A SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. TITLE

The Ladykillers

Full-Length Play, Dark Comedy  /  2w, 6m

The Ladykillers
by Graham Linehan
From the Motion Picture Screenplay by William Rose By Special Arrangement with StudioCanal & By Special Arrangement with Fiery Angel Ltd, London

The Ladykillers is a classic black comedy; a sweet little old lady, alone in her house, is pitted against a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at nothing.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 6m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Mystery/Thriller
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: 2012 Olivier Award for Best New Play

Details

Summary

The Ladykillers is a classic black comedy; a sweet little old lady, alone in her house, is pitted against a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at nothing.
Posing as amateur musicians, Professor Marcus and his gang rent rooms in the lopsided house of sweet but strict Mrs Wilberforce. The villains plot to involve her, unwittingly, in Marcus' brilliantly conceived heist job. The police are left stumped but Mrs Wilberforce becomes wise to their ruse and Marcus concludes that there is only one way to keep the old lady quiet. With only her parrot, General Gordon, to help her, Mrs Wilberforce is alone with five desperate men. But who will be forced to face the music?

History
The Ladykillers was opened on 7 December 2011 at Gielgud Theatre, London.
Keywords
Constable Macdonald
Mrs Louisa Wilberforce
Professor Marcus
Major Courtney
Harry Robinson
One-Round
Louis Harvey
Mrs Jane Tromleyton
Mrs Wilberforce’s Guests
  • Time Period 1950s
  • Setting A house
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“This is no pale stage rip-off but a new-written piece of perfection.” — The Times

“A joy from start to finish.” — Daily Express

“The show works and, at its considerable best, works triumphantly.” — The Daily Telegraph

“An exuberantly inventive evening.” — The Guardian

“Hilarious adaptation.” — British Theatre

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £85 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

    Please submit a license request to determine availability.

Scripts

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Authors

Graham Linehan

Graham Linehan is an Irish comedy writer and director, as well as an actor and comedian, and creator of highly popular series Father Ted, The IT Crowd and Black Books.

After an early career as a journalist for the Irish music magazine Hot Press, Graham began collaborati ...

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