.Trade Review'A fascinating new play exploring the insidious potential of bland language... skewers a particularly British kind of bigotry... there's so much about this play that'll stick in your throat: a reminder that words can wound, however bland they might sound' * Time Out *'Playful, thoughtful, and deliciously up-to-the-minute... Often hilarious, sometimes moving, this play about how words matter has a cumulative power' * Evening Standard *'Amusing and boldly, excitingly experimental... Hussain's script shines in sudden moments of lyrical outrage' * Guardian *'Audacious, incisive and emotive' * The Upcoming *'A turbo-charged lesson in minding your language... thought-provoking and explosive' * Metro *

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Book Synopsis'You told me you loved me, once. You said you carried me. You remember that? You still carry me? Or did you drop me, somewhere along the line?' A chance encounter at an AA meeting and they're drawn to one another. Then later, once they're drinking again, they both have this almost-feeling that they might have met before – could even have been together, sometime in the past... They should really get sober together and figure it all out: that would be a worthwhile project. Maybe they will. Just after one last drink... A compassionate and unflinching study of love, addiction and memory, Joe White's play Blackout Songs was first performed at Hampstead Theatre, London, in November 2022, directed by Guy Jones.Trade Review'A dark, witty, indispensable drama... saturated with a gut-wrenching sense of how far alcohol addiction can plunge people, but lit up by flashes of humour... amply confirms the promise [of Joe White's] debut Mayfly' * Telegraph *'Brave and original writing, hard-edged and unsentimental one minute, heart-meltingly warm the next. A funny kind of romantic tragedy that becomes compulsive to watch' * Guardian *'Dark, witty yet truthful... A compelling watch that carefully unpicks ideas about pain and art, co-dependency and whether you can truly know someone whilst both are under the influence' * WhatsOnStage *'A devastating study of love and alcoholism... pulls no punches... spellbinding... razor sharp dialogue' * Reviews Hub *'Gut-churning... a stumbling odyssey through a mutually destructive relationship... has a sour tang of authenticity... there's a savage hilarity to the dialogue, which is as sharp and jagged as smashed glass' * The Stage *'A tender study of the boundaries between desire and addiction... White tackles boldly weighty themes, but his touch is light and crisp. His writing is layered with wit and irreverent humour whilst buttressed with searing curiosity and immense compassion' * Broadway World *'Impressive... a spiky tragicomedy whose jagged, nonlinear style is accompanied by whiplash shifts in mood... The impact couldn't be stronger, prompting the best sort of guessing game about where the play might end up next' * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis'Let's just talk until it goes.' The average person will speak 123,205,750 words in a lifetime. But what if there were a limit? Oliver and Bernadette are about to find out. Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons Lemons is a tender and funny rom-com about what we say, how we say it, and what happens when we can't say anything any more. This special edition of Sam Steiner's hilarious and provocative play – featuring a revised text, plus an introduction by the author – was published alongside a major revival in 2023 performed at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End, as well as at Manchester Opera House and Theatre Royal Brighton. It was directed by Josie Rourke and starred Jenna Coleman and Aidan Turner. The play was first performed at Warwick Arts Centre in 2015, and won three Judges' Awards at the National Student Drama Festival before appearing at Latitude Festival, Camden People's Theatre in London, and several runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was a hit with both audiences and critics. It has since been performed around the world, is widely studied and has been translated into multiple languages.Trade Review'A beautiful play about the beauty and preciousness of language' * Time Out *'Takes the can opener to a typical opposites-attract romcom in order to explore wider issues of democracy and free speech' * Guardian *'An accomplished debut… bright, light and sharp - a rom-com with smarts' * WhatsOnStage *'A masterpiece of beautiful simplicity' * Broadway Baby *'[A] taut two-hander… intriguing and original… [a] complex piece of theatre' * FestMag *'Marvellously wide-ranging… truly experimental and unique… a must-see' * A Younger Theatre *

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Book Synopsis'The difference between death and extinction is this: death is to cease to exist. Extinction is to extinguish. I think of death as individual. Extinction is collective.' Naomi belongs to a theatre company that has made a play especially for you, who are living through extinction. The actors haven't shown up yet, but in the meantime Naomi has a plan. Part ritual, part battle cry, A Play for the Living in a Time of Extinction is an innovative one-woman show exploring what it means to be human in an era of ecological disaster. Miranda Rose Hall's darkly funny, life-affirming play received its 2023 British premiere in a Headlong and Barbican co-production, directed by Katie Mitchell. A bold experiment in eco-theatremaking, it was powered entirely by bicycles. After opening at London's Barbican, it embarked on a 'zero-travel' tour: the play journeyed to other venues around the UK, whilst the people and materials did not. The play had been first produced at Baltimore Center Stage in 2021, and was a finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.Trade Review'Transfixing, sobering and haunting' * Telegraph *'A new vision for touring theatre' * WhatsOnStage *'Thoughtful and provocative... a pioneering eco-production that is streets ahead of the pack' * Evening Standard *'Stripped-back theatre that is, at times, sharply funny as it takes aim at the dazzle of form over substance in the "worthiest" productions' * The Stage *'Gut-churningly powerful... searingly effective' * Time Out *'An elegy to what has gone and to what is about to go' * Reviews Hub *'Powerfully cathartic' * Broadway World *

