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Derek Benfield

DEREK BENFIELD

  (1926 - 2009)
Nationality:    English
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    The Agency (London) Ltd  

Rix farceur, television character actor and successful English comedy playwright - British Theatre Guide. Died 10th Mar 2009

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below is a list of Derek Benfield's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

         Anyone For Breakfast?         Bedside Manners         Beyond A Joke         Bird In the Hand, A         Caught On the Hop         Champagne For Breakfast         Don't Lose the Place         Down To Brass Tacks         First Things First         Fish Out Of Water         Fly In the Ointment, A         Flying Feathers         Funny Business         In At the Deep End         In For the Kill         Look Who's Talking         Murder For the Asking         Off the Hook         Out Of Thin Air         Over My Dead Body         Panic Stations         Party, The         Post Horn Gallop         Running Riot         Second Time Around         Third Party Risk         Toe In the Water         Touch And Go         Two And Two Together         Up And Running         Way the Wind Blows, The         Wild Goose Chase         Young In Heart, The

Anyone For Breakfast?

Synopsis:
marital mishaps in an evening an morning of riotous misunderstandings and mistaken identities

Notes:
may be duplicate of Ziegfeld entry, doollee

1st Produced:
Schaterteater, Antwerp    1991

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1994   -

Music:
-

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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bedside Manners

Synopsis:
Ferris is looking after his sister's seedy hotel. Two young couples arrive. Roger has arranged an assignation with Sally, leaving his wife Helen at home, but Helen and Geoff, Sally's husband, have also made plans for a naughty weekend together - at the same hotel. the mischievous Ferris discovers their guilty secrets and tries (at some financial reward to himself) to prevent the inevitable meeting of husbands, wives and lovers in assorted compromising situations.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Contra-Kreis Theatre, Bonn    1986

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1990   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Beyond A Joke

Synopsis:
Six times fatalities have occurred in Jane and andrew's country house. When daughter Sally's new young man, Geoff' arrives for the weekend he mistakenly gets the idea that the occurrences were due to something more sinister than 'accident'. When a visiting vicar passes peacefully away in the garden andrew and Jane try to remove the body. events are further confused by the unexpected arrival of Geoff's parents who are unaware that the body has been stowed in their car boot!

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Shanklin Theatre, Isle Of Wight    1979

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1980   -

Music:
-

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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bird In the Hand, A

Synopsis:
When Sylvia returns only twenty-four hours after walking out, her husband Max isn't exactly overjoyed. Nor is three times divorced Harry who has set the wheels in motion to recapture the romantic successes of their youthful days of bachelorhood and it's too late to stop the young ladies arriving! Sylvia watches with much amusement as her hapless husband tries, and fails, to appreciate the delights of freedom and finally decides that the bonds of matrimony are preferable.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Amateur    1973

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1973   -

Music:
-

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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Caught On the Hop

Synopsis:
Phil enlists his friend George's help in order to leave his wife for a girl he met on top of a bus

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Gateway Theatre, Chester    1977

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1979   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Champagne For Breakfast

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    1954

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Kenyon-Deane, 1954   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farcical Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Don't Lose the Place

Synopsis:
three trial husbands are time tabled to see which one will suit with the inevitable torrent of confusions and mistaken identities

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Amateur    1992

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1992   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Down To Brass Tacks

Synopsis:
after all the panic the fish and chip shop still opens on time

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Coliseum Theatre, Oldham    1962

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Deane & Sons, London, 1964   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

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Genre:
North Country Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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First Things First

Synopsis:
Pete and George are old friends. In fact, such good old friends that George has been Pete's best man at both of his weddings. Pete. now happily married to Sarah, is appalled when George arrives with the news that his first wife Jessica was not killed in a climbing accident as they had thought but is alive and well and keen to resume her life with Pete! This unexpected revelation leads to a series of hilarious situations as Peter and George try to find a way out of this desperate plight without upsetting either of Pete's wives or his second wife's powerful mother.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 2007   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Fish Out Of Water

