The Playwrights Database
JOHN TOPLIFF
Nationality: British
email: n/a Website: n/a
Literary Agent: n/a
John Topliff's plays including theatres, agent, synopses, cast sizes, production and published dates
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below is a list of John Topliff's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
12 Nights Before Juliet Point of Departure Summer Dreaming 1973 Winter12 Nights
Synopsis:
Twelve Nights or WTF? tells the story of Horsina Pilton, a rich, successful businesswoman, desperately lovesick for the dishy film actor Oliver De Tabloids who is holed up in the penthouse suite of the Mancia Pilton Hotel. Access to Oliver is jealously guarded by his overbearing PA, Malcolm Fabrese and Oliver is moving to Hollywood in twelve days time to work on his next movie. Meanwhile, Oliver's boozy spendthrift Aunt, Tia Maria is also trying to get access to Oliver in order to marry him off to her air-headed Valley Girl protege Andrea Palemuscht. Things are not going well though and Andrea is about to call it a day, leaving Tia Maria without funding for her liquid lunches. The arrival of illegal immigrant twins Sebastian and Viola only adds to the complications as Horsina sends Sebastian (disguised as Sebrina) to woo Oliver on her behalf, with hilarious and disturbing consequences for everybody. It's a bit of a Christmas Carry On!
Notes:
Written and Directed by John Topliff and Gina T Frost
1st Produced:
Organisations:
Manchester Shakespeare 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:
madcap Comedy Christmas Musical
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageBefore Juliet
Synopsis:
From The Manchester Shakespeare Company comes the story of Rosaline "Roz" Hope; a complicated and isolated girl, living with her mother and her rich uncle Kamil Capulet in the city of Mancia. Roz has everything she could wish for. Her perfect universe is carefully constructed to be a place she understands and can function in. She has her mother, her successful Father figure and most importantly, a boyfriend: Romeo. But the imminent arrival of Capulet's real daughter, Juliet, causes Roz's fragile universe to crack. In a time and city where prejudice and ancient grudges tear society apart and cost young boys their lives, "Before Juliet" aims to bring a dark and enlightening version of "Romeo and Juliet". A version unlike any you've ever seen.
Notes:
Written by John Topliff and Hannah Ellis
1st Produced:
Organisations:
Manchester Shakespeare 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:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 3 Other: rude mechanicals
Further Reference:
-
Top of PagePoint of Departure
Synopsis:
It's Christmas. The tiny Republic of Khoto has erupted into violence and mayhem. The ousted President is on the run, the Army is on the streets and everyone is heading for the airport. But the last plane has gone. Only three British soldiers remain in the deserted buildings. Sent to evacuate civilians they wait for their transport. The unwanted arrival of Rourke heralds a deeper, more desperate crisis. You cant change the past. You can run. You can hide. But you cant escape judgement.
Notes:
Point of Departure' explores the themes of guilt and retribution, race and oppression.
1st Produced:
Organisations:
Pulse Mcr
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:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: 3 Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageSummer Dreaming 1973
Synopsis:
The adaptation is set in the early 1970s; when the music charts were dominated by Glam and Prog Rock. The modest resources of a fringe company will not stretch to replicating such styles so authors John Topliff and Gina Front (with Jake Latchford on one number) rely on the lyrics - with references to industrial unrest and feminism- to convey a sense of the period in which the play is set. Musically they produce decent power pop and show tunes and the singing by the cast, particularly Dale Vicker as Bottom, is excellent. The basic plot of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is retained with confused couples on the run encountering supernatural obstacles on the way to true love. Topliff and Front's updates successfully reflect 1970's culture with Theseus and Hippolyta modelled on Prince Charles and Lady Diana and the fairies becoming hippies and druids.
Notes:
Written by John Topliff and Gina Frost
1st Produced:
Organisations:
Manchester Shakespeare 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:
musical adaptation
Parts:
Male: 6 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageWinter
Synopsis:
An adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale'. War is the destroyer of everything. Boyhood friends Leo and Paul had very different experiences of war. One was lucky, the other was not. Leo believes everything he loves is a lie and he is prepared to act upon his jealous delusions. These actions have devastating consequences for his wife his family and his friends. When he finally accepts the truth, it is too late: his wife and son are dead and his daughter lost. His only comfort is Pauline his wife's best friend, she holds out hope for the future: hope of Spring in the depths of Winter. Leo's life will only begin again when his lost daughter is returned to him. The years pass, the seasons change and an unexpected visit from strangers from the country sets in motion a chain of almost magical events that begin to thaw Leo from his frozen grief. He begins to believe that there might just be a chance of forgiveness and the restoration of the love that was so cruelly lost. With Pauline's help the impossible is about to happen. From death comes rebirth. From Winter comes Spring and with it the first hope of Summer. Set in the dark austerity of Post-War Mancia, and the brave new world of the 1960's 'Winter' traces the journey of two young friends through war and peace, love and jealousy, to the final startling conclusion.
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Organisations:
Manchester Shakespeare 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:
Play/Drama
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
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