My plays have been performed around the UK and internationally by a host of professional, amateur, school and university groups. They have proved very successful in a variety of settings, so if you’re looking for something to produce/perform, have a look at the list below.
Rates are very competitive and start from around £40 per performance.
For samples, full scripts or to make a booking please contact hire@tom-crawshaw.co.uk
Play On Words
(3m 1f, aged 20-25, 60-75 mins)
Suitable for: sixth form and university groups, young companies
Genre: tragic-comedy
Summary: Two friends embark on a quest through their memories, battling puns and theatrical convention itself. Great for fans of Beckett, Stoppard, post-modernism and double entendres.
Production history: Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh Fringe 2009, with subsequent transfer to the Tristan Bates Theatre, London. Also performed by various groups in Manchester, Oxford, Carlisle, Huddersfield, Camden, Austin (Texas), Saskatchewan (Canada).
Reviews:
“Had the audience erupting with laughter from the start. Entertaining and surprisingly powerful theatre.” – Fest
“A very good play indeed. Provided a profound and unexpected satisfaction.” – On Stage Scotland
Genre: tragic-comedy
Summary: Two friends embark on a quest through their memories, battling puns and theatrical convention itself. Great for fans of Beckett, Stoppard, post-modernism and double entendres.
Production history: Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh Fringe 2009, with subsequent transfer to the Tristan Bates Theatre, London. Also performed by various groups in Manchester, Oxford, Carlisle, Huddersfield, Camden, Austin (Texas), Saskatchewan (Canada).
Reviews:
“Had the audience erupting with laughter from the start. Entertaining and surprisingly powerful theatre.” – Fest
“A very good play indeed. Provided a profound and unexpected satisfaction.” – On Stage Scotland
The Chronicles Of Arnica
(5m 9f + 6m/f (small), 50-60 mins)
Suitable for: groups presenting family shows; kids groups ages 8-15
Genre: children’s show
Summary:Four children find themselves in a land where it is always Christmas but never winter. A hugely enjoyable kids show that spoofs Narnia, Alice In Wonderland and The Wizard Of Oz.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2012
Reviews:
“A very funny comedy adventure. This delightful offering, performed by children for children, is very appealing for adults too. I would highly recommend you take a seat and sit back and enjoy!” – Buxton Fringe Review
Genre: children’s show
Summary:Four children find themselves in a land where it is always Christmas but never winter. A hugely enjoyable kids show that spoofs Narnia, Alice In Wonderland and The Wizard Of Oz.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2012
Reviews:
“A very funny comedy adventure. This delightful offering, performed by children for children, is very appealing for adults too. I would highly recommend you take a seat and sit back and enjoy!” – Buxton Fringe Review
Reverie
(3m 2f, aged 20-30, 60-75 mins)
Suitable for: university groups, young companies, professional and amateur companies
Genre: straight drama
Summary: A theatrical exploration of the practice of lucid dreaming, where people learn to control – and live – in their own dreams.
Production history: Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh Fringe 2010; Paupers Pit Theatre, Buxton Fringe 2010; with staged readings at the Tristan Bates Theatre, January 2010 and Pleasance Islington, March 2010.
Reviews:
“I would not hesitate in recommending this play to anyone who has an interest in modern theatre; such is the stuff dreams are made of.” – AllTheFestivals.com
“Very good indeed… strongly scripted and with a truly distinctive style” – Fringe Guru
Genre: straight drama
Summary: A theatrical exploration of the practice of lucid dreaming, where people learn to control – and live – in their own dreams.
Production history: Pleasance Dome, Edinburgh Fringe 2010; Paupers Pit Theatre, Buxton Fringe 2010; with staged readings at the Tristan Bates Theatre, January 2010 and Pleasance Islington, March 2010.
Reviews:
“I would not hesitate in recommending this play to anyone who has an interest in modern theatre; such is the stuff dreams are made of.” – AllTheFestivals.com
“Very good indeed… strongly scripted and with a truly distinctive style” – Fringe Guru
The Importance Of Being Frank
(3m 3f, aged 20-30, 70-75 mins)
Suitable for: university and college groups, professional and amateur companies
Genre:comedy/farce
Summary: The plot of The Importance Of Being Earnest is disrupted by a time-traveller from the future who has come to save the world. A hilarious Wildean-style comedy that can even involve the audience.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2011
Reviews:
“The plot careers without hesitation towards a predictably ridiculous conclusion. It’s a cracking idea… and my hopes for its future are Earnest.” – Fringe Guru
“Great fun and original entertainment for all the family.” – Fringe Review
Genre:comedy/farce
Summary: The plot of The Importance Of Being Earnest is disrupted by a time-traveller from the future who has come to save the world. A hilarious Wildean-style comedy that can even involve the audience.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2011
Reviews:
“The plot careers without hesitation towards a predictably ridiculous conclusion. It’s a cracking idea… and my hopes for its future are Earnest.” – Fringe Guru
“Great fun and original entertainment for all the family.” – Fringe Review
Income Taxi
(3m 1f, aged 20-30, 60-70 mins)
Suitable for: sixth form and university groups, young companies and amateur groups
Genre: Comedy/farce
Summary: Gerry manages an illegal taxi company from his girlfriend’s flat. As the complaints pile up and his girlfriend is about to leave him, a mysterious tax inspector calls.
