“Entertaining Angels”
‘I’ve poured two hundred thousand cups of tea, made four thousand six hundred medium-sized quiches and personally baked two tons of light crust pastry. And for what?’
As a clergy wife Grace has spent a lifetime on best behaviour. Now, following the death of her husband Bardolph, she is enjoying the new-found freedom of being able to do and say exactly as she pleases.
But the return of her eccentric missionary sister, Ruth, together with some disturbing revelations forces Grace to confront the truth of her marriage.
Set in a classic English vicarage garden complete with a grass-banked stream and willow, the play is filled with sharp-edged comedy and probing wit.
history…
The stage play “Entertaining Angels” began life by opening the main season at The Chichester Festival Theatre and playing to a record-breaking 26,000 people in just over 3 weeks.
The original production starred Penelope Keith, Benjamin Whitrow, Polly Adams, Caroline Harker and Abigail Thaw.
It was produced by Michael Codron and directed by Alan Strachan, with a magical set designed by Paul Farnsworth which had real grass and flowers, and an actual stream flowing across the apron stage! Several forms of flying wild life hatched out during the run!
Following the sell-out UK national tour playing to over 100,000 people, this much-acclaimed play has been published and performed all over the world including Switzerland, Israel, South Africa and New Zealand, and has enjoyed great success with amateur companies with over 200 productions…and counting!
"Demons'
Psychological drama.
First produced at the Zimmertheater, Heidelberg for a 4 month run, then a successful limited run of 20 performances in Lithuania, and most recently at The Ice Factory studio theatre, Teignmouth in an acclaimed production by The Teignmouth Touring Theatre Company.
Social media responses:
“Demons” had its UK premiere at The Ice Factory Studio Theatre last night and what an incredibly powerful piece it is … an intense experience left a number of people virtually speechless at the end. But boy was it worth it!”
“An exceptional piece of theatre that spoke directly to the emotions.”
“A wonderful piece of writing. Richard Everett has crafted a fascinating study of loss, blame and the power of forgiveness.”
“Richard Everett’s magnificent drama of bereavement was all I had come to expect.”
"DEMONS is a thrilling, stirring and wise play about mourning, guilt, and responsibility … ”
"Terrific world-premiere of Richard Everett’s impressively intimate play”
Mannheimer Morgen & Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung
"Four Play"
Comedy. First performed 2006 Edinburgh Festival
When Floyd and Kate invite their best friends Hugo and Sophie round for dinner to help them sort out their marital problems, private and well-intentioned arrangements are made for the couples to meet individually and talk more.
Within a few short scenes the play jumps ahead in time to the two couples meeting again having swapped partners the year before.
The play then traces how this came about and becomes a patchwork of time and incidents.
As the denial and self-deception unfolds and the almost farcical attempts by the couples to explain why they are spending so much time with their best friend’s husband/wife increase, the play jumps back and forth in time.
Eventually the evening of the four of them meeting again in a restaurant progresses revealing a number of surprises. The play’s final scene takes us back to the very first time that Floyd and Kate introduced Hugo to Sophie – and echoes of the very first scene of the play resound.
“Present from the past”
(AKA hindsight)
Family comedy drama.
Published by Samuel French
First produced as ‘Hindsight’ at the Watermill Theatre Newbury. Later national UK tour. Now regularly performed by amateur companies.
Samuel French Publications plot summary:
Frances, Howard and Rachel have always believed that their father, David, died in a boating accident when they were children .. but the truth is somewhat different.
When the three adult siblings gather to clear out the house of their recently deceased mother, long-hidden secrets are revealed.
But none of the skeletons to tumble from their collective closets is more tangible or more shocking than David, their father, arriving with the news that the house is, in fact, now his.
Questions of inheritance, personal justice, forgiveness and acceptance are raised by this sharply-observed and unsparing play, the differing reactions of David’s offspring to the various revelations being, in turn, hilarious, dramatic and moving.
“hand Over Fist”
Comedy drama set in the 1990’s.
Published by Samuel French
“Close to the wind”
Comedy drama
Published by Samuel French
First produced Theatre Royal Windsor. Later enjoyed a 3 month run at the main comedy house Theatre Am Kurfurstendamm, Berlin. Regularly performed by amateur companies.
Samuel French Publications writes ..“Gerry believes his twenty three year marriage is all right, but Kate feels differently.
Their lives have been a series of distractions – first home, children, second home – but now the children are going, Kate feels useless and wonders if it all hasn’t been a terrible mistake.
Returning home after a disastrous and abandoned visit to the theatre, hi-jacked by Gerry’s lively mother, Mary, Gerry and Kate attempt to salvage the evening at a local restaurant – but it just makes a bad evening out into a worse one.
Daughter Louise and her boyfriend Julian are key players in this comedy of marital mishap and mid-life crisis, as are Mary and her beau, Roy.
However, the end of this amusing and highly perceptive play finds Gerry and Kate caught on the sofa for all the world themselves like mischievous teenagers.”
“happy event”
Comedy/Farce
Published by Samuel French
