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Bob Larbey

BOB LARBEY  (1934 - )

Nationality:    English
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    The Agency (London) Ltd  represented by Stephen Durdridge


Bob Larbey was born in South London, moving to Ockley in 1979 where he now enjoys the quiet life with his wife, Trisha, son Matthew, and their cats and dogs. Bob and Trisha have given sterling support to ODS for many years (Bob writing and directing, Trisha acting and assisting in many ways, including a stint as Secretary). In 2001 they were both made life members of the Society in recognition of their invaluable contribution. Bob began his writing career in radio and made his television debut with a film adaptation, 'Mrs Silly' starring Maggie Smith, which proved a huge popular success. With his partner John Esmonde he has written many comedy series for television, including 'Please Sir', 'The Fenn Street Gang', 'Get Some In', 'The Good Life', 'The Other One', 'Feet First', 'Just Liz', 'Don't Rock the Boat', 'Now and Then', 'Ever Decreasing Circles' and 'Double First'. His solo work for television includes 'On the Up', 'My Good Friend' and 'As Time Goes By', but Bob is probably best known for the highly acclaimed series 'A Fine Romance' starring Judi Dench and Michael Williams, for which he won both the Broadcasting Press Guild Award and the Pye Award for Best Comedy of 1982. Bob's work for stage includes 'Building Blocks' (in which the central character was allegedly based on a well-known local builder) and 'A Month of Sundays', for which he won the London Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy of 1986. With John he wrote 'Hiccups', which was first performed at the Thorndike Theatre in 1980 but was revived to appreciative reviews by ODS at the Dorking Halls in 1988. For this production Bob provided additional material, including two entirely new characters, and directed it himself with Trisha's assistance. Specially for ODS, Bob has written and directed two plays, 'Half an Idea' and 'A Small Affair'. Most recently, in November 2001, the Society performed Bob's play 'Sand Castles', a comedy of beach hut politics based on an idea by Trisha, originally written to a commission from BT for a millennium project. - http://www.ockleydramaticsociety.org.uk/authors/bob_larbey.php

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

Building Blocks         Fine Romance, A         Good Life, The         Half An Idea         Hiccups         Month Of Sundays, A         Sand Castles         Small Affair, A         Touch Of The Tiny Hacketts



Building Blocks

Synopsis:
Hilarious and touching moments abound in this comedy of the traumas encountered when Jim and Mary decide to have an extension built onto their house. Smiles and groans of recognition will be brought to all who have ever dealt with such a situation.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1994   -

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:  6            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:

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Fine Romance, A

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
in "Situation Comedy 2" Hutchinson, 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:
Situation Comedy Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  4            Other:  extras

Further Reference:
-

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Good Life, The

Synopsis:
3 Episodes from the classic series: "Whose Fleas Are These?", "The Last Posh Frock" and The Xmas Special (Silly, But It's Fun).

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Lass O'Gowrie in Manchester    Nov 2012

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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Half An Idea

Synopsis:
about a writer whose play comes to life in unexpected ways

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Ockley Drama Society, Surrey, UK    1992

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1994   -

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:
One act

Parts:
Male:  9            Female:  18            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Hiccups

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Bob Larbey And John Esmonde

1st Produced:
Thorndike Theatre    1980

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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Month Of Sundays, A

Synopsis:
a play about heroism in a Rest Home for the Elderly

Notes:
aka The First Sunday in Every Month

1st Produced:

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
amber Lane Press, Oxford, 1986   -

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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Sand Castles

Synopsis:
We all like to be beside the seaside and as everybody knows, an Englishman's home is his sand castle. Stan and Bernice Billet and William and Margaret Patterson have been taking their holidays in the same resort for years. They don't exactly rule the waves but they have turned the area around their beach huts into a cozy little fiefdom. And then along comes Doug, with his nubile nieces. They don't give a hoot for beach hut protocol - they just want to have fun in the sun.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Ockley Drama Society, Surrey, UK    28 Nov 2001

Organisations:
written to a commission by British Telecom for a Millennium project

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:
Play/Drama

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  10            Other:  2c

Further Reference:
-

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Small Affair, A

Synopsis:
about the perils of TV rehearsal rooms

Notes:
Etcetera Theatre, London, 2002

1st Produced:
Ockley Drama Society, Surrey, UK    1990

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1994   -

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 One act

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  12            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Touch Of The Tiny Hacketts

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Bob Larbey And John Esmonde

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Eyre Methuen, London, 1978   -

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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