I AM HAMLET by Richard James (Comedy thriller) Cast: 2m Set: The empty stage of a village hall, anywhere.
Synopsis: An amateur actor auditions for the lead role in a local production of Hamlet. There is some fun to be had as the director puts him through his acting paces, but
slowly we learn that the actor has more in common with the Prince of Denmark than meets the eye...
INDIAN SUMMER by Richard James (Play) Cast: 1m, 1f Set: Simple furnishings, a table, two chairs and an easel.
Synopsis: Amid the uprising against the East India Company in the 1850s, Clara has commissioned a portrait - to closely resemble Botticelli's 'Birth Of Venus', but depicting
her as an old woman. The Artist, Nathanial, arrives with his canvas and oils, and they share the last moments of an Indian Summer together.
IN THE ROUGH by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 3m, 3f Set: Two simple sets; a club house bar and a bedroom.
Synopsis: In Lysistrata, by Aristophanes, the women were trying to end the Peloponnesian War. In this case, it's their husbands' addiction to golf that's the problem, but the
method employed is the same (give or take the barricading of public buildings)!
MOVING ON by Richard James (Play) Cast: 1m, 2f Set: Simple set, tea chests and packing cases.
Synopsis: Since the death of her husband, Angela has shut herself away. But now she's moving out of the family home and her feelings are forced to the surface. When an
old friend surprises her with an unexpected declaration, it may be just what she needs...
THE DEATH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Richard James (Play) Cast: 2m Set: Holmes's study, 221b Baker St.
Synopsis: Holmes and Watson must act fast to prevent the theft of a famous diamond and safeguard the economy of the Austrian Empire. But does Holmes mean to get shot
by Watson? Will the Great Detective survive?
THE DREAMING by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 2m (though could be 2f) Set: No set.
Synopsis: Two men find themselves in a featureless room, with no memory of how they arrived there, or even who they are. Their only clues come from scraps of paper on the
floor, that seem to mirror words they have spoken. Can it be true that they're just characters in an unwritten play?
THE END OF THE PIER by Richard James (Play) Cast: 3f Set: Minimal set to represent a seaside pier.
Synopsis: Three generations of women from the same family find themselves on a rundown pier at a turning point in their lives. Cynthia has walked out on her husband, her
daughter Mandy's life is at a standstill, and grandaughter Billie is about to embark on a whole new adventure. Will her revelation be enough to put them all back on track?
THE NTH DEGREE by Richard James (Play) Cast: 4m, 2f Set: A table and four chairs to suggest a cell.
Synopsis: In a fundamentalist religious state, a news reporter arranges a confrontation between two prisoners and the couple who prosecuted them for offences against their
faith.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BERNARD by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 1m, 4f Set: Single, domestic set, a living/dining room.
Synopsis: Bernard's wife, best friend and daughter are gathered to surprise him with a party on his birthday, but it's his ex-wife who walks in first. Some hard truths are
exchanged, and in the end, it's Bernard who surprises them all.
THREE CANTERBURY TALES by Richard James (Comedy in Verse) Cast: 5m, 2f Set: No set, a few rough-and-ready props.
Synopsis: Three of Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales', told in verse but adapted for the stage. The Miller, the Pardoner and the Wife of Bath are brought to life with the narration of
Chaucer and the help of three other pilgrims (the Friar, the Summoner and the Nun). Ideal for open air performance.
VISION IMPAIRED by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 2m Set: Very simple set (essentially two office swivel chairs)
Synopsis: Two occupants of merciless alien costumes for a famous time travelling series discuss life, fame, and pressing problems for actors in their confined position!
WHITE LIES by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 5f Set: Single, simple set, a table in a restaurant.
Synopsis: Four old University chums meet up again after thirty years for a meal and talk. Bea is concerned only with herself and her own success, and doesn't care about the
casual way she has hurt or used the others in the past, and the other ladies decide it's time for payback. But their little revenge stunt goes a little further than they planned.
Synopsis: An amateur actor auditions for the lead role in a local production of Hamlet. There is some fun to be had as the director puts him through his acting paces, but
slowly we learn that the actor has more in common with the Prince of Denmark than meets the eye...
INDIAN SUMMER by Richard James (Play) Cast: 1m, 1f Set: Simple furnishings, a table, two chairs and an easel.
Synopsis: Amid the uprising against the East India Company in the 1850s, Clara has commissioned a portrait - to closely resemble Botticelli's 'Birth Of Venus', but depicting
her as an old woman. The Artist, Nathanial, arrives with his canvas and oils, and they share the last moments of an Indian Summer together.
IN THE ROUGH by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 3m, 3f Set: Two simple sets; a club house bar and a bedroom.