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Book Synopsis'We're dying of manners. We're under siege from personal embarrassment. This is not sane. This is not rational. That woman is a monster!' While on holiday, Peter and Debbie befriend Elsa: a lusty, Trump-loving widow from Denver, USA. She's less than woke but kind of wonderful. They agree to stay in touch – because no one ever really does, do they? When Elsa invites herself to stay a few months later, they decide to look her up online. Too late, they learn the truth about Elsa Jean Krakowski. Deadly danger has just boarded a flight to London! But how do you protect all that you love from mortal peril without seeming, well, a bit impolite? Because guess who's coming... to murder! Steven Moffat's play The Unfriend takes a hilarious and satirical look at middle-class England's disastrous instinct always to appear nice. It was first performed at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, in 2022, before transferring to London's West End – first to the Criterion Theatre, then to Wyndham's – in 2023. Steven Moffat is an award-winning writer whose internationally successful television shows include Doctor Who, Sherlock and Dracula – the latter two co-written with actor and writer Mark Gatiss, who made his stage directorial debut with The Unfriend.Trade Review'Steven Moffat has skilfully crafted one of the funniest plays to be seen on stage in a very long time... pure comedy gold... a comedy of manners that niftily speeds along and is full of outrageous humour... never anything except laugh-out-loud funny... a killer comedy to die for' * WhatsOnStage *'Effortlessly entertaining... The action is line-by-line funny and an apt commentary on English middle-class manners... Moffat may be the new Ayckbourn' * Telegraph *'A hilarious dark comedy of good manners... a tour de force of toilet farce, proper gut-busting stuff' * The Stage *'A cringe-tastic play of exquisite embarrassment... worthy of a place in the macabre comedy series Inside No 9' * Guardian *'Boasts a ruthlessly efficient devotion to the punchline and a relentless urgency in ratcheting up the awkward tension. Every second or third line of this farcical modern comedy of manners is a gag... The premise is brilliant in its simplicity and hugely effective in its laugh-filled execution' * Chortle *'A much-needed, riotous bit of fun... an uproarious comedy of English embarrassment... a relentlessly snowballing orgy of cringe and discomfiture... a delight' * Evening Standard *'Hits the funny bone with a welcome twang' * The Times *

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Book SynopsisMary has just been released from prison. She wants to come home and forget all about it – but Briana has other ideas. Over two tumultuous days, a family is forced to confront not only their past, but everything about themselves. Because the truth doesn't go away, even if you refuse to hear it. A powerful story of family and forgiveness, Deborah Bruce's play Dixon and Daughters was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in April 2023, directed by Róisín McBrinn and co-produced with Clean Break.Trade Review'A powerful piece of drama that has us leaning forward eagerly in our seats. Bruce creates a beguiling quality of understated intrigue... poised and compelling' * iNews *'A challenging and insightful piece exploring the connection between domestic abuse and the criminalisation of women... Bruce's keenly observed dialogue is vivid and raw, lifted by moments of grim humour' * The Stage *'Potent... a different kind of haunted house drama, one that builds from slow beginnings to something disturbing and memorable... Bruce's writing deftly scratches out the outlines of these abrasive, damaged, strange women... Each one has a real arc and journey... impressive and powerful' * Time Out *'Fiery and intriguing... Bruce has a great ear for dialogue... [the characters] all get great, laugh-out-loud lines and grandstanding emotional moments... lots to admire and enjoy' * Evening Standard *'Powerful... Bruce's script is frank, funny, and sad' * Broadway World *'An involving examination of exactly why women continue to suffer in silence, in homes where they should feel safe... an authenticity that cannot be questioned... it has the tang of truth as well as the tension of drama' * WhatsOnStage *'A comic domestic noir with both humour and horror... beneath its apparent simplicity runs a complex dynamic between family members and cyclically repeated abuse or trauma that feels as genuine as it is tragic' * Guardian *'A compelling jet-black comedy with a central figure who's at once perturbing and interestingly flawed, loaded with contradiction' * Telegraph *'Raises important issues about family life... extremely moving... gradually creates a sense of compassionate engagement with the victims of harassment and abuse... truthful and authentic' * Arts Desk *'Powerful... an important and timely play. Harrowing, but full of love as much as it is full of fear, a rousing study in female resilience' * West End Best Friend *

