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Neighbourhood Watch (Ayckbourn)

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  4w, 4m

Alan Ayckbourn

"This timely and provocative play rivets attention throughout. There are some blissful comic moments and even that staple of Ayckbourn’s dramatic world, an ornamental garden gnome, has a crucial part to play." Charles Spencer, Telegraph

Neighbourhood Watch (Ayckbourn)

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences

Details

Summary
Brother and sister Martin and Hilda Massie live together, leading a quiet, Christian existence in the confines of the Bluebell Hill Development. Just as they are preparing for a housewarming gathering, their peace is shattered by a young trespasser in their garden. The Massies' neighbours congregate in their living room and together they agree to form a neighbourhood watch group to safeguard against further incidents. But after the Massies' beloved garden gnome Monty is thrown through their window, matters swiftly escalate, complicated by Martin's burgeoning romance with Amy, wife of Gareth, who was formerly involved with Luther, husband of Magda… What begins as a well-intentioned scheme for a safer community ends in violence and acrimony.
History
First performed at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, in September 2011.
Performing Groups
MARTIN, 40s
HILDA, his sister, a little older
LUTHER, 30s
MAGDA, his wife, 20s
GARETH, 50s
AMY, his wife, 30s
ROD, 60s
DOROTHY, 60s
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting A living-room
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

"this timely and provocative play rivets attention throughout. There are some blissful comic moments and even that staple of Ayckbourn’s dramatic world, an ornamental garden gnome, has a crucial part to play." Charles Spencer, Telegraph

"This superbly acted, painfully funny and truthful play shows Ayckbourn in no danger of slowing down or having his age yet catch up with the number of plays he has written." Mark Shenton, The Stage


Videos

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    Alan Ayckbourn on Growing As a Dramatist

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    Alan Ayckbourn on Comparisons

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    Alan Ayckbourn on How to Approach His Plays

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    Alan Ayckbourn on Getting Started

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    Alan Ayckbourn on the Difference Between Then and Now

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    Alan Ayckbourn on Ideas

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    Alan Ayckbourn on Writing a Well Made Play

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Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.
    This title may have restrictions in place for London based productions. Please submit a licence request to confirm specific availability.

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Alan Ayckbourn

Alan Ayckbourn

A playwright and theatre director, to date Alan Ayckbourn has written 89 plays – Family Album attracted four-star reviews when it premiered in September 2022 at the Stephen Joseph, where nearly all his plays are first staged.

However, this year he will stage his 88th play Welc ...

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