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Mark Billen

MARK BILLEN

  
Nationality:    British
email:    Click here to contact     Website:    Click here

Literary Agent:    n/a

Mark Billen specialises in writing for youth Theatre and school Drama groups. His plays have been produced in UK, usa, Australia and CanadA. 'the Love for Three Oranges', based on the same traditional Italian story as Prokofiev's opera, was first produced in 1994 and since publication has had regular productions. 'the Zoron', a play about a computer game causing chaos, was first produced in 1998, and was published in 2001. 'Bl . . . Bl . . . Bluebeard!' - makes fun of the old tale and is also a parody of horror stories. It has proved very popular since publication in September 2005 . 'all in the Stars' is about a bumbling astrologer keeps making unfortunate predictions.

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

         All In the Stars         Bl Bl Bluebeard!         Love For Three Oranges, The         Zoron, The

All In the Stars

Synopsis:
It is the day before the birthday of King Confort and tradition demands an execution as part of the celebrations. Canard, the bumbling astrologer to the king, keeps making unfortunate predictions that the king dislikes. His sisters, Princess Vinaigre and Princess Jalousie keep plotting against him. Baron Bain-Marie arrives with Princess Sucree who hasn't been told that she is to marry the king. Paysanne, a trader, appears and falls in love with the princess but also insults the king and suddenly becomes the victim for execution. Just in time Canard saves the situation by predicting that the fate of Paysanne and the king are entwined so much that if one dies the other will die exactly one hour later. Chaos ensues and events unfold in a way that surprises everyone. Naturally Canard claims he knew exactly what was going to happen. after all, it was all in the stars!

Notes:
there Are many roles that Are non-specific m/f - the Above is for guidance only. Quite A lot of doubling is possible. Only two simple sets Are needed.

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Can be read on line at www.lazybeescripts.co.uk, 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:
Youth Drama Youth audience

Parts:
Male:  16            Female:  10            Other:  Market traders, guards etc

Further Reference:
-

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Bl Bl Bluebeard!

Synopsis:
Duke Bluebeard lives in a grim castle and is feared by all. No one really knows what dark things happen in his castle. Having disposed of wife number five Bluebeard decides that the local May Queen will be his next wife, little knowing what he has let himself in for! Presenting his new wife at the court of King Bobeche and Queen Hortensia he spies their daughter Princess Marie and immediately decides that she shall be wife number seven. He orders his personal inventor, Popolani, to make the arrangements and proceeds to the palace. Challenged to a duel Bluebeard apparently kills Marie's fiance, Prince Bruno, and demands the princess's hand in marriage. Suddenly Boulotte and Bluebeard's previous wives reappear and confront him. everything is neatly resolved in a way that shatters the Bluebeard myth in its entirety.

Notes:
a hilarious And outrageous parody of the Bluebeard story

1st Produced:
-    2005

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
can be read on line at www.lazybeescripts.co.uk, 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:
Comic Gothic Horror Fairy Story, 2 acts Comedy

Parts:
Male:  12            Female:  8            Other:  Minimum total with doubling =24. Minimum total without doubling 33 and extras

Further Reference:
-

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Love For Three Oranges, The

Synopsis:
the story has an amazing collection of outrageous characters that vie with each other for the attention of the audience Based loosely around the famous opera, this version includes a Stage Manager and two assistants who try to influence the story. the Prince of Clubs is suffering from hypochondria but if he could be made to laugh he might be cured. an entertainment is arranged but Fata Morgana, an evil witch, casts a spell to prevent laughter. She falls over, shows her bloomers and the prince laughs. Furiously she curses him to fall in love with three oranges but they are guarded by Creonta, a giantess who loves to cook humans. the Prince saves the oranges but when they are cut open princesses are inside! Fata Morgana has some more tricks in store but somehow a happy ending is achieved.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    1994

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:
Youth adaptation, 60 min Youth audience

Parts:
Male:  9            Female:  7            Other:  23 speaking parts (9m, 7f, 7 variable) guards and clowns

Further Reference:
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Zoron, The

Synopsis:
Cuthbert Smuglee is addicted to computer games and almost believes that he must save the world by defeating the Zorons. During a late night computer "battle" a Zoron-type figure breaks into the house and kidnaps him. Before long he is assisting his captors, the most inept gang of would-be criminals imaginable, to demand a ransom. Meanwhile the police are called and television reporters arrive; his doting and dotty parents are distraught although his sister Jonquil throws a party to celebrate his disappearance. there is a commotion in the garden: Cuthbert is home. But that is not quite the end of the story!

Notes:
This play would be great for A mixed Aged cast

1st Produced:
-    1998

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:
Youth play, 80 min Youth audience

Parts:
Male:  15            Female:  8            Other:  23 speaking parts (15m, 8f but some variable m/f)

Further Reference:
-

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