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Book Synopsis'It was never about the Reich or the war. It was about physics.' Summer 1945. Hitler is dead, but the war in the Pacific rages on. When six of Germany's top nuclear scientists – including three Nobel Prize winners – are detained by Allied forces at a stately home in the Cambridgeshire countryside, they find themselves shut off from the outside world. Their only distractions are board games, a broken piano and a copy of Blithe Spirit. But as the months go by, their attention turns to the ongoing war and thoughts of their broken homeland. The scientists' tranquil summer is shattered by the inconceivable news that the Americans have succeeded where the Germans have failed: the United States has not only built an atomic bomb, but they have used one against Japan. Katherine Moar's captivating debut play Farm Hall dramatises the true story recorded inside the bugged walls of the actual Farm Hall between July 1945 and January 1946. It was premiered at Jermyn Street Theatre, London, in March 2023, before transferring to the Theatre Royal Bath, directed by Stephen Unwin.Trade Review'A riveting drama that unravels like an intelligent thriller whose ending we know but is nail-biting nonetheless... packed with learning but never shows off... a punchy, accomplished play' * Guardian *'A thoroughly absorbing series of vignettes' * The Times *'Riveting... a writer to watch' * Daily Mail *'Complex and fascinating' * The Stage *'A surprising black comedy with a provocative philosophical background... Moar explores [the characters'] remorse - or lack thereof - with subtle humour... beautifully written with a sophisticated use of language... an excellent debut: interesting, well-written, thought-provoking, and sheds light on a slice of history that's rarely discussed' * Broadway World *'Like a Nobel Prize-heavy version of Celebrity Big Brother' * Reviews Hub *'Gripping... With its mix of moral dilemmas and possible revelations, it feels like the real thing' * British Theatre Guide *'Excellent... a captivating dramatic thriller based on a fascinating true story' * Everything Theatre *'Subtle, thoughtful new plays are rare. This is one' * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisIn May 1926, Britain grinds to a halt, as workers down tools for the General Strike. With the printing presses shut down, the only sources of news are the government's British Gazette, edited by Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston Churchill, and the independent, fledgling British Broadcasting Company, led by John Reith. The stage is set for a fierce battle over control of the news and who gets to define the truth. Jack Thorne's When Winston Went To War With The Wireless is a gripping play about the birth of a great British institution and its efforts to stay impartial. It premiered at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in June 2023, directed by Katy Rudd, with Stephen Campbell Moore as Reith, Adrian Scarborough as Churchill, and Haydn Gwynne as Stanley Baldwin. 'Jack Thorne never ceases to stimulate and entertain' Evening StandardTrade Review'Utterly compelling' * The Times *'Wily and fascinating... the script teems with detail... glows with affection for the idea and the ideals of early radio... Alongside acute sideswipes at police violence, the restriction of the right to strike or protest, and Tory infighting, Thorne has tremendous, debunking fun with his main characters... a fascinating reminder of how history repeats itself, usually as comedy' * Evening Standard *'Gripping... a riveting, resonant play' * Financial Times *'A fascinating segment of history... the play creates a shimmering sense of the past... Thorne triumphantly uses real history to create a compelling drama that is both amusing, touching and revealing' * WhatsOnStage *'A steel-coated document of the icy political waltz between the BBC and Winston Churchill... what is it to control truth and speak truth to power?' * Broadway World *'Pacy and evocative... the stagecraft dazzles' * Guardian *'Fascinating... Jack Thorne is a one-man writing powerhouse' * iNews *'A joyful celebration of the BBC... vividly evokes the Corporation's giddy early days' * Telegraph *'Enthralling... magical... plenty of humour... a fascinating glimpse at two men who have shaped the history of this country' * Theatre Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'In today's world, errybody got a story. It's overwhelming. How! The humanity! O! Everywhere, someone appealing to yo sense of… empathy.' Tambo and Bones are stuck in a minstrel show. It's hard to know what's real when you're stuck in a minstrel show. Their escape plan: get out, get rich, get even. A daring theatrical exploration of the intersection of race, capitalism and performance, Dave Harris's play Tambo & Bones laughs through our past, blows the roof off our present, and imagines an explosive future for our world and for theatre. Tambo & Bones was commended in the 2019 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, and was first performed in a co-production between Playwrights Horizons, New York City, and Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles, in 2022. It was first produced in the UK in 2023 by Theatre Royal Stratford East, London, and Actors Touring Company, directed by Matthew Xia.Trade Review'Blistering… sobering… lacerating stage poetry' * New York Magazine *'A racially charged metatheatrical satire and "rags-to riches hip-hop odyssey" by slam poet turned playwright Dave Harris' * Time Out New York *'Not your typical play about race... Harris has created a hallucinogenic collage in which ideas about protest and history, art and moneymaking tumble over each other' * The Times *'Provocative and like nothing you've ever seen... an unapologetic vision of America's racial history – combining elements of minstrelsy, hip hop and afrofuturism... darkly funny and downright disturbing' * Telegraph *'Entertaining and unnerving... packs a potent message while toying with the conventions of theatre itself' * The Stage *'A loud, provocative confrontation of the US's muddy racial history... form-shifting and endlessly surprising... the final scene is one of the most affecting I have seen on stage. Unique, challenging and oh-so necessary, it is a moment that will stay with you long after the play's close' * Guardian *'Unpredictably bonkers... a cluster bomb of a play... Harris' lyrical but deadly sharp writing is totally disarming, it uses and abuses theatrical form with iconoclastic brutality' * Broadway World *'I guarantee that you will never have seen a play like this!!... a marvellous piece of theatre... superbly written: VERY funny, then suddenly very shocking... by far the best new American play I have seen for years: it really has to be experienced' * LondonTheatre1 *'Daring and layered... hard-hitting... such a powerful, exciting piece of theatre... a stellar work of art' * All That Dazzles *'Funny, filthy, and often gleefully ridiculous... a vivid, bone-crunchingly intimate joyride of a show... a blast' * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisJacq and Kas's boutique restaurant has gone bust, and telling their oldest friends Adaego and her rich husband Tobin that his investment is toast is only the start of the evening. Cash, class, identity and infidelity are all on the menu. As the last of the expensive wine flows, a dangerous drinking game reveals long-hidden truths and provokes an unspeakable dare. Never Have I Ever is an explosive, savagely funny play which brilliantly skewers the contradictions of contemporary society, and the shifting sands of power and sexual politics. It premiered at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, in 2023, directed by Emma Butler and starring Alex Roach, Amit Shah, Greg Wise and Susan Wokoma. Deborah Frances-White is a comedian, screenwriter and host of the global hit podcast The Guilty Feminist. This is her first play. '[Deborah Frances-White's] mixture of wit, fallibility and inclusivity is immensely appealing' Sunday Times on The Guilty Feminist 'Hilarious, irreverent, eternally surprising, classy as hell, genius' Phoebe Waller-BridgeTrade Review'Frances-White has scored a bullseye... a rollicking new comedy that turns into a blistering interrogation of friendship, relationships, wealth and identity politics... savagely funny... The humour zings from the start... Deliciously scabrous lines abound... a West End transfer should surely beckon' * iNews *'Sharply funny... a gagfest' * Observer *'A broad comedy for our fractious times... a blessedly rare example of a play that doesn't simply regurgitate conventional wisdoms about race, gender and class. Frances-White dares to think forbidden thoughts... A drama that will send you out into the night, arguing and laughing' * The Times *'Entertaining fare with some zinging lines... eminently watchable... Frances-White's fans will lap this up' * Guardian *'A salty, volatile cross between Indecent Proposal and a satanic edition of Come Dine with Me. The cast beautifully judge those moments when the joke curdles and teeth are bared. Exhilarating fun' * Sunday Times *'Screamingly funny' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book Synopsis'We could stop here. We could stay here. It's not so bad, is it?' Kim is having one of those days. A terrible, very bad, no-good kind of day, and the worst part is… it all feels so familiar. Caught up in a never-ending cycle of events, she looks for the exit but the harder she tries, the worse it gets and she begins to wonder: who's writing this story? She makes a break for it, smashing through a hundred years of bloody narratives that all end the same way. Can she find a way out before it's too late? With breathless hilarity, Kimber Lee's untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play jumps through time, wriggling inside of and then exploding lifetimes of repeating Asian stereotypes, wrestling with history for the right to control your own narrative in a world that thinks it can tell you who you are. Winner of the International Award for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2019, the play was co-produced in 2023 by the Royal Exchange, Factory International for Manchester International Festival, the Young Vic Theatre and Headlong, and directed by Roy Alexander Weise. It was first performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, as part of Manchester International Festival, before transferring to the Young Vic Theatre, London.Trade Review'Ferociously funny... dissects years of racist, imperialist and misogynistic tropes... Imagine if Caryl Churchill had written Noises Off... punky, polemical and stingingly fresh' * Guardian *'Provocative and very funny... a terrifically spiky send-up of Asian stereotypes' * Telegraph *'Non-stop funny... both hilarious and strangely moving' * Reviews Hub *'Urgent and clever... furious and funny... very clever writing' * The Stage *'Sharp, intelligent and confrontational... Switching seamlessly between laugh-out-loud humour and poignant, harrowing tragedy... despite its confrontational name, it's a remarkably accessible play' * Manchester Evening News *'An overdue corrective... accurate and needed... This show begins to alter what we see on stage' * Observer *'This punchy, acerbic and acutely observed piece of theatre kicks ass as it highlights the dangers of cultural appropriation and takes an unflinching look at intergenerational trauma... a wickedly funny satire... groundbreaking work that both entertains and informs... f**king great!' * WhatsOnStage *

