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Darkly Comic Shorts

A collection of short, darkly comic plays.

Very Short

Comedy

Departure Lounge

An influencer meets her nemesis at a very inconvenient moment.

2 women (one aged 18 to 40 and one younger), 1 adult (any age and gender)

One Act

Comedy

Date (K)Nights

Sex for the Over 60's

5F (Over 50)

Very Short

Comedy

Stuck in the Middle

John and Stella are enjoying eternity together, but their peace is shattered when Mary arrives. A winner in the Chesil Theatre TakeTen Festival 2026

1M, 2F

Very Short

Comedy

Just One Wish

Jane gets more than she bargained for when she opens her new book.

1 M, 1 F, 1 either

Very Short

Comedy

The Small Print

In his jovial holiday mood, George just cannot help himself and is unable to resist temptation. If only he had read the small print.

2 male, 1 female, 1 male or female

One Act

Comedy

Love and Freindship

Jane Austen's Love and Freindship adapted for the stage

2M and 3F with doubling.

One Act

Comedy

After Esme

A comedy about female friendship, loss, and refusing to become invisible.

6 women (4 main roles; 2 smaller) (5 women aged 50-65; 1 woman 18-25)

Very Short

Comedy

Chocoholics Anonymous

A support group, set up for individuals with a chocolate addiction, meets weekly under the guise of being a book club.

4F

Very Short

Drama

Bucket List

Two old acquaintances meet again and discuss old times. But this is no innocent trip down memory lane. One of them has an ulterior motive, and a very old score to settle.

2 women (aged approx 35 to 50 and 60+)

Very Short

Comedy

Marilyn the Fifth

A White Witch. Two sceptics. A talking cat. And one rather inconvenient question: does the soul really exist?

3F or 2F and 1M

One Act

Drama

Granny and the Wolf

In this modern re-imagining of Red Riding Hood, just who is the wolf and who is in danger?

Written to be performed by adults of various ages.

Very Short

Comedy

Ego Ergo Sum

Who is the biggest narcissist?

2M, 1F

Very Short

Comedy

The Morning After

Brian and Eliza meet on a dating app for seniors. But next morning brings a confrontation with reality. A winner in the Woolton Drama Group (Liverpool) Taste of Funny Festival 2025.

1M, 2F

Very Short

Comedy

The Unblocking of a Bladder

Is it hope that causes all our problems? A winner at the 2026 TakeTen festival on the theme of Angels.

2 people. Gender non-specific.

Very Short

Comedy

The Playwright

A prize-winning play about entering playwriting competitions - and J B Priestley

1 man, 1 woman of similar age; or 2 women (mother/daughter)

Very Short

Comedy

BARF

Prize-winning dark comedy. Why is Pauline so pleased that the appliance repairman is single?

1 woman, 1 man

Very Short

Comedy

A New Garden

When a green-fingered vicar and his wife begin digging up the vicarage lawn for "unusual" flower beds, the gossiping village of Little Gittings starts to rot from the inside out

2F

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