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Ian Townsend

IAN TOWNSEND

  (1962 - )
Nationality:    British
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Literary Agent:    n/a

Ian Townsend, born 24 October 1962, has been involved in theatre for over 30 years, as writer, actor, director and producer. He wrote the Manchester Theatre Award winning All the Bens, the Edinburgh Fringe Critics' Choice and 24:7 sell-out play Granny Must Die, The Final Days of Fringe Theatre (Taurus and Riverside Theatre, Hammersmith) and Well Groomed & Bride Awake (rehearsed reading at the Royal Exchange Theatre). His play, The House in Sofia with a Map of its Surroundings, won the 2014 Kings Cross New Writing Award. Ian has also directed more than 50 plays, including Champion (To Russia With Love/Queer Contact), Fetish Knights (Martin Harris Centre and Lowry), The Opposite of Claustrophobic (NW Tour), The Dumb Waiter (Taurus), Abigail's Party (Oldham), Frozen, Noises Off, What the Butler Saw and 12 Angry Men (all Manchester).

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

         All the Bens         Being Amazing         Edna and Jim & The Perfect Sandwich         Fringe Quartet         Granny Must Die         House in Sofia with a Map of its Surroundings, The         Last Chair, The         Lonely Walk Home, The         Marjorie, Edward and George         Turn Around         Well Groomed and Bride Awake

All the Bens

All the Bens
Ben likes Al, but Al says he's straight. Al likes Henry, but not in THAT way. Henry likes numbers, especially the number 7. When Ben meets Al, and Al meets Henry, everything changes. A vibrant portrayal of loneliness, desire, and what happens when you meet your monster in the park

Notes:
Manchester 24:7 theatre Festival 2012

1st Produced:
Manchester: Pioneer Stage, New Century House     21 Jul 2012

Organisations:
Northern Elastic Theatre Company

1st Published:
Playdead Press (10 April 2014)   

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:
56 min play

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Being Amazing

Synopsis:
17 year old Leon wakes up believing his day is going to be amazing. The only trouble is, everything  home, college, family, friends, the world at large  seems to be working against him, and the day just keeps getting worse and worse. He has only one hope  his mums favourite singer, Kate Bush. But can she save the day?

Notes:
Monologue for male actor who can convincingly portray 17 year old. Features lots of Kate Bush music!

1st Produced:
The Octagon Theatre, Bolton     23 Jun 2017

Organisations:
The Octagon Theatre, Bolton

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:
Monologue

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Edna and Jim & The Perfect Sandwich

Synopsis:
Edna and Jim have been married for 50 years, so why is Jim only now revealing that all hasnt been what they seem with Ednas sandwiches? And what, if anything, will she do to turn things around? A short play about love, loss and luncheon meat. Set in a kitchen.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Arundel Football Club (Part of Arundel Festival)     21 Aug 2017

Organisations:
Drip Action Theatre Trail

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:
One Act Comedy

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  Parts for elderly male and female actors.

Further Reference:
-

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Fringe Quartet

Synopsis:
When 3 disillusioned, out-of-work actresses and a prolific but unperformed playwright get together to put on a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, will they all find what they are looking for, or will life get in the way as usual? A funny little play about making friends, taking chances, and doing a bit of acting.

Notes:
Two Acts, various simple interior scenes.

1st Produced:
Guide Bridge Theatre, Audenshaw, Manchester     2007

Organisations:
Northern Elastic Theatre Company

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-length Comedy Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Granny Must Die

Synopsis:
What a flipping carry on! Little old Granny has only gone and made a pact with the Devil. So how can her family rid themselves of this monstrous old hag when she simply refuses to die? Find out in this irreverent, irrepressible and irresistible farce. With politically incorrect knobs on.

Notes:
part of Manchester's 24:7 theatre Festival

1st Produced:
Blue, Manchester     2008

Organisations:
Northern Elastic Theatre Company

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:
55 min comedy One Act

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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House in Sofia with a Map of its Surroundings, The

Synopsis:
14 year old Jack has locked himself in his bedroom, refusing to talk; his dad, Tom, is worried, as he knows the reason for Jack's seclusion, and asks a family friend, Eve for help. Eve, a cancer specialist, has secrets of her own as well as a dying husband, Michael. When Eve meets Gemma, a damaged young woman, she is forced to confront her own demons. In a series of internal thoughts and external conversations, the characters, all trapped and failing to communicate, help each other to face life in surprising and unexpected ways.

Notes:
Winner of the Kings Cross New Writing Award 2014. Rehearsed reading in October 2014

1st Produced:
The Courtyard Theatre     01 Oct 2014

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:
2 Act Drama

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  2            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Last Chair, The

Synopsis:
With only one chair left in the world, who gets to sit down? And what happens if it's not your decision? And just why is there only one chair left anyway? An absurd comedy with a touch of Beckett, a smattering of Pinter, a pinch of Ionesco, and a heap of Townsend.

Notes:
Simple single set (a chair!).

1st Produced:
New Century House, 24:7 Theatre Festival, Manchester.     2009

Organisations:
Northern Elastic Theatre Company

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:
50 minute One Act Absurdist Comedy One Act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Lonely Walk Home, The

Synopsis:
About loneliness, sexuality, and one night stands which dont always go to plan. Promises an atmospheric and disturbing experience, as we find out what happens when loner Lawrence picks up young, handsome Joe in a gay bar.

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:
LGBT short play

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Marjorie, Edward and George

Synopsis:
Self-taught medium Phyllis has been trying to contact her dead husband for the past 40 years. With the aid of her sister, Elizabeth, and 3 showroom dummies, Marjorie, Edward and George, she holds regular seances, but never manages to get through to the other side. After a visit from neighbour, Connie, who tells them of strange goings on down the local supermarket, there is a full scale storm, and suddenly Phyllis's gift seems to be working. But Phyllis is in for a shock when she discovers the truth behind her husband's death, and dummies Marjorie, Edward and George prove they're not quite so dumb after all. . .

Notes:
Two acts, one interior setting

1st Produced:
The Studio Theatre, Wellinborough     01 Jul 2015

Organisations:
Wellingborough Cooperative Dramatic Society

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:  2            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Turn Around

Synopsis:
Teenage kicks and young love

Notes:
Part of "Lover" with other short plays

1st Produced:
Etcetera Theatre, London     01 Jan 2015

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:
Lesbian one act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Well Groomed and Bride Awake

Synopsis:
Child actor Jack gets more than he bargained for on his wedding night. . . what with bridesmAIDS, in-laws and an errant vicar. . . if only his bride could see what was going on. . . A sexy comedy featuring sexy goings-on, sexy comings-off, and not so sexy decision making.

Notes:
Two Acts, bedroom/hotel corridor

1st Produced:

Organisations:
Royal Exchange Theatre

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-length Comedy

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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