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Book SynopsisThe story Charles Dickens might have written after drinking too much gin… Follow half-orphan Pip's extraordinary exploits with sisters Pippa and Poppy and best friend Harry Biscuit, as they attempt to escape the calculating clutches of the dastardly Mr Gently Benevolent, defeat the hideous Hardthrasher siblings, and deflect disaster at every turn! Will evil be vanquished by virtue? Can love triumph over hate? Mark Evans' stage play Bleak Expectations is a hilarious, chaotic caper, featuring dastardly villains, preposterous names, pulse-quickening romances, heart-rending death scenes, and definitely, probably, hopefully a happy ending. Based on the award-winning BBC Radio 4 series, the play opened at The Watermill Theatre, Newbury, in 2022, directed by Caroline Leslie. It transferred to the Criterion Theatre in London's West End in 2023, where it featured a medley of many well-known actors and comedians. It offers rich opportunities to amateur theatre companies looking for a gloriously daft Dickensian romp which will have their audiences joyfully transported and begging for more.Trade Review'Dickens with a dash of Monty Python... nimbly combines period detail with a sense of the absurd... immaculately polished puns and in-jokes' * The Times *'A fast-paced comedy mashup that sends up Britishness with oodles of silliness... zings with intelligence, imagination and comic anarchy' * Guardian *'Cheek-achingly funny... a ceaseless stream of quick one-liners that delivers laugh after laugh of pure entertainment... a great night out' * Broadway World *'A gloriously comic mash-up... hurrah, huzzah and harrumble!' * WhatsOnStage *'Witty, hilarious... filled with so much fun and comic cleverness with tongue-in-cheek humour and many in-jokes... sparkles with inventiveness' * British Theatre Guide *'English eccentricity at its madcap best' * Telegraph *'Joyously silly... a ridiculous pantomime for grown-ups – and the barely grown-up... Mark Evans gets the Dickens parody bang on... a fun, vivacious and uncomplicated romp' * Chortle *

