Plays written by Eric Chappell : Eric Chappell Productions Limited - BAFTA award winner and writer of Rising Damp

Plays written by Eric Chappell

An in depth look in to Eric Chappell's plays

A short passage informing the user that they can actually acquire Eric's plays and to view a short synopsis of what his plays are all about.

The Banana Box / a.k.a. Rising Damp

The play that inspired the TV series Rising Damp was produced at the Apollo Theatre, London in 1973 with Leonard Rossiter, Francis de la Tour and Don Warrington in the leading roles. The play has now been revised under the title Rising Damp but is still firmly based in the late sixties.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Dead Reckoning - a thriller

A new play and something of a departure for the author, a thriller. When the mysterious Mr Todd arrives at Anthony reed's house and offers to kill his wife's murderer and so satisfy Reed's long desire for revenge - Reed, tempted, finally agrees. After making the decision Reed and Megan, his second wife, find themselves entering a nightmare from which there seems no escape. First produced at the Robin Hood Theatre, Averham.

Characters / Male 3 (40's), Female 1 (40's)

Set / Upper Drawing Room.

Amateur and repertory rights with Josef Weinberger Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Double Vision

First performed at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool and the Robin Hood Theatre, Averham. Myopic ex-boxer Spinks, an impecunious resident of a tower block, lets it be known that he has won the lottery. With the assistance of his alcoholic friend Kingsley he attempts to woo the twin sisters who have come after his alleged fortune.

Characters / Male 2 (50's, 30's), Female 1 (30's)

Set / A Council Flat.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

False Pretences - A Farce

When confidence trickster Victor Blake descends on his long suffering sister and brother-in-law after a spell in prison he finds that they have a guest - an attractive and wealthy widow. He sees this as a solution to his financial problems and deploys his charm and trickery to ensnare her. But one scheme founders after another until Victor encounters the worst of hidden reefs. The characters in this play were inspired by those in The Bounder, the TV series starring Peter Bowles and George Cole.

Characters / Male 5 (50's, 30's), Female 2 (30's)

Set / Drawing Room.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Father's Day

This play inspired the TV series Home to Roost starring John Thaw and Reece Dinsdale. It tells of Henry Willows, a lonely and embittered divorcee, being visited one night by this wayward son, Matthew and Matthew's strange girlfriend Christine. Finally Henry's ex-wife, Sue, arrives in pursuit of Matthew. A strange reconciliation, sometimes stormy, sometimes romantic, takes place over the evening, much of this due to Matthew's guile.

Characters / Male 2 (20's, 50's), Female 2 (20's, 40's)

Set / A Living room.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Fiddlers Three

A double bill of plays dealing with office life and the struggles of three accounts clerks, Rex, Harry and Osborne to address the twin problems and dismissal and promotion watched over by the steely JF. These plays were inspired by the TV series, The Squirrels, and Fiddlers Three starring Bernard Hepton, Ken Jones, Peter Davison and Paula Wilcox.

Characters / Male 5 (20's, 30's, 50's), Female 2 (20's, 30's)

Set / A split office.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Ground Rules

When Gerry and Judith, a long married couple, rescue Jo from an assault by her aggressive partner Ashley, one night in a pub they trigger off a chain of events that even Judith - trained in counselling - cannot control.

Characters / Male 2 (40's, 20's), Female 2 (40's, 20's)

Set / Snug and Bar.

For all rights contact /with Josef Weinberger Ltd.

Haunted

Nigel Burke, playwright, is neurotic and agoraphobic and hasn't written a word in three months much to the chagrin of his wife and agent. One night he is visited by the mysterious Potter who knows of Nigel's obsession with Lord Byron. Potter offers him the skull goblet once owned by Byron. Drinking from the goblet brings a profound change in Nigel and finally Byron's ghost appears. First performed at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, starring Keith Barron.

Characters / Male 4 (30's, 40's), Female 2 (30's)

Set / A study.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Haywire

Alec Firth is having an affair with his assistant Liz and has organised his domestic life so that they can go to Spain without making his wife Maggie suspicious. What could go wrong? Plenty as the rest of the family arrive on the doorstep in rapid succession; Phoebe, Alec's mother, who has discharged herself from the old people's home; Alec's son Jamie who has a broken ankle, and finally his daughter Mandy who is heavily pregnant and refuses to marry the father.

Characters / Male 2 (20's, 40's), Female 4 (20's, 30's, 40's, 70's)

Set / A living room.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Heatstroke a.k.a Snakes and Ladders

In a play which involves two couples disputing a holiday villa - assumed identities - a snake which has also taken up residence - a bag of stolen money - and a criminal known as Mad Dog Moon - we have all the ingredients of a mad, fast moving farce. The play has recently enjoyed a successful tour of the Uk under the title Snakes and Ladders starring Paul Nicholas and Ian Ogilvy.

Characters / Male 4 (30's, 50's), Female 2 (20's, 40's)

Set / Living room and terrace.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

It Can Damage Your Health aka Only When I Laugh

This play based on the hit TV show Only When I Laugh starring Peter Bowles and James Bolam. In recent years the stage version has toured Sweden, Australia and the Uk and starred such names as Geoffrey Hughes, Michael Elphick and Geoffrey Davies. The play traces the fortunes of a desperate trio in Men's Surgical. Together they form and uneasy alliance against the confusions and insecurities of hospital life.

