The Playwrights Database
DIANA RAFFLE (1966 - 2007)
Nationality: Britishemail: Click here to contact Website: Click here
Literary Agent: n/a
Diana Raffle was born in Bellshill, near Glasgow, in 1966. She was adopted by English parents, who moved to the south of England soon after her birth and she was brought up and educated in Maidstone, the county town of Kent. Her earliest involvement in drama took place at the age of four, when she and a friend painted themselves (and their clothes) from head to toe in red paint - perhaps her first attempt at stage makeup! It wasn't long before she got more involved in the real thing and at the age of eleven, she wrote and directed her first play for her fellow pupils at Coxheath Junior School. Sadly at senior school, she was discouraged from getting involved in drama and took the more traditional school subjects. However, her love of writing was not completely suppressed and on more than one occasion, she had items published in the 'Jackie' magazine for girls. She also had several poems published in poetry books in the following years. On leaving school, she gained employment in London for several years, working for Boots, Sea Containers, the Orient Express and the Bank of Japan in secretarial and administrative roles. In 1994, she stopped working to start a family and it was shortly after the birth of her second child in 1996 that she rekindled her interest in drama, by joining Maidstone based drama society, The Willington Players. She soon realized just how much she had missed drama throughout her life and quickly made amends by getting heavily involved both treading the boards and back stage. She made a name for herself in the society for her management of props and gained an award for 'Best dressed set' in the Willington Players' production of J.B. Priestley's Dangerous Corner in their 1997 entry to the Kent Drama Festival. She also went on to act at Maidstone's Hazlitt Theatre in productions of Habeas Corpus (by Alan Bennett), Rumours (by Neil Simon), Halfway up the Tree (by Peter Ustinov) and Hayfever (by Noel Coward). The highlight of her acting career was 'Best Actress' award for her portrayal of Rita in Sue Townsend's Womberang in the Duncan Rand One Act Play Festival at Rochester's Medway Little Theatre in 1998. However, writing was her true love and she started writing one act plays for The Willington Players to perform. Her first, called Payment Unkind, was performed in 1997 at the Medway Little Theatre. Many more followed and she was encouraged to submit some scripts to the London publisher Samuel French. To her delight, she had her first one act play published, Blue Suede Blues. Tragically, this success coincided with a major setback, when in 2002 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Given that the disease was at an advanced stage of development, she knew she had limited time to write and produce more plays, but her new found talent was prolific. Sadly, Diana lost her battle with breast cancer in November 2007, aged just 41. Ironically, she died during the week her final full length farce (Round the Houses) was being performed by The Willington Players at Maidstone's Hazlitt Theatre. Diana is survived by her husband Scott and three children, Callum, Lucy and Isobel. Although her life was cut short, her family are happy in the knowledge that her memory will live on in so many of her published plays.
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below is a list of Diana Raffle's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
Blue Suede Blues Camp Confidence Canary Cage, The Fairway to Heaven French Toast Heaven's Above Murder Amongst Friends Offence, The Round the Houses Stop and RunBlue Suede Blues
Synopsis:
Grace and Lily reside in a nursing home with little to do but witness the senile capers of other residents. Grey-haired and wrinkled Grace may be, but she's determined to add a dash of spice to her life to break th e tedium. She inveigles the unwilling Lily into helping her kidnap the young Care Assistant, Pansy, for the ransom of a bottle of gin, a packet of fags and a budgie, but things don't go quite according to play - with hilarious results! This is a witty and wickedly funny one-act play for a cast of four women and two men.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Medway Little Theatre, Rochester, Kent 2004
Organisations:
The Willington Players
1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 2003 -
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
comedy One Act
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageCamp Confidence
Synopsis:
Lacking in self-esteem? Overwhelmed by the issues facing you? Then enroll in Camp Confidence. That's what Maria (terrified of birds), Blanche (acrophobic), Donna (single mum on probation) and Cherry (an obsessive cleaner) have done. Led by the skilled but harassed Julia and her uncertain assistant Fiona, the four learn a great deal about each other and themselves and emerge happier and more secure. This is a gentle, warm-hearted comedy with seven excellent roles for women.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Medway Little Theatre, Rochester, Kent 2005
Organisations:
The Willington Players
1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 2006 -
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: - Female: 7 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageCanary Cage, The
Synopsis:
Three women are locked in a cellar. One of them is psychotic. Two are in danger. Only one survives. This play has the power to send shivers down the spines of the audience and keep them guessing until the end.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Medway Little Theatre, Rochester, Kent - Festival Award Winner 2004
Organisations:
The Little Foxes
1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2004) 978-1840944815
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:
Play One Act
Parts:
Male: - Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageFairway to Heaven
Synopsis:
Trevor's marriage is in a mess and so is his job. If he doesn't sell one big property before the end of the month he'll face the sack. However, thanks to his friend Bob things are looking up. They have managed to get invited to a party that could just provide Trevor with a buyer but the catch is that it's a Vicar's and Tarts party. Unfortunately, before leaving, Trevor accidentally smashes a priceless artifact that his wife is valuing for the museum. Desperate to cover their tracks the pair decide to break into Trevor's house after the party and fake a burglary. However, what they don't know is that not only is Trevor's mother-in-law holding a murder mystery evening complete with a policewoman kissogram, but in addition some real burglars have turned up! With great character roles for men and women, this fast paced farce romps from one hilarious situation to another! Definitely an audience pleaser!