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Book SynopsisWhen orphaned Mary Lennox comes to live at her uncle's great house on the Yorkshire Moors, she finds it full of secrets. Left to make her own entertainment, Mary stumbles upon a garden, overgrown and locked for years. A forbidden garden. Finding her way inside, with the help of a friendly robin, Mary begins to feel a connection to the house and its inhabitants. Then, one night, in one of the house's many rooms, she hears the sound of crying... Frances Hodgson Burnett's delightful and enduring tale celebrates the power of transformation and healing through nature. Elizabeth Newman's magical adaptation was premiered at Pitlochry Festival Theatre's open-air amphitheatre in 2023, where Newman is Artistic Director. This version will appeal to other professional and amateur companies looking for a much-loved classic that can be easily staged in theatres, outdoor venues – and gardens.Trade Review'An enriching, affirmative show, steeped in gentle wonder' * The Stage *'A near-perfect summer theatre experience for children... The Secret Garden is fast emerging as a key children's story for our time: a profound legend about how human beings need the natural world and its energy to survive and thrive... Newman's adaptation glows from its opening moments with love for, and understanding of, the basic dynamics of Hodgson Burnett's bold narrative... a beautiful show' * The Scotsman *'Enrapturing... a tremendous fervour of pace... simply gorgeous... a thing of beauty' * Reviews Hub *'Retains all the essentials of the original novel but brings in the whole thing at around 90 minutes, including an interval. It's appealingly crisp, which is helpful for the younger members of the audience, and it doesn't shun the novel's all-important use of Yorkshire dialect... a play that retains its own distinctive sense of charm' * WhatsOnStage *'The perfect show for all the family... delights at every turn... a salve to the soul for grown ups in these troubled times and even better, the children in the audience clearly loved it' * Broadway Baby *'A wonderful adaptation with a sense of magic throughout... A very inviting project for any drama or theatre department or company. "Flexible" really is the key word with this adaptation as it is a play that could work with a range of age groups... It could make for a wonderful open air summer production or one where the outdoors could be brought in. A great addition to any collection' * Drama & Theatre Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'I, Daniel Blake, am a citizen, nothing more, nothing less.' Dan is a carpenter. A Geordie through and through. He had a heart attack recently, but he's on the mend now. Katie has just arrived from London. She's finally got a council flat, somewhere for her and her daughter, Daisy. A fresh start. In adversity, people come together. But when the system is stacked against you, how does anyone get by? With 14.5 million people (Joseph Rowntree Foundation 2022 Poverty Report) living in poverty in the UK, this is not fiction. It is reality. I, Daniel Blake was originally a film – directed by Ken Loach, written by Paul Laverty and produced by Rebecca O'Brien for Sixteen Films – which won the 2016 Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. This touching and vital stage adaptation by Dave Johns, who played Dan in the film, toured the UK in 2023, co-produced by tiny dragon Productions, Northern Stage, Birmingham Rep and ETT, in association with Cardboard Citizens. 'A gut-wrenching tragicomic drama… Paul Laverty's brilliantly insightful script finds much that is moving (and often surprisingly funny) in the unbreakable social bonds of so-called "broken Britain".' Guardian on Ken Loach's filmTrade Review'A powerful adaptation of the Ken Loach film that feels more relevant than ever... Skilfully adapted by Dave Johns, the play requires no knowledge of the film to enjoy it, standing on its own as a powerful testament... plenty of warmth and humour... humour that distils rather than dilutes the essential fury at the play's core – an angry, defiant howl of protest' * The Stage *'Intensely focused... a tangible thread of cold anger runs through it... the play can be said to "out-Loach" Loach in its efforts to speak truth to power' * WhatsOnStage *'Refuses to let Britain's leaders off the hook... a moving plea for compassion' * Guardian *'A straightforward, quietly stirring adaptation' * The Times *'Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake is a wonderful film. It is, if anything, an even better play... an important, prescient, beautifully told, exquisitely acted piece that speaks loudly to the state of the nation today' * Reviews Hub *'A heart-warming story of people uniting in the face of adversity... the standing ovation at the end was well deserved' * British Theatre Guide *'Immensely moving... an urgent piece of theatre that stays true to revelatory source material' * LondonTheatre1 *'A shocking indictment... brutal and honest... a fantastic example of a screen to stage adaptation that captures the spirit of the film, as well as the mood of the nation' * Theatre Weekly *'An urgent and impassioned piece of theatre. I, Daniel Blake will leave a lasting imprint on those who see it' * The Upcoming *

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Book SynopsisArriving from his East Midlands beginnings into a London thick with the grime of industrialisation, Joseph Merrick is an anomaly. In a city of factories that churn out uniformity, there is no place for someone like him. But Merrick and the city are evolving into something new. We follow him through the workhouse, the freak show and the hospital, as he searches for acceptance in a society that just wants to stare at him. Powerful, angry and surprising, Tom Wright's acclaimed play imagines an alternative history of the person who came to be known as 'the Elephant Man'. It restores Joseph Merrick to the centre of his own story: a man fighting for his right to be and to belong. The Real & Imagined History of the Elephant Man was first performed at Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre, before receiving its European premiere at Nottingham Playhouse in 2023, directed by Stephen Bailey, and supported by a grant from The Royal Theatrical Support Trust.Trade Review'A challenging, moving play about spectacle, difference and identity' * Limelight Magazine *'Everyone should be moved by such poetic and accomplished theatre' * The Age *'Astonishing... it's doubtful whether there has ever been a better example of theatre's ability to be inclusive at the same time as being able to shock' * British Theatre Guide *'A powerful piece of theatre' * Reviews Hub *

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Book Synopsis'I'm thirty-six, I'm a comedian, and I'm about to kill my boyfriend.' A permanently single, professionally neurotic stand-up comedian finally meets his Mr Right – and then does everything wrong. Is Mr Right quite what he seems? And just how far will the comedian go to get a laugh? Marcelo Dos Santos's play Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going To Happen is a dark and bitingly funny one-man show about vulnerability, intimacy, ego and truth. It premiered in the Roundabout at the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, produced by Francesca Moody Productions, directed by Matthew Xia, and starring Samuel Barnett. The critically acclaimed, Fringe First-winning production transferred to the Bush Theatre, London, in November 2023.Trade Review'What a fine work this is... full of humour, lines written with the whiplash timing of a master... a sense of real feeling, an understanding of the psychological terror of constant failure and impending annihilation... urgent, fresh and utterly compelling... confirms Dos Santos as a writer of enormous talent' * WhatsOnStage *'Fast, filthy and powerful... a perfectly formed monologue... chillingly, thrillingly transgressive' * Evening Standard *'Blending dark humour, pathos and a hearty dash of millennial angst, [this] deserves to be the next Fleabag... the gag-count is ridiculously high and the writing overall has a Bennettian finesse... it's enviably accomplished' * Telegraph *'Enthralling... a compelling and troubling character study with some killer punchlines' * Guardian *'A cleverly constructed piece of writing, and often very funny' * The Stage *'Frank, funny and occasionally filthy... a nice piece of writing, following in the footsteps of Fleabag' * Independent *'Very entertaining and sharply funny' -- Lyn Gardner * Stagedoor *'Funny and pleasingly absurdist... An entertaining, sometimes outrageous hour, brought to a very skilled climax' * Time Out *'Is this the male Fleabag? Marcelo Dos Santos's fevered monologue about a romance on the verge of a nervous breakdown... holds us spellbound for an hour' * The Times *'Pristine writing... both hilarious and heart-wrenching' * Fest Mag *'Outrageously entertaining and endlessly surprising... an extraordinary piece of theatre' * The Skinny *'A rollercoaster of a play... powerfully subtle, until it's not meant to be, and then it's joyfully theatrical... comedy magic' * LondonTheatre1 *'Terrific... Marcelo Dos Santos' script is structured beautifully, blending coarse humour with dark, brittle wit and he signs it off with a delicious punchline. Underlying the laughter, this is a multi-layered piece that explores the human fear of and need for close relationships' * Reviews Hub *'Razor-sharp... a very clever play... Dos Santos' writing uncovers new ideas at every turn... has all the laughs of a comedy set while presenting a twisting narrative that keeps you guessing' * Broadway World *'A sizzling monologue about sex and fatal attraction... Dos Santos writes beautifully' * Arts Desk *

