Paul Burton Plays

 

On this page you can find information on the various short plays by Paul Burton, including news of their availability. Each of these plays runs at approximately 30 minutes in length and are especially ideal for staging in smaller theatres and church halls etc. by smaller drama groups and theatre companies: 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey Grant and Janet Grant decide to pitch their tent at a north Norfolk campsite for the weekend. However, their weekend break under canvas soon proves to be more of a test of their marriage than just a relaxing short holiday. Jeffrey had recently been made redundant and this has added further pressure to an already crumbling marriage. Their marital problems have not been helped by Jeffrey's sudden loss of sex drive. The Grant's problems increase when they discover that they have pitched their tent right next to the tent of a young couple, Steven Long and Kim Taylor, who are experiencing their own relationship problems. Steven's high sex drive and an inability to hold a meaningful conversation with his partner, Kim, are causing a strain on the recently-engaged couple. After both men and women pair off and spend an evening together discussing their respective relationship problems, further tension rears its ugly head between the couples. To try and calm the situation, Kim decides to thrown a barbecue. However, this proves to be a recipe for disaster and an argument ensues resulting in Jeffrey storming off followed by Kim who attempts to calm the situation. Meanwhile, drink and frustration causes Janet to make a desperate pass at Steven in the hope of sampling a taste of Steven's high sexual appetite. It is then that both Jeffrey and Kim return and rumble Janet's embarrassing and drunken attempt at seduction. Following the eventful barbecue, both couples realise that they will have to quickly re-evaluate their less-than-perfect relationships if they are to stay together.

 

 

 

Those playing Jeffrey Grant and Janet Grant must be close in age, and should be aged between late thirties and late forties. Those playing Steven Long and Kim Taylor must also be close in age, and should be aged between early and late twenties. 

 

 

There is no getting away from the fact that those staging this play will need to include two tents on the set for this play. However, this is really the only main set required. Apart from four chairs, a table, a barbecue (which doesn't need to be practical) very few other items of set or props are required. The remainder of the main set, which should suggest the corner of a north Norfolk campsite, is at the discretion of the director. Given its simplicity, this play is ideal for staging in small theatres or village halls. Indeed, because of its outdoor theme, it would beideal (subject to all licensing requirements being met) to stage in an outdoor area that has grassland. For instance land near a theatre, a village hall or even a seaside campsite! That way you could possibly even include park the cars of the respective couples near to the tents.

 

 

Available for performance now. Please click here for details of how to obtain a perusal script and the performing rights.

 

 

 

 

Rachel Moore has been busily preparing for her wedding to her fiance, Steve Parker, for several month. To celebrate the impending wedding day, Rachel and her two best friends, Christine Lewis and Emma North, go on a hen party weekend and stay at The Clarendon Hotel in Margate, Kent. It is on the first night, however, that Christine reveals to both Emma and Rachel that she has been having an affair with Steve. Christine's revelation results in a series of arguments and the following morning an unrelated incident which has a fatal outcome for one of the characters. 

 

 

 

The three actresses playing the roles must be close in age. However, the actresses can be aged from late teens to early thirties.

 

 

Ideally a boxed set would work the best for this play, although the set and prop suggestions described in the script could be simplified or changed to meet with your space and budgetary requirements. The set itself should suggest a room (Room 4) in a fictitious seafront hotel in Margate, Kent, which has seen better days and is in much-need or redecoration. Indeed, much of the furniture you add to the set should ideally be from the Seventies. 

 

 

Available for performance now. Please click here for details of how to obtain a perusal script and the performing rights.

 

 

 

 

Engaged office administrator, Tina Clark, wakes up with a bad hangover in a hotel room the morning after an office party and suddenly remembers that she has just had a one night stand with a married work colleague, salesman, Marc Wallace, who is in bed next to her. During the play the characters discuss their life and regrets and wonder whether it was alcohol, lust, life or a combination of all three that led them to spend the previous night together.  

 

 

 

Ideally the actor playing Marc Wallace should be in his early to mid thirties, while Tina Clark should be in her early to mid twenties. 

 

 

Ideally a boxed set would work the best for this play, although the set and prop suggestions described in the script could be simplified or changed to meet with your space and budgetary requirements. The set itself should ressemble a small hotel room in a city centre hotel.  

 

 

Available soon.

 

 

 

 

To be added shortly.

 

 

 

To be added shortly.

 

 

To be added shortly.

 

 

Available soon.

 

 

 

 

Simon Palmer and Grace Reid are busy planing their wedding together and although not as yet married, Simon comments that he already feels hen-pecked! To share the task of choosing a new outfit for her wedding, Grace invites her two best friends from work to a special get-together in order to sip a glass or two of wine and to browse the many wedding magazines that she has amassed. However, on the night of the get-together, it turns out that one of Grace's friends, Julie Watkins, is the same woman who Simon once jilted at the altar on their wedding day! It is then that all hell lets loose... 

 

 

 

The actor and actresses playing the roles in this play should ideally be close in age. However, the main age of the group can be aged from late twenties to early sixties.

 

 

Ideally a boxed set would work the best for this play, although the set and prop suggestions described in the script could be simplified or changed to meet with your space and budgetary requirements. The set, however, should suggest a modest house in a leafy suburb of London. 

 

 

Available for performance now. Please click here for details of how to obtain a perusal script and the performing rights.