Characters / Male 5 (20's, 30's, 40's, 50's), Female 1 (20's)

Set / A hospital ward.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Last of the Duty Free

Last of the Duty is a sequal to the tv series Duty Free which played to millions of viewers. The scene is many years later in which deceptions, misunderstandings and preposterous situations abound. Gwen Taylor, Keith Baron and Neil Stacey return to the scene of their previous exploits when the play opens at The Royal Theatre, Windsor in April 2014.

Amateur and repertory rights with Josef Weinberger Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Mixed Feelings

First performed at Malvern Theatre and subsequently toured to excellent reviews, the play starred Paul Nicholas, Mary Tamm and John Benfield. When Vernon, a suburban accountant, takes the plunge and becomes the woman he's always wanted to be he finds life very different to the one he imagined. He's leered at by taxi drivers, propositioned by his boss, pursued by his best friend and jealous mistress. But his main concern is will his wife and daughter understand him!

Characters / Male 3 (40's, 50's), Female 3 (20's, 40's)

Set / Dining room and patio.

For all rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Natural Causes

Vincent is from Exodus, a euthanasia group that assists people in suicide. When he is invited to Walter Bryce's country house to assist in the disposal of Walter's wife he senses something is wrong. Why are the suicide notes unsigned? What is the role of Walter's attractive secretary? Why has the Samaritan been sent for? The play enjoyed a successful tour of the UK with George Cole playing the part of Vincent.

Characters / Male 3 (40's, 60's), Female 2 (20's, 40's)

Set / Study / library.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Passing Strangers

'Fickle Thing...memory'. Malcolm discovers how true his words are when he takes his unhappy and discarded friend, Clive, to a Singles' Evening. There they meet the upwardly-mobile Julie and the cynical, defiant Liz. As Malc tries to pair Clive off with Julie and break down the embittered Liz's defenses, he finds that life, like the evening, is full of surprises.

Characters / Male 2 (40's), Female 2 (30's, 40's)

Set / Deserted bar off ballroom.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Sitting Tenants

Paula Price arrives at the Old Rectory one dark and rainy night accompanied by the landlord Nash. The flat is not what she was promised and Nash is guarded about her fellow tenants. When the tenants begin to reveal themselves the reason for the landlord's reticence becomes clear...

Characters / Male 3 (40's) Female 2 (20's, 60's)

Set / Old Dining Room.

For all rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Something's Burning

This play was first produced at the Theatre Royal, Windsor and starred Joanna van Gyseghem and Christopher Blake. The play is a wry comedy centred on Nell, an attractive if acerbic woman who has been deserted by her husband and now feels at the crossroads of her life. Her affair with George Rush, a local teacher and poet, is going nowhere until the arrival of an older man. He provides the spark that causes the dying affair to erupt suddenly into flame.

Characters / Male 2 (40's, 50's) Female 3 (30's, 40's)

Set / Living Room / Terrace.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Summer End

Emily Baines is a defiant, embattled old lady who resides in the Summer End retirement home. She believes that her previous companion has been murdered but no-one will listen to her, especially her new fellow tenant May Brewer. Emily points the finger of suspicion at everyone until it finally turns towards her.

Characters / Male 1 (50's) Female 4 (20's, 40's, 70's)

Set / A Bed-Sitting Room.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

The Night in Question

When a woman is attacked in a city car park the staff of Faraday Finance fall under suspicion - particularly Brian Heath who has been picked out at an identification parade and whose first wife died under mysterious circumstances. Inspector Rudkin is certain of Heath's guilt but the case becomes more complex as the investigation continues.

Characters / Male 5 (30's, 40's, 50's) Female 3 (20's, 40's)

Set / General Office.

For all rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Theft

This play has enjoyed two successful tours of the UK, starring George Cole, Roy Hudd and Leslie Grantham. On returning from a night out two couples discover a burglar and apprehend him. They soon begin to wish they hadn't as he commences to disrupt two seemingly happy marriages and reveal certain uncomfortable truths about their honesty.

Characters / Male 3 (40's, 50's) Female 2 (40's)

Set / A Drawing Room.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Up and Coming

The play was first produced under its original title 'Up and Running' at the Theatre Royal, Windsor and starred Keith Barron and Susie Blake. Philip Conway is attending a party conference where he intends to make his thrust for power. On the night in question his position is compromised by various visitors including Vicky whose love promises to be a permanent embarrassment.

Characters / Male 5 (30's, 40's, 50's, 60's) Female 2 (20's, 30's)

Set / A Hotel Suite.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

We're Strangers Here

First performed on TV with Geraldine McEwen and Ian Hendry as a two-hander and subsequently as a four-hander at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, the play eventually became the popular sitcom Duty Free. The play, like the series, deals with two warring couples on holiday in Spain. As in the original play the scene is set in the sixties and maybe played as a two-hander or four-hander and as a double bill or two one acts.

Characters / Male 2 (40's) Female 2 (40's)

Set / A Hotel Bedroom on the Costa del Sol.

Amateur and repertory rights with Josef Weinberger Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Wife after Death

Dave Thursby's friends are gathered at his funeral. Their memories of him are very different and often clash. When the mysterious Kay arrives to drop her bombshell everyone endeavours to keep up appearances for the sake of the widow. Later, when the time comes to dispose of the ashes and Dave's secret life is finally exposed, tempers and ashes fly.

Currently touring and starring Tom Conti (2010).

Characters / Male 2 (30's, 40's), Female 4 (30's, 50's)

Set / A sitting room.

Amateur and repertory rights with Samuel French Ltd.

For all other rights contact / Eric Chappell Productions Ltd.

Eric Chappell Productions - BAFTA award winner and writer of Rising Damp