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Book Synopsis'Today is going to be the same.' For Charly, every day is the same. Things used to be different, when there was Clo, but now there isn't Clo, and Charly doesn't want to dwell on that. She just wants to chug coffee, blast Beastie Boys and deal drugs. Simple. But when Charly suffers a power cut, she's forced back into the real world of knock-off Morrisseys, disapproving mothers and, ultimately, a world she has to navigate alone. Lady Dealer is a mile-a-minute, one-person poem play by Martha Watson Allpress about forgiveness, the exhaustion of trying, and mistaking self-destruction for self-preservation. It premiered in Paines Plough's Roundabout during the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.Trade Review'Pummelling, poetic and profound... one of the shows of the festival' * The Stage *'A powerful portrait of a woman struggling for survival in a society beset by a terrible loneliness... searing and heartbreaking' * Scotsman *'A cascade of energy' * Guardian *'Raw, funny and undoubtedly human' * Theatre & Tonic *'Delightfully playful... movingly poetic... holds the audience gripped' * WhatsOnStage *'A real treat... energetic and captivating' * Broadway World *

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Book Synopsis'A nation that devours another will one day devour itself.' Set when the Great Devouring comes home, England & Son is a kaleidoscopic odyssey, where disaster capitalism, empire, Thatcherite politics, stolen youth and stolen wealth merge into the tale of a working-class boy who just wants his dad to smile at him. With some deep, dark laughs – and some deep, dark love – England & Son is a one-man play by Ed Edwards, first performed by the celebrated political comedian Mark Thomas. It was first produced by HOME Manchester and Tin Cat Entertainment, and premiered in Paines Plough's Roundabout during the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, directed by Cressida Brown, where it won a Fringe First Award. This edition also features an illuminating essay by the author, 'Writing the End of Empire'.Trade Review'A triumph... Ed Edwards' play has a terrifying force as it charts the story of a homeless man... it unfolds in fragmentary snapshots, kaleidoscopic images that build a picture in shards... The play's observations are fierce and sharp; its empathy, profound and moving' * WhatsOnStage *'A funny and ferocious telling of a lost childhood that frames the story of a juvenile offender through the lens of colonialism... powerful and moving' * Guardian *'Tremendous energy and real pathos' * The Stage *'A powerful cinematic journey through ecstatic highs and bone-crushing lows. Not your average coming-of-age story' * Edinburgh Reviews *'Magnificent... a ferocious script' * The Times *'A passionate plea for humanity... heartbreakingly powerful, sharp and tragic' * Scotsman *'A ferociously funny and thrilling drama, full of rage and hurt but also laced with humour, tenderness and empathy... political theatre at its most entertaining, engaging and effective' * Morning Star *'Absolutely top tier theatre... a bludgeon of horror' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book Synopsis'Fereydoun Farrokhzad is invisible to everyone apart from, mostly, Iranians, because nobody apart from them ever has to think about him.' It's the 1970s, and Fereydoun Farrokhzad's star is blazing bright – he's a sex symbol and chart-topping pop singer. Imagine an Iranian Tom Jones. A decade on and he's living in political exile in Germany, though still selling out the Royal Albert Hall. Then, on 7 August 1992, he's found brutally murdered. The neighbours said his dogs had been barking for two nights. The case has never been solved. Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World is an investigation into the nature of investigation; part free-wheeling lecture, part podcast and part play. It is a thrilling ride down the rabbit hole of Wikipedia and true-crime podcasts, sorting through the tangle of information available online to reveal the limits of the search engines in solving a decades-old cold case. Originally produced by The Javaad Alipoor Company in 2022, this witty, fast-paced and cutting-edge play, by Javaad Alipoor with Chris Thorpe, was co-commissioned by HOME and the National Theatre of Parramatta. It has toured worldwide, including a run at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, during the 2023 Festival Fringe.