Production history: Venue 21, Buxton Fringe 2004.
Reviews:
“The characters were convincing, and this ensured that the story was subtle, engaging and well-paced. Very good indeed.” – Buxton Fringe Review
Genre: Comedy/farce
Summary: Gerry manages an illegal taxi company from his girlfriend’s flat. As the complaints pile up and his girlfriend is about to leave him, a mysterious tax inspector calls.
Production history: Venue 21, Buxton Fringe 2004.
Reviews:
“The characters were convincing, and this ensured that the story was subtle, engaging and well-paced. Very good indeed.” – Buxton Fringe Review
Pan-O-Rama
(4f 6m + 4m/f (small), 50-60 mins)
Suitable for: groups presenting family shows; kids groups ages 8-15
Genre: children’s show
Summary: Harriet Darling has grown up in a world of adults, always knowing she was different. Then one day she gets an invitation to a magical island, populated only by children. A an exciting and riotous kids show that spoofs Peter Pan, Harry Potter and Lord Of The Flies.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2013.
Reviews:
“Spotting theatrical/literary allusions proved as much fun as following the story. A thoroughly entertaining entertainment for the whole family” – Buxton Fringe Review
Genre: children’s show
Summary: Harriet Darling has grown up in a world of adults, always knowing she was different. Then one day she gets an invitation to a magical island, populated only by children. A an exciting and riotous kids show that spoofs Peter Pan, Harry Potter and Lord Of The Flies.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2013.
Reviews:
“Spotting theatrical/literary allusions proved as much fun as following the story. A thoroughly entertaining entertainment for the whole family” – Buxton Fringe Review
Platformation
(3m, aged 30, 60-70 mins)
Suitable for: sixth form and university groups, young companies
Genre: Comedy/farce
Summary: Two businessmen about to make the deal of their lifetime learn that their rival is about to get the same train as them. That is if it ever arrives.
Production history: Venue 21, Buxton Fringe 2003 and 2004; Lucid, Manchester 24:7 Festival 2004
Reviews:
“The audience was in stitches. An express (train) lesson in comedy that was right on track. First class.” – Buxton Fringe Review
Genre: Comedy/farce
Summary: Two businessmen about to make the deal of their lifetime learn that their rival is about to get the same train as them. That is if it ever arrives.
Production history: Venue 21, Buxton Fringe 2003 and 2004; Lucid, Manchester 24:7 Festival 2004
Reviews:
“The audience was in stitches. An express (train) lesson in comedy that was right on track. First class.” – Buxton Fringe Review
Most Suspect
(3m 2f, 20-25 mins)
Suitable for: young companies, kids groups, amateur companies
Genre: short comedy
Summary: A murder-mystery spoof that inverts the classic format. With every guest insisting they are the murderer, the inspector is left to prove them innocent.
Production history: O’Reilly Theatre, Oxford, November 2007
Genre: short comedy
Summary: A murder-mystery spoof that inverts the classic format. With every guest insisting they are the murderer, the inspector is left to prove them innocent.
Production history: O’Reilly Theatre, Oxford, November 2007
Trouble In Panto Land (with Michael Grady-Hall)
(7m 7f + 11m/f (some small), 90-105 minutes)
Suitable for: schools, kids groups, young companies, Christmas shows
Genre: Pantomime
Summary: All the most famous characters from pantomime live together in a idyllic world called Pantoland. That is until the Sheriff Of Nottingham hatches a dastardly plot to steal and alter the Rules Of Pantomime, so that the goodies don’t always win.
Production history: Buxton Community School, Buxton, Derbyshire, December 2000
Genre: Pantomime
Summary: All the most famous characters from pantomime live together in a idyllic world called Pantoland. That is until the Sheriff Of Nottingham hatches a dastardly plot to steal and alter the Rules Of Pantomime, so that the goodies don’t always win.
Production history: Buxton Community School, Buxton, Derbyshire, December 2000
Not The Messiah
(1m, aged 50-60, 60-70 mins)
Suitable for: professional and amateur companies, solo performers
Genre: one-man-show
Summary: Graham Chapman (from Monty Python) is in hospital and determined to recount his life story (in classic Python style), and make contact with his lost love, while he still can.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2011
Reviews:
“Nothing short of magnificent.” – Chortle
“Both laugh-out-loud funny and utterly captivating, even bringing a tear to my eye. An incredible show.”
Genre: one-man-show
Summary: Graham Chapman (from Monty Python) is in hospital and determined to recount his life story (in classic Python style), and make contact with his lost love, while he still can.
Production history: Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton, Derbyshire, July 2011
Reviews:
“Nothing short of magnificent.” – Chortle
“Both laugh-out-loud funny and utterly captivating, even bringing a tear to my eye. An incredible show.”