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Arnold Ridley

ARNOLD RIDLEY

  (1896 - 1984)
Nationality:    English
email:    n/a     Website:    n/a

Literary Agent:    n/a

Major William Arnold Ridley, OBE (7 January 1896  12 March 1984) was an English playwright and actor. Born Bath. s of William Robert Ridley and his wife Rosa (Morrish); e Bath. and Bristol University: at (I) Hilda Mary Cooke (mar dis): 12) Isola Strong: (3) Althea Parker.Originally an actor, making his first appearance at the Theatre Royal. Bristol. in PrundlA. 1914: served in the Army, but was discharged, wounded. in 1917: appeared with the Birmingham Repertory Company. 1918-20. where he played over forty parts: was with the Plymouth Repertory Company. 1920-I; retired from the stage in consequence of ill.health. caused by War injuries: reappeared at the Garrick. Apr 1927. as Saul Hodgkin in the Ghost Train: rejoined the army. Oct 1939. and served with the BEF in France: he also appeared at the Q. Mar 1948, as Philip Stafford in his own play. Easy Money: Gateway, Apr 1950. played John Hengist in Marshall's Aid: at the Birmingham. Sept 1953. appeared as Wake'. Gabriel in the Archers: Queen's. July 1964. played Juror No 9 in 12 Angry Men: Arnaud. Guildford. Nov 1971. played the Station Master in his play. the Ghost Train: Shaftesbury. Oct 1975. Private Godfrey in a stage adaptation of Dad's Army: television appearances include: Crossroads and Dad's Army: he has also broadcast as Doughy Hood in the Archers. He was a past President and Life member of Bath Rugby Football Club

Research:    http://www.bristol.ac.uk/theatrecollection/ridley.php

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

         Amongst Those Present         Beggar My Neighbour         Bellamy         Between Stations         Brass God, The         Buzz         Dark Corridor         Dark Secret         East Of Ludgate Hill         Easy Money         Flying Fool, The         Geranium         Ghost Train, The         Glory Be!         God O' Mud, The         Great Burnett Mystery, The         Half-a-Crown         Happy Holiday         Headline         High Fidelity         Keepers of Youth         Murder Happens         Needs Must         Out She Goes         Peril At End House         Recipe For Murder         Return, The         Running Man         Shadows On the Sand         Tabitha         Third Time Lucky         Trifles Light As Air         Unholy Orders         Wreckers, The         You, My Guests
Amongst Those Present

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Cinema Theatre, Whitehall, London     1959

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Beggar My Neighbour

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne     1951

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans, London,    

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bellamy

Synopsis:
butler looks after the great and the good at Barwell Towers as an alternative to life on the stage

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Anthony Armstrong

1st Produced:
Amateur     1960

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1960   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Comedy Farce Comedy

Parts:
Male:  5            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Between Stations

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Brass God, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
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1st Produced:
Apollo Theatre, London     1921

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
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Further Reference:
-

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Buzz

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Royal Air Force Station, Old Sarum, Wiltshire     1941

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

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Further Reference:
-

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Dark Corridor

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
Written by Richard Reich and Arnold Ridley

1st Produced:
People's Theatre, London     1949

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Dark Secret

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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East Of Ludgate Hill

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-     1950

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French Ltd, London   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Easy Money

Synopsis:
the Stafford family are all in need of money in one way or the other. they have been secretly doing the football pools - secretly because Grandma who lives with them disapproves. When they find that they have won everything looks good. they all have money for their needs and Grandma in disgust has started to pack her things to move out. then they discover the maid forgot to post the coupon.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Princes Theatre, Clacton-On-Sea     1934

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French Ltd, London   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Flying Fool, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Bernard Merivale

1st Produced:
Princes Theatre, London     1929

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
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Further Reference:
-

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Geranium

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Brothers 1954   

Music:
-

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Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Ghost Train, The

Ghost Train, The
A young man as a prank pulled the communication cord and now six passengers find themselves in a waiting room having missed their connection. It is a dark and stormy night. the station master warns them of a "ghost train" but they decide to stay in the waiting room so that they can catch the first morning train. A young woman in evening dress suddenly turns up and the station master is discovered - dead. . ..

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Hippodrome, Golders Green     1924

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1931   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Mystery

Parts:
Male:  8            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
http://www.Theatrerecord.org/, Theatre Record Vol XII (1992) Page 1442; http://www.Theatrerecord.org/, Theatre Record Vol XVIII (1998) Page 0660

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Glory Be!

