Approximate Running Time : 20 Minutes
Characters : 3f, 3m + 2 Gender Neutral
Locked Down
A Short Comedy Play
by Perri Ann Barley
1 café, 3 tables, 3 different stories. Tensions rise, and just when you think everyone is going to pay their tab and leave, a sudden lockdown keeps them all in place, forced to confront the feelings that were about to propel them out the door!
Featuring popular characters Bill and Doris
Reviews
"This is a fun ensemble piece full of colourful characters, and the audience is lucky enough to peek in on them during an ordinary afternoon in a local cafe. Tensions rise, and just when you think everyone is going to pay their tab and leave, a sudden lockdown keeps them all in place, forced to confront the feelings that were about to propel them out the door! I loved it when the storylines began to blur together, and instead of each table maintaining a distinct storyline, they came together to form one united story.
Funny, quick, and clever!"
"This fast paced sitcom of a play allows us to be witness to several characters in varying situations simultaneously. Being that they are locked down, truths are forced to come out and be analyzed and judged by a group of fun and unusual strangers! This cafe might be a great place to people watch on a daily basis."
Approximate Running Time : 20 Minutes
Characters 3f
Miami Blue
A Suspenseful Short Play
by Perri Ann Barley
A suspenseful short that will keep you on the edge of your seats! The arrival of an unexpected package begs the question…..a beautiful gift? Or a cryptic clue from the past that could lead to terrifying consequences.
Press Review
Miami Blue plunges us into a dark and unsettling atmosphere. Sisters Cassie and Sammi soon find their evening out derailed by the arrival of a mysterious parcel. What began as teasing between siblings quickly soured into suspicion and unease. The atmosphere thickened with every line, ex-officer Cassie haunted by her past and Sammi balancing her nerves and determination with real conviction.
When DI Stratton appeared it seemed answers might finally be at hand, but the story cleverly refused to tie itself up neatly, offering further welcome mystery with each twist and turn. Miami Blue was proof that Barley’s writing doesn’t just sparkle in comedy; she can conjure gasps, jumps, and nervous glances just as effectively.
Approximate Running Time : 25 Minutes
Characters : 3f, 2m
Jumbl
eh-up!
A Short Comedy Play
by Perri Ann Barley
A simple Jumble Sale is about to get interesting.
Bill is not impressed when Doris decides to take a stall at the local jumble sale - particularly when she seems to be spending more than she's selling!
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Tip: Never stand in the way of a Yorkshireman after a bargain!
Featuring popular characters Bill and Doris
PRESS REVIEW
JumblEh-Up!, immersed us back into what felt like a familiar sit-com territory, whisking us off to a village jumble sale in glorious disarray. Once more Bill and Doris made their appearance, much to the audience’s delight, surrounded by a colourful array of locals with more interest in gossip and one-upmanship than in selling second-hand bric-a-brac.
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We then meet David, a knowledgeable book enthusiast, Colleen, the Mayoress determined to keep her jumble sale running like clockwork, and Lavina, Colleen’s troublesome daughter, who ensures that nothing in the village hall ever runs smoothly. One particular highlight was Colleen’s rapid-fire retelling of the latest village gossip, sharp and wonderfully silly, leaving Tom Jones tribute acts across Yorkshire nervously checking over their shoulders.
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Barley’s writing consistently balances humour with heart and she has a keen eye for detail. Little call-backs and full-circle moments ripple across the play, rewarding audiences who pay close attention.