Notes:
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1st Produced:
The Hazlitt Theatre, Maidstone, Kent 2005
Organisations:
The Willington Players
1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2006) 978-1840945676
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 Farce
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 5 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageFrench Toast
Synopsis:
After twenty-five years of marriage, Frederique and Jasper are delighted to find that their marriage was never legal and they are free. However, their daughter's wedding to an international rock star must come first, and so when an interfering member of the Press gets wind of this story, they endeavor to act like a happy family for all they are worth. This is a one-act farce, fast paced and with a very funny twist. Great for one-act evenings or festivals.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Downswood Community Centre, Downswood, Maidstone, Kent 2006
Organisations:
The Willington Players
1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2007) 978-1840945805
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 One Act
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageHeaven's Above
Synopsis:
Sally is dead. Finding herself at the gates of heaven with a depressive and an ageing tennis player, she struggles to first disprove her demise and second to beg for another chance. Eventually, a clerical error made by a very overstretched celestial admin. department gives her back the life that she realises she so desperately wants; however it's not without its twist! This is a comedy; easy to cast with a minimum set and great acting parts.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Downswood Community Centre, Downswood, Maidstone, Kent 2006
Organisations:
The Willington Players
1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2007) 978-1840945812
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: 2 Female: 2 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMurder Amongst Friends
Synopsis:
After discovering the body of her boyfriend, Julia Fraser seeks refuge at the home of her ex-lover and his wife. However, it is not long before Julia makes a gruesome discovery and the finger of suspicion points to all those around her. Deeply bedded jealousies and revenge surface, as the plot twists to implicate the most unlikely suspect. Then the police make an arrest, and one man is left with the evidence to save his wife, but will he use it? Perhaps someone else's set up is just what he's been looking for, but will it save him or kill him too?
Notes:
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1st Produced:
The Orchard Spot, Downswood, Maidstone, Kent 2006
Organisations:
Theatre 2000
1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2006) 978-1840945461
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 Thriller
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageOffence, The
Synopsis:
The Tapham Players are meeting for a play reading, but what begins as a routine evening, slowly deteriorates as a prospective member arrives. An unsolicited call from the local high security Psychiatric hospital that afternoon, has created doubt over the identity of this new member and his arrival is greeted with suspicion. As the play progresses, nerves and misunderstandings lead to near panic as gradually the group begins to disappear one by one, but who is the perpetrator? This play includes comedy, suspense and an exciting twist that takes the audience by surprise. Be prepared to see them jump!
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Medway Little Theatre, Rochester, Kent - Festival Award Winner 2003
Organisations:
The Willington Players
1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2003) 978-1840944129
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 One Act
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageRound the Houses
Synopsis:
With divorce proceedings pending, Helen and Lionel Simpson instruct an estate agent, Simon Allcock, to find a buyer for their house. Instead, the unscrupulous Simon decides to use their empty property for a romantic assignation with his secretary! However, his carefully-laid plans are dashed by the arrival of his hapless assistant, Bernard, followed by a seductive female doctor and Bernard's very strange wife - not to mention the formidable WI lady who collects unwanted clothes! Further complications arise when the cast of Jack and the Beanstalk arrive, complete with pantomime cow! Missing clothes, mistaken identities& and much, much more. This is the brilliant new farce from the writer of Fairway to Heaven.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
- -
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2009) 978-1840947243
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 Farce
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 5 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageStop and Run
When Eileen Dodds sent her husband out to get a portion of chips and two pickled eggs, she never suspected he would run off with the shop owner and not be seen for five years - but that's exactly what happened! Thirty years later, Eileen returns from a holiday with Raymond, a blind bingo caller, who she intends to marry in a week's time! But is Raymond only after her money? And will Eileen ever find true happiness? What Fun!
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Langley Village Hall, Langley, Kent 11 Jun 2009
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Samuel French, London >>> 978-0-573-02390-3
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:
Short play
Parts:
Male: 2 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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