Double Acts by John Finnemore

From award-winning director Harry Harding and writer John Finnemore, creator & star of popular radio series’ Cabin Pressure and John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme, comes not one, not two, but three hilarious plays from the Double Acts series.

Double Acts was a series of radio comedies produced for BBC Radio 4. It is an anthology series of two-handers. Each episode features only two main speaking parts and is a self-contained play, …although some of them are loosely connected. John Finnemore told me that he had unwittingly connected some of the episodes from his first series, some obvious, others with very subtle hints. The connection? Baths! Specifically, the company is known as Willard & Sons Bath Suppliers. It is where Adele & Kerry from Wysinnwyg, Joel from Red Handed, and Barnaby & ‘Sarah’ from Hot Desk all work, and it also provides the setting for two of the three plays…

Act One – Wysinnwyg (Comedy/Drama)

In Wysinnwyg, it’s Kerry’s first day in the Sales Support Department of Willard & Son Bath Suppliers – where she meets her horrific new boss Adele for the very first time.

“In the game of office politics, what you see is not necessarily what you get…”

Characters:

• Adele – An S1 admin assistant in the Sales Support Department (Female, mature)
• Kerry – Her new S2 (Female, young adult)

Act Two – Red Handed (Comedy/Thriller)

In Red Handed, Joel comes home unexpectedly early from work one day to find an unusual visitor in the shape of Henry, an older gentleman dressed in a suit…who just happens to be burgling Joel’s house.

“Keep your wits about you, put the kettle on, and prepare yourself…for Henry”

Characters:

• Henry – A burglar (Male, mature)
• Joel – His victim (Male, young adult)

Act Three – Hot Desk (Comedy/Romance)

In Hot Desk, for a few minutes, twice a day, at precisely seven in the morning and seven in the evening, a receptionist and a security guard meet to swap ownership of a desk…which blossoms into an unusual relationship.

“A charming comedy of awkward romance, See you at seven!”

Characters:

• Barnaby – The security guard (Male, young adult)
• ‘Sarah’ – The receptionist (Female, young adult)

Character genders are as stated and will not change.

This production will be a triple-feature, with Wysinnwyg as Act 1, Red Handed as Act 2, and Hot Desk as Act 3. These are only 30-minute plays (probably extended to 40 minutes with action) but as they are two-handers, there are quite a few lines to learn! But don’t let that put you off, these charming little plays are all written beautifully with sharp, witty and funny dialogue.

YOU will be joining a very small group of actors who have played these characters in a live stage version. More people have walked on the moon than have played these roles before! That, my friends, is something worth being a part of!

So, if you would like to join John Finnemore’s bizarre, hilarious theatrical universe then come along to our auditions.

Scripts available on request: 07549042391 / harry_harding12@hotmail.co.uk

Audition Dates

Rehearsals

Mondays and Wednesdays

Production Credits

Written by: John Finnemore

Directed by: Harry Harding

Lighting & Sound: Andrew Castell

Set Design & Properties: Christine Neal & Clive Hall

Production Assistants: Zoe Bednarz, Jennifer Saunders & Scott Henderson

Production Manager: Emma Saunders

Performance Dates

• Saturday 29th October 2022 at  7:45pm