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Stage Plays.

Miscellaneous Short Plays, Readings and Theatre Work.

Judy has had a large number of smaller plays and readings produced over the last 20 years. Many of these do not have their own page in the plays section. The idea of this page is to briefly summarize all these productions in one place.

• We've not included the short plays already on the Festivals 2008 page.
• But we have included a couple of plays from the Podcasts page, where they have also had a theatre production.
• The plays are listed in date order, from first public appearance.

REPAIRING THE DAMAGE.
Synopsis: A fire has left a gaping hole in the roof of a house. The builders arrive to start the repairs, but find the occupants are even more damaged than the building.

• This new stage play had a Rehearsed reading at Sound, Wardour St, London, on November 2nd 2005.

ONCE AROUND THE SUN.
Synopsis: Once Around the Sun is set in a London station cafe, the scene of a bombing exactly a year earlier. Six people meet; all have some connection to the bombing, and all have things to hide. As the play unfolds, both personal and political secrets are revealed. Is it possible for the anniversary of the explosion to act as a catalyst for positive change, either for these individuals, or for society?

• Won the Jack Langford for best full length play at the Portsmouth Third Playwrights' Conference in May 2006.
• ONCE AROUND THE SUN was also one of the winners in 2016's Croydon International Playwriting Competition. It received a rehearsed reading at Croydon Town Hall directed by Stephen Fingleton.

PENSIONED OFF.
Synopsis: Nola is a retired judge. One day her friend Brogan disappears, and he's not the only unexplained disappearance. Is there a sinister explanation?

SWOOP.

A short play about a girl and an owl. Swoop was part of "Paper Planes" at The Nightingale Theatre, Brighton on Saturday June 6th, 2009.

Produced by Suhayla El-Bushra & Samreen Masood
Directed by David Sheppeard  

• A version of this play can be downloaded as a podcast - http://www.frequencytheatre.co.uk/play/swoop/
• See the Podcasts page for more details.

FLICK TO KICK.

By Judy Upton and Matt Merritt

Synopsis: 'Fathers, sons, and a serious game of subbuteo.' A forty-five minute monologue.

Performed by Gary Mackay.
Directed by Paul Bourne
Designer Helen Stewart

• Produced by the Menagerie Theatre Company as part of Cambridge Hotbed Festival 2009 The Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge Saturday June 27th - Saturday July 4th 2009

NOCTROPIA.

Book by Judy Upton
Score by Oliver Searle

As Part of Hampstead Theatre’s Daring Pairings 3

Synopsis: A surreal fantasia following the author of a wildly successful comic-book series, who lives out his dreams of empowerment through the fictional world of his own creating. All is well… until his creations break through to the real world.

• Hampstead Theatre invited the Musical Theatre students of Central School of Speech and Drama to take to the main stage with extracts of this brand new musical in development, with book by Judy Upton and score by Oliver Searle. Wednesday 28 October 2009

BREATH OF FRESH AIR - BELTON PARK PROJECT.

As part of the Breath of Fresh Air programme Judy was commissioned by Theatre Writing Partnership to create a downloadable interactive narrative for the National Trust property Belton Park in Grantham, which launched in the spring of 2011.

THE CHRISTMAS GOAT.

Synopsis: Strange goings on in a busy shopping mall before Christmas. Who has stolen the animatronic nodding reindeer?

• Judy's festive comedy "The Christmas Goat" was produced by Wild Orchid Theatre as part of "Yuletide Cheer and Festive Tales" - first at Cromford Mill, Derbyshire on 3rd December 2011, and then Sharpe's Pottery Museum on 10th December 2011

DUSA.

A 15 minute comedy play.

Synopsis: Medusa hopes new contact lenses will be the answer to her stoney stares, while an art gallery is interested in the very life-like sculptures in her garden. Perhaps her life won't be a Greek tragedy after all.

• Produced by Cahoots Theatre Company on 30th and 31st March 2012 at The Century Theatre, Ashby Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3LN as part of an evening of new drama.

COME TO WHERE I'M FROM.

In this special one-off performance of short, sharp dramas, four Sussex playwrights including Judy Upton come home to tell their tale.
Leading new writing company Paines Plough has been commissioning playwrights from across the UK to create new works responding to the notion of where they are from.
In villages, towns and cities across the country these plays are now being performed to create a theatrical tapestry of Great Britain.
Come to Where I'm From is an inspiring and inventive theatrical experience that asks whether home is really where the heart is...

• Judy's drama was performed on Sat 16th June 2012, at The Pavilion Theatre, New Road, Brighton, East Sussex
• More details of the project were on the Paines Plough website, and the Brighton Dome.

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82 TO NORTH FINCHLEY.

Synopsis: Joe is never far from his wife for the voice of the London buses is not just anyone, she is Sophie. His wife’s voice has for years followed him as he travels around London, but now Sophie’s been missing for two days. The only clue to where she may be is the change to her voice along the 82 to North Finchley and what may be at the end of the route.

