Six aspiring authors meet on a winter's evening to discuss their work. The chairman, Arnold, attempts to get the rest of the group out of a rut by suggesting that they collaborate on a piece of writing, an idea that is received without enthusiasm. However,

In this seminal guide to playmaking, renowned playwright Alan Ayckbourn shares his tricks of the trade. From helpful hints on writing to tips on directing, this book provides a complete primer for the newcomer and a refresher for those with more experience. Written in Ayckbourn's signature style that combines humor, seriousness, and a heady air of sophistication, The Crafty Art of Playwmaking is a must-have for aspiring playwrights, students of drama, and anyone who has ever laughed their way through one of Ayckbourn's plays.

The suburban house of the Bakers' adjoins a recreation field, which is useful since football and cricket play a large part in the story. Peter, who works for Graham, brings his fiancee to the house and Graham, as usual, makes a bee line for her. However, it is Mrs. Baker's brother, Leonard, to whom Joan strays. Leonard, poetic, a fumbler, who moons around holding conversations with the garden gnome, has always roused the bullying Graham's malice and scorn, who is horrified when he catches the younger man very much with Joan. Joan and Mrs. Baker decide that Leonard must tell Peter at once...

2 Comedies / 7m, 7f, extras / Int./Ext.

An unprecedented theatre event: two plays take place simultaneously in the same theatre but in different auditoriums. Characters walk off one set and onto the other throughout and yet each portion is a complete theatre experience. In HOUSE, two upper-crust marriages are in hilarious upheaval, the awkward confusion of young love abounds, a devious politician has bizarre ulterior motives land a French film star imbibes one too many drinks. And what is going on in the GARDEN? More hilarity.

Note: These two plays MUST be performed simultaneously in by...

Ein Stück über den manipu lativen Einfluss der Massen medien und die Gier des Publikums nach Sensation. Um sich zu profilieren kon frontiert eine ehrgeizige Fernsehjournalistin einen Ex-Bankräuber mit seinem Opfer.§

Musical

Characters: 1 male, 3 female

Interior Set

Book and Lyrics by Alan Ayckbourn. Music by Paul Todd.

Mrs. Mary Yately is no run of the mill housewife-- she has been chosen by the Evening Echo as Mum of the Year. And, Mrs. Yately is no ordinary character in this brilliantly inventive new musical by Britain's comic master-- she is three separate personalities, played by three actresses. One actor plays all the men in Mary's life, all of whom are, shall we say, not on this world to make her life easier.

"We know that Alan Ayckbourn writes more ingenious comedies than anyone...

Comedy with music

Alan Ayckbourn, Music by John Pattison

Characters: 5 males, 3 females

Scenery: Exterior

The reigning king of English comedy strikes off in a new direction with this gleeful fantasy. A couple is preparing for an al fresco party while their hapless ex son in law is holed up in their summer house, drinking off his divorce while he completes illustrations for a new edition of Beauty and the Beast. When he conjures Belle to life and she appears in the garden unable to understand English unless it is sung, her fantastical presence wreaks havoc with the all too real...

Characters: 8 characters (some live, some on audio, some on video)

Scenery: Interior

For eight years, young Jem has sat in space station Callisto 5, patiently awaiting the return of his parents. Eight years... with only Damaris the robot nanny and the disembodied voice of Iris the computer for company. Eight years of macaroni and cheese for breakfast, lunch and supper... It's enough to drive a boy crazy- until a new, unexpected, and rather dangerous creature arrives on Callisto 5.