One-Act Plays
Writing One-Act Plays is both a cleansing of the mind and food for the soul. Often, there’s a small story that insists on being told, yet it may not have the scope to sustain a full-length play. And that’s perfectly fine. Not every idea needs to be stretched into two acts; some are most powerful when brief.
One-act plays hold a special charm. They’re embraced by festivals, drama classes, actors, and theatre companies for their flexibility and creative punch. Their popularity continues to grow, offering both writers and audiences the chance to experience a wide range of stories in a single sitting.
At a festival, a new one-act play might take the stage every ten or fifteen minutes, like a passing parade of voices, each one distinct, each one leaving its mark.
All of my published one-act play collections are now available through Amazon. Browse the titles, discover the stories, and enjoy the journey.
A Couple of S.N.A.Gs
Mark and Geoff are a couple of testosterone-fuelled beer and pizza talking, far-from-sensitive new age guys, who bring back all the repressed memories of sharing a house.
12+ years, adult, all ages
10
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
2M
A Fine Romance
Once a year, on the first Sunday of each April, Vivien and Frank meet at the train station.
Adult, mature audience
10
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
2F / 1M
As The Page Turns
Uba, having walked for ten days, has found an abandoned hamlet in the mountains.
Adult, mature audience
10
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
1F/2M
Aunt Ethel's Death Notice
A death notice appears in the newspaper advising the passing of Mrs Ethel Lane.
12+ years, adult, all ages
10
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
2F / 2M
Champagne Ladies
These two darlings are the epitome of all that is offensive in the society set.
Adult, mature audience
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
2F / 1M
Country Relations
Country Relations brings back those not-so-fond memories of family reunions.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
1F / 1M
Disturbing Mavis
Set in a nursing home, this is a practical examination of the subject of ageing and its less-than-attractive consequences.
12+ years, adult, all ages
10
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
2F
Doped Up Deal
When money is short and requests for payment of bills is relentless, these two unfortunate souls meet a man with an endless supply of money.
Adult, mature audience
10
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
1F / 2M
Fergus' Envy
Day three of Lord Florien Thrust’s house party, thrown in honour of Fergus, his valium medicated dog.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
3F / 1M
Happy Birthday, Christmas Bernii
Bernadette was born on December 25th, and this year she is celebrating her 13th birthday.
12+ years, adult, all ages
10
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
2F / 1M
Hymenoxys
Day five of Dr Rappaccini’s botanical and toxicological tests in his private rooms, and Beatrice, his very own daughter, continues to suffer from his experiments.
12+ years, adult, all ages
10
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
1F / 2M
In The Eyes Of My Heart
Poppy, the matriarch of the family business, drugs and horses, oversees the running of the day-to-day business.
Adult, mature audience
5
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
2F/2M
Keeping The Sabbath Holy
Kevin, The Devil and The Witches, Jeanie and Pamela plan to increase visitor numbers to the Annual Procession.
Adult, mature audience
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy/Drama
4F/1M
Miss Rophilla
As Richard attempts to diversify his income, Mother expresses her wish to live in a care home with her photo frames, collection of porcelain clowns.
Adult, mature audience
15
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
No White Mongoose For Wilma
Ms Wilma Cruikshank, Mrs Carshalton and Mrs Zizou are Victorian ladies who lunch.
12+ years, adult, all ages
20
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
3F / 2M
Penniless Penny
Lady Mallét threw a party for her son and heir to the Primrose fortune at Tornsock Hall, in the hope of finding him a wife.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
4F/3M
Prince Prittlewell of Piddle Brooke
Prince Prittlewell managed to fall head over heels in love with a pigeon, named Gabrielle.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
2F / 1M
Running Out Of Air
Rose's whimsical wish for Brian's immediate death and return to England is unwittingly granted by Bob.
Adult, mature audience
15
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
3F / 2M
Scarcely Susan's Sandpit
This page is under construction.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
Separating The Dust
After the funeral service for Mrs Virginia Cromwell, their sons Michael and Chad discuss their mother’s Final Will and Testament.
Adult, mature audience
20
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
1F / 2M
Spring
Each Spring Mrs Wentworth-Brewster’s dowdy rooms are Spring-cleaned of their previous occupants.
12+ years, adult, all ages
10
Performance Length in minutes
Drama
4F
The Chicks
This is a seriously scary look at filthy, outer suburb, cigarette-smoking scrags Jenny, Amanda and Sheryl.
Adult, mature audience
10
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
4F
The Dastardly Deed of Tommy
This page is under construction.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
The Mechanics
Meet old school, all-knowing tradesman, Norbet who works hard at keeping ahead of the next crisis in the car repair workshop.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
2M
The Stair
The age-old story of office politics, red tape and justification of jobs held by employees in power.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
2M
Tune In Next Week When Doctor Bob Will Say...
Celebrities are told when they will become famous and when their shining star will be extinguished.
12+ years, adult, all ages
15
Performance Length in minutes
Comedy
3F/2M