• A ten minute play.
• Originally produced as a Podcast, this one is available from Frequency Theatre.
• It was also produced (alongside Judy's 'Push The Button') in The Platform, at The Bread And Roses, Clapham Manor Street, London 12-13 October 2012

Both plays were directed by Joanna Greaves.

•  '82 To North Finchley' also featured with another of Judy's short plays  'Undone' in a show entitled 'Postscript' at the Drayton Arms, South Kensington on 11th and 12th January 2013.

Once again, this play was directed by Joanna Greaves.

• This popular short play was also produced by London Grey and Green Theatre Company in an evening of plays entitled "City Shorts" at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, 2 Shepperton Road, London N1 3DT from the 28th May to the 2nd June 2013

Directed by Charlie Ely.

TRUE GRIT.

Synopsis: A short play about what happens when a council worker is forced to grit the roads with chocolate cornflakes.

• This is another play with a Frequency Theatre podcast available (see Podcasts for more details).
• It was also produced in a showcase at Jill in Sydenham High Street by Write By Numbers on Thursday 21st and Saturday 23rd of March 2013.
• 'True Grit' was then produced at The Brockley Jack, May 2015, directed by Roberta Zuric.

MILK

Synopsis: A Black comedy in which a young couple discover a dark secret about the British food industry.

• The play was also produced by Theatre Renegade in Courting Drama at the Attic, Bush Theatre, 7 Uxbridge Road, London on Saturday May 25th 2013.
  Directed by James Bounds.
• 'Milk' was also on in 'The Cafe Society Show' in Hove, Brighton and Lewes in July 2013. See www.cafesociety.info. This had a variety of cafe venues:- The Redroaster Coffee House St. James St. Brighton, Sunshine Books, Arts and Coffee, Hove Street, Hove, and The Buttercup Cafe, Malling Street, Lewes. 
• The London Grey And Green Theatre Company also produced the play for their 2013 summer's show 'City Slices & Country Crumbs' which showcased four new 15-minute plays, chosen from over 60 submissions. It was performed at the Hen & Chickens theatre from 17-21st September 2013.
• Milk - a short film - The play also has a film version.

‘These plays are full of an affection for England that makes for a warm tonic on a cold night’ - One Stop Arts
‘A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a night with friends and be introduced to some emerging young playwrights’ – Everything Theatre
‘Certainly worth the trip to Islington’ – Female Arts

The London Grey and Green Theatre Company show was Directed by Tessa Shrubsall, and had the following cast.

‘The play, and the relationship between dairy farmer and lactose intolerant girl, is funny and endearing’ – Everything Theatre

CARBOOTY.

• Mind Your Head Theatre at The Bread and Roses Clapham, produced Judy's short play 'Carbooty' as part of SCRIBBLE:Welfare on Monday, February 16th 2015.

Director: Sam Hopkins
Music: Sam Hopkins

GOGGLES.

Synopsis: 'Some people can't help making a spectacle of themselves'. A play about a malfunctioning virtual reality headset and a practical joker.

• This short play 'Goggles' was produced by The Company, at 3pm on Sunday May 22nd 2016 as part of Steyning Theatre Trail.
• It was performed at: Cobblestone Tea House, Cobblestone Walk, Steyning, West Sussex.

Directed by Stephen Israel

DESERVE TO DIE.

A monologue

• Produced in ALONE IN THE BOX at the Bread and Roses, 12-16th July 2016.

Producer: Tessa Hart.
Director: Su Gilroy.

Cast:
Karly - Lucy Harper

The monologue was reviewed by London Pub Theatres reviewer Laura Thomas. - "Some sparkling new writing and superb performances in this collection of one person plays. The dangers of that toxic mix of hubris and sentiment that bleeds all over social media is the theme of Judy Upton’s ‘Deserve to Die’. Lucy Harper is well cast as the articulate and media savvy pop star whose song has created a death cult. Su Gilroy directs with panache and flair, and it is so refreshing to see contemporary satire with a light touch and genuine wit."

IN FACT IT'S A GAS

Synopsis: A new short play - a comedy about switching energy supplier.

• First production - November 1st to November 3rd 2016 at the Bread And Roses Clapham. Directed by Benji Bailey.

Short cuts to Judy's other play pages.

Plays (page 1) - Everlasting Rose/Ashes and Sand
Plays (page 2) - Temple/The Shorewatchers' House
Plays (Page 3) - Bruises/Stealing Souls
Plays (Page 4) - Sunspots/People on the River
Plays (Page 5) - To Blusher with Love/Pig in the Middle
Plays (Page 6) - The Girlz/Know Your Rights
Plays (Page 7) - Confidence/The Ballad of a Thin Man
Plays (Page 8) - Sliding with Suzanne/Hotmail from Helsinki 
Plays (Page 9) - Team Spirit/Grandma was a Mermaid 
Plays (page 10) - Echoes and Shadows
Plays (Page 11) - Gaby goes Global
Plays (page 12) - Durham mysteries
Plays (Page 13) Cabaret on a Sinking Ship

Text and Site Design - Copyright (c) 2005-23 Judy Upton.