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Book SynopsisA devastating play about violence, love and loss. Winner of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

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Book Synopsis'Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.' Christmas Eve, 1946, Bedford Falls. Down-on-his-luck banker George Bailey feels life has passed him by, and he's at the end of his rope. But when George's guardian angel pays him a visit, he's amazed to discover what life in his beloved town would be like without him. Maybe it's a wonderful life, after all? Based on the critically acclaimed Frank Capra movie, Mary Elliott Nelson's reimagining is a joyful story of love, hope and community. Commissioned by New Perspectives Theatre, It's a Wonderful Life has been produced around the UK, including a revival in 2023 at Reading Rep Theatre. Written for four actors, but suitable for many more, it offers other theatre companies a heartfelt adaptation of a much-loved classic to charm and delight audiences – at Christmas or any other time of the year!Trade Review'Cleverly makes us think about our lives and how we fit into our communities' * Guardian *'A magical stage adaptation… offers surprises while being truthful to the narrative' * York Press *'Beautifully conceived... rises to this challenge of translating such an uplifting and moving story to the stage with just four actors... an exceptional piece of theatre' * West End Best Friend *'Has a delightfully atmospheric economy... Nelson's text hits the right beats... Capra's message about valuing what we have shines through in this festively enjoyable production' * The Stage *'Fans of this story will not be disappointed... the perfect show to see with your family over the festive period' * Theatre and Tonic *

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Book Synopsis'One can't help where one is born. Or one's station, of course. The trick to happiness is to be content where one is. Or so I am told.' 1979. Clarence House, London. The Queen Mother's receptions are in full swing and the champagne is flowing. Guiding the proceedings is William 'Billy' Tallon, page of the backstairs, keeper of the keys, holder of the royal corgis – and the royal secrets. Outside the palace walls, unemployment, inflation and industrial action are bringing Britain to its knees, and the country is on the verge of changing seismically under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. These two worlds are about to collide, with dizzying consequences for everyone... Backstairs Billy examines the fifty-year relationship between the Queen Mother and her most loyal, most outrageous servant, who joined her household at the age of fifteen. Marcelo Dos Santos's irreverent comedy was first produced by the Michael Grandage Company at the Duke of York's Theatre, London, in 2023, directed by Grandage and starring Penelope Wilton and Luke Evans.Trade Review'The best royal drama in a decade... Abounding with witty entertainment and curiosity value, it confirms the promise shown by Marcelo Dos Santos' * Telegraph *'Nothing has made me laugh more... it's the funniest play Ive seen this year' * Sunday Times *'Gleefully subversive and unexpectedly hard-hitting, with some great one-liners' * Time Out *'Smart and shrewd... the most unusual depiction of an unlikely duo since Judi Dench crossed wits with Billy Connolly in Mrs Brown... by turns devastating and delicious' * Arts Desk *'Plays like a cross between The Crown and X-rated PG Wodehouse' * The Times *'An early festive delight... makes The Crown look too careful' * Independent *'Bubblingly witty, with many great one-liners' * Financial Times *'A comedy of manners with a sprinkling of farce, conducted in cut-glass bon mots and bitchy sideswipes' * The Stage *'Full of zinging one-liners and laugh-out-loud moments... Every joke lands with the precision of a targeted missile, always suggesting the sharpness behind the smile... has all the trappings of a West End hit... Dos Santos is undoubtedly a talented writer, with a distinctive voice and a welcome wit' * WhatsOnStage *'Deliciously frothy... consistently funny and entertaining' * Evening Standard *'Fascinating... the writing has sophistication... the Queen Mother would have loved it' * Guardian *'A frisky frolic that is more than just a caper... Marcelo Dos Santos's play glances at a country on the cusp of Thatcherite change... full of ricocheting puns... the conversation pings electrically' * Observer *'A rip-roaring comedy... uproariously funny... a fascinating insight to the inner workings of that famous family' * Theatre Weekly *'Very funny... nicely balances palace gossip with broader ideas about class, power, and way that tradition can both comfort and stifle' * London Theatre *'A sympathetic, subtle portrayal of a uniquely fascinating relationship, full of deliciously arch banter... a right royal laugh that will delight' * Chortle *'Simply delightful... wonderful... an unexpectedly touching tale of genuine connection... pure entertainment at its finest. Dos Santos folds in a healthy dollop of heart and politics for good measure, but make no mistake; this production is first and foremost an absolute feel-good gem' * Reviews Hub *'Very funny and likely to tickle even the most reluctant royalists in the audience' * Culture Whisper *

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Book SynopsisA playwright known for dazzling structural inventiveness combined with emotional intelligence and wit, James Fritz is a unique voice in British theatre. His work, reflected in these six plays covering the first decade of his career, confronts the fault lines in our culture with thrilling imagination, an unflinching moral seriousness and a warm, compassionate sense of humour. Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (Hampstead Theatre, 2014; Trafalgar Studios, 2015; winner of the Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright) is a 'morally terrifying drama' (Evening Standard) that unpicks the trust between parents and their teenage offspring in an age of selfies and sexting. Ross & Rachel (Edinburgh Fringe, 2015; Off-Broadway, 2016) is a 'dialogue for one' that takes an incisive look at the myths of modern love. 'Shockingly good... a virtuosic piece of writing, playful, post-modern and devastatingly serious, all at once' Time Out Parliament Square (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, and Bush Theatre, London, 2017; winner of the Judges' Award, Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting) is a searingly powerful exploration of what one individual can do to effect change. 'There are few playwrights working in Britain today whose work is as slick and unsettling as James Fritz's' Exeunt Lava (Nottingham Playhouse/Fifth Word, 2018; revived 2022) is a funny, tender and moving story about friendship and reconnection in the aftermath of catastrophe. 'Compassionate, warm and funny... Fritz's plays find reservoirs of humour in places you wouldn't expect' The Stage Skyscraper Lullaby (Audible Original, 2022) is a powerful drama, first written as an audio play, about two parents trying to come to terms with the disappearance of their toddler, a haunting examination of the ways we cope with tragedy, complicity and remorse. Also included is a previously unpublished short play, twins (Arcola Theatre, 2015), as well as a playful and illuminating introduction written by the author.

