N. F. Simpson – författare

I shall shortly be eighty-eight. High time to be giving serious thought to the direction my life should be taking.In an upper-crust retirement home, Geoffrey Wythenshaw sits down to write his memoir. But he faces constant interruption from his fellow residents, their visiting relatives and the attending staff. Some of them seek his wisdom, others only distraction.

'I'm terribly methodical and orderly, but I have a strange, underlying contempt for it... what I try to express is chaos in a context of order. And that's the basis of all comedy I suppose.' N.F. Simpson, The Guardian, 1965N. F. Simpson was one of the leading exponents of the theatre of the absurd, and is best known for his play A Resounding Tinkle, made famous by its premiere at the Royal Court in 1957, and later to star Peter Cook. He was a major force in the satire boom of the sixties, and wrote much exceptional comedy for film and TV for the likes of John Cleese, Beryl Reid, Hattie Jacques and Eric Sykes, as well as a number of brilliantly funny plays for theatre, which starred big names such as Harold Pinter and Kenneth Williams. His influence on everyone from Peter Cook's much-loved character E. L. Wisty to Monty Python's Flying Circus helped spawn a generation of incredible comic talent.Plays included in the collection are A Resounding Tinkle, The Hole, Gladly Otherwise, One Way Pendulum, The Cresta Run, Was He Anyone? and his final work, If So, Then Yes, first performed in 2010.This collection celebrates the work of this lost comic genius, and seeks to put his reputation back at the heart of British - and world - comedy.

N. F. Simpson was one of the leading exponents of the theatre of the absurd, and is best known for his play A Resounding Tinkle, made famous by its premiere at the Royal Court in 1957, and later to star Peter Cook. But beyond that he was a major force in the satire boom of the sixties, and wrote much exceptional comedy for film and TV for the likes of John Cleese, Beryl Reid, Hattie Jacques and Eric Sykes, as well as a number of brilliantly funny plays for theatre, which starred big names such as Harold Pinter and Kenneth Williams. His influence on everyone from Peter Cook's much-loved character E. L. Wisty to Monty Python's Flying Circus helped spawn a generation of incredible comic talent.Plays included in the collection are A Resounding Tinkle, The Hole, Gladly Otherwise, One Way Pendulum, The Cresta Run, Was He Anyone? and his final work, If So, Then Yes, first performed in 2010.This collection celebrates the work of this lost comic genius, and seeks to put his reputation back at the heart of British - and world - comedy.

Each of the Groomkirbys has an idee fixe. Kirby is teaching his speak-your-weight machines the "Hallelujah Chorus"; his mother pays the neighbour to eat their left-overs; his aunt in her wheelchair is convinced she's touring the Hebrides; his father is building the Old Bailey in the living-room. When this is complete the judge and jury move in with some bizarre results...4 women, 10 men

The story of a willowy little man who comes to an office for an interview. He has a long wait, and to kill time he shows the receptionist his photographic collection. Finally, the important man arrives and the little man is given his forms to fill out. Don't bother too much with the answers to the questions, he is told; just concentrate on the replies. The little man leaves, but returns shortly a changed man, and forthwith begins interviewing and lecturing the important man himself. A thought provoking, topsy turvy comedy.2 women, 2 men

The hole is in the road. In the depths of it workmen are working. At the top, a man with a camp stool, vacuum flask, haversack, and other necessities for a long vigil is forming the nucleus of a queue. From time to time curious folk gather round and wonder what is going on below. Each gazes into the hole and sees a different significance to the events down there. Their theories are ingenious but contradictory. With the fanaticism of the scientist, the politician and the preacher, each tries to convince the others. Produced in London with great success.2 women, 5 men