Eric Chappell – författare

Nigel Burke, aspiring playwright, is neurotic and agraphobic and hasn't written a word for three months. His wife Mary, is nearing the end of her tether, his agent, Turner, is desperate for him to start writing again, and novelist-turned-playwright Julia Phillips is pestering him for an opinion on her play, as well as showing more than a professional interest in him. As if this isn't bad enough, Nigel is visited by the mysterious Potter, who knows of Nigel's interest in Byron and gives him a goblet used by the poet. Drinking from the goblet brings about subtle changes in Nigel's confidence and manner - and then out of nowhere, Byron himself appears! Part ghost story, part thriller, part battle-of-the-sexes comedy, this is a play from the author of "Natural Causes".

Based on the television seies "Only When I Laugh", this hospital commedy traces the fortunes of a trio of patients who form an uneasy alliance againt the confusions and insecurities of hosptal life. The cynical and defensive Higgins, the young and nervous Gary and the weary hypochondriac Palmer share a men's surgical ward in this study of the British male at his most vulnerable.

Bookseller Alec Firth is having an affair with his assistant, Liz, and has craftily organized his domestic life so that they can go to Spain without making Alec's wife Maggie remotely suspicious. What could possibly go wrong? The answer: plenty.

Imagine returning from a pleasant anniversary celebration with your oldest friends to find that your house has been burgled. The burglar is still in the house and has you convinced, for a while, that he is, in fact, a policeman investigating the break-in. Once his true identity is known, the burglar reveals that he knows all kinds of uncomfortable truths about you, your spouse and your friends. That burglar is none other than Spriggs, who succeeds, in "Theft", Chappell's witty comedy-thriller, in disturbing two seemingly happy marriages and one formerly strong friendship with his own brand of subversive observation. It is packed with one-liners, daring reversals and comments on marriage, money, and crime.

Philip Conway, Deputy Prime Minister, is attending a party conference. He has been tipped to be the new party leader, but his campaign for powers is in serious danger of collapse. This is a play about the underhand dealing that goes on in political circles - who will get their just desserts?

Ex-boxer Spinks is myopic, poor and lonely, his one companion being the alcoholic Kingsley. To gain attention, he pretends to win the Lottery and is soon receiving freebies and handouts from people hoping to get a share of his fortune and, for the first time in ages, advances from women.

Two plays set in the offices of Multiple Holdings. Rex, Harry and Osborne form an uncomfortable alliance against the management, as personified by Fletcher. In "We Don't Want to Lose You", Rex is ordered to sack Osborne, and "Cut and Dried" opens with the news that Rex's job is up for grabs.

Emily Baines and May Brewer share a bedsitting-room in the Summer End retirement home. May is a newcomer; Emily's previous room-mate, Bella, died not long ago. Cantankerous, iron-willed but forgetful Emily is certain that Bella was murdered for her money by Sally, one of the carers, in collusion with the home's ageing sex-symbol, Vernon Watts, and she has evidence to prove it - or so she thinks. When her evidence disappears and Bella's sapphire ring is found among her possessions Emily cannot remember enough about her own past actions to stop the finger of suspicion pointing at her. It is not until May is attacked by the would-be killer that the mystery is solved. Summer End combines the elements of a murder-mystery thriller with a touching and funny character study of two old ladies whose early mutual mistrust gradually changes into friendship as they face suspicion and adversity together.

This title features M5 (30s, 40s, 50), F2 (30s). A living-room. Fee code M. Estate agent Kevin and his wife Valerie are to be subjected to an extended visit from her brother Victor, a none too successful con artist who has just been released from prison. Victor is delighted to hear that wealthy widow Lucy is also staying with them and it isn't long before he sets about charming her with a valuable diamond bracelet he's got on approval from the local jeweller's using the unwitting Kevin as surety. But when events don't go quite according to plan Victor is forced to improvise very rapidly, not least with the bullish rugby playing bank manager, Tank, and his fellow team mate, Tom, the local jeweller. And then a surprise visitor turns up in the form of Soapy Simpson (not so much artist by appointment to Her Majesty but rather more detained at Her Majesty's pleasure). Will Kevin ever be able to hold his head up in the local community again? Will Tom ever get rid of the taste of washing crystals? Will Soapy manage to complete a portrait? Will Lucy fall prey to Victor's charms? Will nothing stop the incorrigible Victor...BAFTA award-winning Eric Chappell, creator of "Rising Damp", delivers the hilarious goods again with this madcap comedy. Kevin: an estate agent; late 30s. Valerie: his wife; 30s. Lucy: their attractive, vivacious friend; 30s. Victor: Valerie's brother, pale, well groomed; early 40s. Tank: big, robust, self-important bank manager; 50s. Soapy: good looking, raffish; 30s. Toby: bulky build, serious; 40s.