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Book SynopsisGregor Samsa wakes up each morning, quietly leaves the house to take the same train, and works to pay off the family debt. But that world explodes one morning, when Gregor awakes to find himself changed. To those around him he is dangerous, untouchable vermin. Worse than that, he is a burden. Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka's shocking tale of cruelty and kindness, has been a literary landmark since it was first published in 1915. Lemn Sissay's thrilling stage adaptation is a visceral and vital depiction of humans struggling within a system that crushes them under its heel. It was commissioned and first produced in 2023 by Frantic Assembly, in a co-production with Theatre Royal Plymouth, Curve, MAST Mayflower Studios and Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, and was directed by Scott Graham.Trade Review'An ingenious, nightmarish adaptation... Frantic Assembly has been rewriting the rulebook for almost three decades now; its rigorous physical exploration of emotion combined with edgy pulsing soundtracks has won an ardent following' * The Times *'Compelling... a brooding, expanded take on Kafka's immortal novella that likes to toy with our expectations' * Time Out *'Uncompromising, utterly captivating... combines the best of physical theatre with poetic language and stimulating storytelling... a sublime, intense theatrical experience' * Reviews Hub *'An urgent observation of a bloodsucking, broken system that renders people worthless if they cannot work' * WhatsOnStage *'Poetically vivid and visually mesmerising' * Broadway World *'Deliciously eerie... makes the 1915 novella speak for today' * Culture Whisper *

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Book SynopsisWhen Ben Targét was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2012 Edinburgh Comedy Awards, he was set on the path to becoming a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning performance artist. Eight years later, amidst a global pandemic, he gave it all up to become the live-in carer for his uncle: an irascible octogenarian prankster called Lorenzo Wong. LORENZO is their story, a show that confronts the messiness of ageing and dying through the medium of storytelling, servitude to the audience and live carpentry, a combination not seen on the world stage since Nazareth circa 30AD. This book is the full script of that life-affirming show, with illustrations by Targét himself. It was directed by Adam Brace, and was premiered at Summerhall, Edinburgh, during the 2023 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was awarded a Fringe First. It subsequently transferred to Soho Theatre, London.Trade Review'A beautiful and wise work' * Time Out *'Very lovely... a joyful and philosophical show... a heartfelt hour about tough times and the people who quietly help us survive them' * Guardian *'An exploration of the sorts of things that give life meaning... completely engaging... very funny and very moving... a life-affirming tale that is warm and whimsical, but fundamentally all about human connection' * WhatsOnStage *'A moving and courageous piece of theatre' * The Scotsman *'The ultimate celebration of life. I've never laughed and cried so much at the same show' * Everything Theatre *'A joyous celebration of what it means to love deeply' * Fest Mag *'A deeply affecting, tender and funny story of love and loss' * The List *'A beautiful and touching insight into life' * West End Best Friend *'Ben Target is a master storyteller... The play is as heartfelt as it is disarmingly funny... a truly beautiful piece of work' * British Theatre Guide *'A heartfelt true story about providing end-of-life care to a family member during COVID, told in such a way that is never predictable and always, oddly, a pleasure' * Broadway Baby *'A testament to the art of storytelling... captures the humanity, tragedy and humour of life with a seeming ease' * Reviews Hub *'A masterclass in storytelling theatre, with the audience completely and utterly gripped throughout. It's beautiful and captivating and a sad story becomes utterly joyful in the hands of our charismatic host' * Broadway World *

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Book Synopsis'I should've seen him. Felt him. Walking across the sand. His antlers, twisting, reaching up to the moon. But the Mariner didn't come. The Mariner didn't come.' Mark and Tiny go for walks along the beach at Seaton Carew, County Durham. Their dad is dying, and their town is crumbling. Family rifts and political divides try to pull them apart, and a figure made of driftwood stalks the shore at night. Tim Foley's Driftwood is an intoxicating and mystical play about love, belonging and the tides within us. It was premiered in 2023 by Pentabus and ThickSkin on a tour of the UK, co-directed by Neil Bettles and Elle While.

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Book Synopsis'All children grow up, except one.' Chasing his runaway shadow, a mischievous young boy who will never grow up crash lands through an open window and meets a headstrong young girl who is desperate to be an adult. With a sprinkle of fairy dust, they take flight on a whirlwind voyage over pirate ships, through mermaid lagoons and into the heart of Neverland. Adapted from J.M. Barrie's perennial favourite, this enchanting new version by Evan Placey, with songs by Vikki Stone, premiered in 2023 at Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, directed by Lucy Morrell. It was commissioned by the Rose to be performed by twenty members of the Rose Youth Theatre alongside four professional adult actors. It offers rich opportunities for other theatre companies who want to keep their audiences hooked with a magical, musical classic. 50% of royalties from the sale of this book and amateur performance licences are donated to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.Trade Review'Delightful and enchanting... cleaves close to JM Barrie's beloved original... serves up fun, games and entertainment in bucketfuls' * Time Out *'Ample charm and an excellent hero... retains the period sweetness of JM Barrie's original' * Telegraph *'Evan Placey is loyal to Barrie's original sentiments. The script successfully balances the important messages of the story with the playfulness of the piece... there is so much to enjoy... Music and lyrics by Vikki Stone add to the energy of the evening... Real festive family fun' * Reviews Hub *'Sweet and sentimental... focuses on themes of family, belonging and taking responsibility for the people you love. Adapter Evan Placey has lightly tweaked the familiar text, bulking up Wendy's story by adding a believable conflict between the headstrong teenager and her loving but overwhelmed mother... Vikki Stone's catchy, contemporary songs help to drive home the show's sweet message about embracing a found family and following your dreams' * The Stage *'A humane, thoughtful show for today with some fine theatrical moments' * Sardines Magazine *'Entertaining and inventive' * West End Best Friend *

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