The Works of Francis Durbridge
Francis Durbridge
Stage Plays
Throughout his life Francis Durbridge’s first love was the stage and as a young man he frequently visited the theatre in London and Birmingham. He read and studied plays and possessed a substantial library of plays by English and American playwrights.
His first stage play Send for Paul Temple, which was performed at the Alexandra Theatre Birmingham from 25th October to 6th November 1943, was based upon the radio serials Send for Paul Temple and Paul Temple and the Front Page Men. This play and its performance was forgotten until unearthed by Melvyn Barnes when researching his Complete Guide to the works of Francis Durbridge and a copy of the play was subsequently found in the British Library in the archive of the Lord Chamberlain (who acted as theatre censor).
Suddenly at Home in 1971 is often stated to be Francis Durbridge’s first stage play but, apart from Send for Paul Temple, in the 1960s there were several productions in Germany of a play that later became known as Murder with Love. Several of his plays were also adapted as television plays in Germany, France, Italy and Poland although they have not been adapted for television in the UK.
For further information see below
Stage Plays by Francis Durbridge
The complete list of Francis Durbridge’s stage plays and details of their UK productions are as follows:
Send for Paul Temple (1943) Alexandra Theatre Birmingham.
We Were Strangers a one act play published in 1948 based upon a radio play broadcast in 1938.
Suddenly at Home a two act play first produced at the Theatre Royal Windsor on 8th June 1971 and subsequently running for over 700 performances at the Fortune Theatre London from 30th September 1971 to 16th June 1973. Directed by Basil Coleman the initial cast included Gerald Harper, Penelope Keith, Terence Longdon and Rula Lenska.
The Gentle Hook a two act play first produced at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford on 30th September 1974 and subsequently running from 21st December 1974 to 26th April 1975 at the Piccadilly Theatre London. Directed by Basil Coleman the London cast included Dinah Sheriden, Jack Watling, Raymond Francis and Tony Anholt.
Murder with Love a two act play first produced at the Theatre Royal Windsor from 2nd March 1976 and thereafter touring across the UK. Directed by Hugh Goldie the cast included Peter Byrne and Dermot Walsh.
House Guest a two act play first produced at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford on 10th February 1981 and subsequently running at the Savoy Theatre London from 19th April 1981 to 27th March 1982. Directed by Val May the London cast included Susan Hampshire and Gerald Harper.
Deadly Nightcap a two act play first produced as Nightcap at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford in 1983 before touring the UK and subsequently at the Westminster Theatre London from 19th June to 8th November 1986. Directed by Val May the London cast included Nyree Dawn Porter, Peter Byrne and Dermot Walsh.
A Touch of Danger a two act play first produced at the Theatre Royal Windsor in 1987 before touring and then subsequently at the Whitehall Theatre London from 18th September 1988 to 4th March 1989. Directed by Mark Piper the London cast included William Franklyn, Pauline Yates, Derren Nesbitt and William Lucas.
The Small Hours a two act play first produced at the Thorndike Theatre Leatherhead from 22nd January 1991 prior to touring across the UK. Directed by Sebastian Graham-Jones the cast included Patrick Mower and Carole Mowlem.
Sweet Revenge a two act play first produced at the Thorndike Theatre Leatherhead from 12th January 1993 prior to touring across the UK. Directed by Val May the cast included Richard Todd and Meg Davies. This was based upon the earlier radio play The Caspary Affair broadcast in 1946.
Fatal Encounter a two act play written in the mid-1990s but published posthumously and which has toured in various repertory productions in 2005 and 2009/10.