Perennially hard-up, lecherous, conceited, dishonest and drunk, the eighteenth-century Squire Amos Haggard was first conceived by Michael Green and subsequently brought to television screens in Eric Chappell's much-loved ITV series. In Chappell's stage adaptation, our anti-hero disguises himself as the notorious bar brawler 'One-Eyed Will', seduces a member of the aristocracy, poisons himself, survives an encounter with Death, fights a duel and ends up in prison waiting to be hanged. His son Roderick and servant Grunge are his not-so-faithful companions. The author describes this hilarious adaptation as "an undisciplined romp" and encourages imagination, ingenuity and a great deal of fun in its staging.

'Fickle thing, memory.' Malcolm discovers how true his words are when he takes his friend Clive to a singles' evening. Clive, a hospital porter masquerading as a doctor, has just been left by his wife, while Malcolm is a confirmed bachelor and "big in imports" - really a market stall trader. In the deserted hotel bar, to the depressing soundtrack of the next-door ballroom, they meet two recent divorcees; upwardly-mobile Julie and cynical, defiant Liz. Malcolm is determined to break down Liz's defences while trying to pair off Clive with Julie. But the women have a few tricks of their own, and Malcolm soon finds that life, like the evening, is full of surprises.

Frank Cook, having been taken ill with a rare complaint, has been booked into a private nursing home by his wife June for a week's respite. Whilst there, he encounters the Reverend Paul Latimer who is recovering from a heart transplant and whose odd behaviour is beginning to alarm his wife, Sarah. The young, attractive Tracey might provide the answer. She is convinced that the vicar's new heart belonged to her recently deceased lover Melvin, a fairground "wall of death" rider. Could it be that Paul has taken on Melvin's personality traits as well as his heart? That would explain the swearing, the smoking, the drinking and the clandestine canoodling with Tracey in the rose garden. Then again, perhaps he's just suffering from the side effects of his medication? Frank, ever the cantankerous sceptic, is delighted by the vicar's fall from grace, while June does her best to rein in his detective work. Side Effects is a hilarious comedy for two men and three women from the Bafta-winning creator of Rising Damp.

M2 F4. A living room. Fee code M Comedian and national treasure Dave Thursby has died, and on the day of his funeral, friends and colleagues gather beside his coffin to pay their last respects. There's Harvey, who wrote Dave's material; Vi, Harvey's wife; Kevin, Dave's agent, and Kevin's wife Jane. Dave's glamorous widow Laura has arranged a funeral to remember, complete with a horse-drawn hearse and an attendant dog. An unfamiliar woman in flamboyant mourning clothes turns out to be Kay, Dave's ex-wife from before he was famous, and a series of revelations end with Kevin throwing a drink into the coffin and all the guests asking themselves if they ever knew the 'real' Dave. Act II opens three weeks later for the disposal of Dave's ashes. The atmosphere is tense and Kevin is wearing a controversial tie, but as more truths are revealed, even from beyond the crematorium Dave seems to be having the last laugh. "Wife After Death" was first presented at the Theatre Royal, Brighton in March 2010, with Tom Conti playing Harvey. "...a terrific evening of love and laughter." ("The British Theatre Guide").

It's a cold winter's evening and bitter, irascible divorce Henry is enjoying a Scotch and some classical music in glorious solitude. He is soon disturbed, however, by the unwelcome appearance of his son Matthew, bringing with him his new girlfriend, the unappealing punk/Goth Christine. Matthew is obviously keen for a reconciliation with his father, but Henry is quite happy the way things are, and sparks soon fly - but this is just the beginning, for who should arrive next but Henry's ex-wife, Matthew's mother, Sue! As the cold night wears on Henry and Sue can't help but rake over the ashes of their seemingly dead relationship. To their surprise, the faint glow of a new tenderness develops between them and before long Henry is facing some important decisions..."Father's Day" is a warm and touching comedy based on Eric Chappell's hit TV series "Home to Roost".