Synopsis: In Lysistrata, by Aristophanes, the women were trying to end the Peloponnesian War. In this case, it's their husbands' addiction to golf that's the problem, but the
method employed is the same (give or take the barricading of public buildings)!
MOVING ON by Richard James (Play) Cast: 1m, 2f Set: Simple set, tea chests and packing cases.
Synopsis: Since the death of her husband, Angela has shut herself away. But now she's moving out of the family home and her feelings are forced to the surface. When an
old friend surprises her with an unexpected declaration, it may be just what she needs...
THE DEATH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Richard James (Play) Cast: 2m Set: Holmes's study, 221b Baker St.
Synopsis: Holmes and Watson must act fast to prevent the theft of a famous diamond and safeguard the economy of the Austrian Empire. But does Holmes mean to get shot
by Watson? Will the Great Detective survive?
THE DREAMING by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 2m (though could be 2f) Set: No set.
Synopsis: Two men find themselves in a featureless room, with no memory of how they arrived there, or even who they are. Their only clues come from scraps of paper on the
floor, that seem to mirror words they have spoken. Can it be true that they're just characters in an unwritten play?
THE END OF THE PIER by Richard James (Play) Cast: 3f Set: Minimal set to represent a seaside pier.
Synopsis: Three generations of women from the same family find themselves on a rundown pier at a turning point in their lives. Cynthia has walked out on her husband, her
daughter Mandy's life is at a standstill, and grandaughter Billie is about to embark on a whole new adventure. Will her revelation be enough to put them all back on track?
THE NTH DEGREE by Richard James (Play) Cast: 4m, 2f Set: A table and four chairs to suggest a cell.
Synopsis: In a fundamentalist religious state, a news reporter arranges a confrontation between two prisoners and the couple who prosecuted them for offences against their
faith.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT BERNARD by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 1m, 4f Set: Single, domestic set, a living/dining room.
Synopsis: Bernard's wife, best friend and daughter are gathered to surprise him with a party on his birthday, but it's his ex-wife who walks in first. Some hard truths are
exchanged, and in the end, it's Bernard who surprises them all.
THREE CANTERBURY TALES by Richard James (Comedy in Verse) Cast: 5m, 2f Set: No set, a few rough-and-ready props.
Synopsis: Three of Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales', told in verse but adapted for the stage. The Miller, the Pardoner and the Wife of Bath are brought to life with the narration of
Chaucer and the help of three other pilgrims (the Friar, the Summoner and the Nun). Ideal for open air performance.
VISION IMPAIRED by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 2m Set: Very simple set (essentially two office swivel chairs)
Synopsis: Two occupants of merciless alien costumes for a famous time travelling series discuss life, fame, and pressing problems for actors in their confined position!
WHITE LIES by Richard James (Comedy) Cast: 5f Set: Single, simple set, a table in a restaurant.
Synopsis: Four old University chums meet up again after thirty years for a meal and talk. Bea is concerned only with herself and her own success, and doesn't care about the
casual way she has hurt or used the others in the past, and the other ladies decide it's time for payback. But their little revenge stunt goes a little further than they planned.
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Moving On
Indian Summer
I Am Hamlet
The Dreaming
Richard's dozen or so one act plays have been performed all over the world with great success, often winning awards for
the companies that produce them. Mostly comedies, but often with a dark heart, they are easily staged and cast by just
about any group on the lookout for a new play. They range from a tense comedy thriller for two men (I Am Hamlet) to a
multi-award winning play for five women (White Lies).
All the plays below are available to read for free online via Richard's publishers, Lazy Bee Scripts. Simply click the titles to
see more information on each play, then follow the links to read the plays, order scripts or enquire about performing
licences. You will need to have Java installed and enabled on your computer to view the scripts.
Latest Productions
The Dreaming; The Grayshott Stagers
Vision Impaired; Little Acorn Production Company & Portree ADS
I Am Hamlet; The One Nighters, USA & Thurso Players
White Lies; Act One theatre group, Kent & Texline High School, USA
the companies that produce them. Mostly comedies, but often with a dark heart, they are easily staged and cast by just
about any group on the lookout for a new play. They range from a tense comedy thriller for two men (I Am Hamlet) to a
multi-award winning play for five women (White Lies).
All the plays below are available to read for free online via Richard's publishers, Lazy Bee Scripts. Simply click the titles to
see more information on each play, then follow the links to read the plays, order scripts or enquire about performing
licences. You will need to have Java installed and enabled on your computer to view the scripts.
Latest Productions
The Dreaming; The Grayshott Stagers
Vision Impaired; Little Acorn Production Company & Portree ADS
I Am Hamlet; The One Nighters, USA & Thurso Players
White Lies; Act One theatre group, Kent & Texline High School, USA
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Richard James / Actor & Playwright