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Kings Theatre, Glasgow     1934

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
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Parts:
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Further Reference:
-

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God O' Mud, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
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1st Produced:
The Playhouse, Oxford     1926

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
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Further Reference:
-

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Great Burnett Mystery, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
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1st Produced:
Exchange Theatre, Chichester     1925

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
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Parts:
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Further Reference:
-

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Half-a-Crown

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Douglas Furber

1st Produced:
-     1934

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Happy Holiday

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
book by Eric Maschwitz And Arnold Ridley, music by George Posford

1st Produced:
Palace, London     22 Dec 1954

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Christmas show

Parts:
Male:  10            Female:  6            Other:  extras

Further Reference:
Wearing - the London Stage 54.311

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Headline

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre Royal, Birmingham     1933

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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High Fidelity

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Cedric Wallis

1st Produced:
Prince Of Wales Theatre, Colwyn Bay     1963

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  4            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Keepers of Youth

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Duke Of Yorks Theatre, London     1928

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Ernest Benn 1929   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Drama

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Murder Happens

Synopsis:
Gilbert Bernal runs a small seaside hotel. He is plagued by his invalid wife, Cora - her nagging and bullying. She writes to her sister in Australia telling her that she suspects Gilbert of trying to murder her. Gilbert has fallen in love with Mary who works at the hotel. One night Cora is even more unpleasant than she has ever been and Gilbert resolves to murder her. A guest who was a doctor had accidentally left behind a phial of strychnine. He puts it in her medicine. Six months later Gilbert is happily married to Mary when Cora's sister turns up. She is not happy and has the body exhumed. But no trace of poison is found. It turns out that Cora's nurse forgot to giver her the medicine that night and Cora died of natural causes.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Grand Opera House, Harrogate     1944

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French Ltd, London   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Thriller

Parts:
Male:  6            Female:  6            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Needs Must

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Richmond Theatre, London     1937

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Out She Goes

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Bernard Merivale

1st Produced:
Richmond Theatre, London     1938

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Peril At End House

Synopsis:
This is probably one of the most tantalising and ingenious puzzles that Dame Agatha ever set for her master detective Hercule Poirot. Poirot and his friends, the faithful Captain Hastings, are staying at the Hotel Majestic in Cornwall. With Hastings in tow Poirot sets out to unmask the peril at 'End House'.

Notes:
Based on the novel "Peril At End House" by Agatha Christie

1st Produced:
Richmond Theatre, London     01 Apr 1940

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French Ltd, London 1945   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Adaptation Mystery

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Recipe For Murder

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-     1932

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Return, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Evans Brothers 1953   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Running Man

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Anthony Armstrong

1st Produced:
Northampton Repertory Theatre     1955

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Shadows On the Sand

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Mary Cathcart Borer

1st Produced:
-     1956

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
-   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Tabitha

Synopsis:
Three old ladies and their cat, Tabitha share an apartment. their landlady is always up to no good such as helping herself to things in their apartment - especially the whisky - when they are out. then she goes too far and poisons the cat. the three old ladies plan their revenge. they put some of the poison in the whisky bottle. But as they are going out they have a twinge of conscious and replace the whisky with an unadulterated one. When they come back they hear that the landlady is dead. they think that they must have got mixed up with the bottles. they write a confession and between them drink the bottle of whisky. Next day three rather hung over old ladies are found by the police sleeping it off. It turns out the landlady had been none too careful when she poisoned the cat and accidentally poisoned herself.

Notes:
Written Arnold Ridley And Mary Cathcart Borer

1st Produced:
Theatre Royal, Brighton     26 Sep 1955

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1956   

Music:
-

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Genre:
Murder Thriller

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
Wearing - the London Stage 56.41

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Third Time Lucky

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-     1929

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French Ltd, London 1932   

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
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Genre:
Comedy

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Trifles Light As Air

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And St Vincent Troubridge

1st Produced:
-     1951

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

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Unholy Orders

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Theatre Royal, Bath     1929

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

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Genre:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Wreckers, The

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
written by Arnold Ridley And Bernard Merivale

1st Produced:
New Theatre, London     1926

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French Ltd, London 1930   

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:
-

Parts:
Male:  -            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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You, My Guests

Synopsis:
-

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
Q Theatre, London     1955

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Samuel French, London, 1956   

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:  5            Female:  5            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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