Synopsis:
all the ingredients of package holidays - late flights, double bookings, foreign food, wine-tasting and love affairs.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Bromley, Kent    1962

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1963   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Fly In the Ointment, A

Synopsis:
Government ministers, ex mistresses, virtuous wife, devious pizza delivery boy, frustrated policewoman, oh what a farce

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Amateur    1996

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1996   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farce

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Flying Feathers

Synopsis:
Chief Constable arrive at country house of his late brother to find it has been turned into a brothel

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
K;Eine Komodie Theatre, Vienna    1987

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1987   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farce

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Funny Business

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 2005   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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In At the Deep End

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 2005   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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In For the Kill

Synopsis:
Suspicion follows a car accident before the surprise denouement

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Amateur    1981

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1981   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Thriller

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Look Who's Talking

Synopsis:
unexpected guests cause couple to weave an elaborate web of lies and half truths to hide their own possible infidelities

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Wyvern Theatre, Swindon    1983

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1984   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Murder For the Asking

Synopsis:
man is offered a job to murder another, he ruses but man is murdered anyway

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Bexhill-On-Sea    1966

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1967   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Off the Hook

Synopsis:
about a romp in a country house with certain dubious characters intent on finding a hidden hoard of money.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1970   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farce

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Out Of Thin Air

Synopsis:
the contract is finally signed despite the pretty girl

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Playhouse, Salisbury    1960

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Kenyon-Deane, 1961   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Over My Dead Body

Synopsis:
Following his wife's recent death Gerald hopes to spend the rest of his days alone with his memories. But he reckons without his late wife's forward planning, which results in a series of unexpected events occurring that Gerald had not anticipated. With the help of his daughter and son-in-law, Gerald strives to maintain his independence and keep unexpected visitors at bay. But the recalling of memories revives events from the past that are both funny and sad

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
full legth Comedy

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Panic Stations

Synopsis:
a local handyman and an attractive girl seem to have moved into a country cottage enhancing the owners aptitude for social and anti social blunders

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Amateur    1975

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1975   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farcical Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Party, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1964   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Light Play 1 act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Post Horn Gallop

Synopsis:
sequel to Wild Goose Chase as Lord elwood stands ready to repel attacks by the butcher's boy, the postman and other desperate characters

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Leas Pavilion, Folkestone    1964

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1965   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farce

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Running Riot

Synopsis:
Man mistaken for British champion runner at the Olympic games, after various adventures he obviously wins the race

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
New Theatre, Hull    1957

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1958   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farce

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Second Time Around

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Published,    -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Third Party Risk

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
in "New Plays Quarterly No.66" Evans Brothers, London, 1964   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Serious Play 1 act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Toe In the Water

Synopsis:
Misunderstandings, cunning lies and amorous attempts go wrong at the health farm

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Contr-Kreis Theatre, Bonn    1989

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1991   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Touch And Go

Synopsis:
a well sustained running joke, is Brian jogging or with his mistress?, as George continues his own dalliance.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Wyvern Theatre, Swindon    1982

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1984   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Domestic Farce

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Two And Two Together

Synopsis:
the two couples are forced into a riotous whirlwind of lies and misunderstandings as they try to conceal their guilty secrets

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Contr-Kreis Theatre, Bonn    1997

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1999   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Up And Running

Synopsis:
man attempts to convince his wife he is not having an affair and tries to save his business

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Frinton Summer Theatre, Frinton    1994

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1995   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  3            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Way the Wind Blows, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    1954

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Deane's Series of Plays, Kenyon-Deane, London, 1954   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Wild Goose Chase

Synopsis:
Chester Dreadnought bluff his way in to a stately home presided over by a trigger happy Earl. Two jewel thieves get in. The Earl has hallucinations

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
New Theatre, Hull    1954

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Bros, London, 1955   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Farce

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Young In Heart, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    1953

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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