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Cheshire Cats

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  7w, 3m

Gail Young

"A genuinely funny and even touching ensemble piece" - Edinburgh Fringe review, The Scotsman

Cheshire Cats

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    7w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences

Details

Summary

Grown women, aching feet and heaving bosoms! Follow the Cheshire Cats team as they speedwalk their way to fundraising success in the London Moonwalk. Hilary, Siobhan, Yvonne, Vicky and Maggie are attempting to walk 13 miles across the capital in record time in their decorated bras and posh new trainers, but the 6th member of the team doesn't seem to meet the physical criteria! Cheshire Cats is a cross between a girls night out and a real mission to support a cause close to many hearts, with plenty of laughs and a few tears along the way

 

See www.cheshirecats.org.uk and www.gailyoungplaywright.com for more information and production shots

History

First performed by Guilden Sutton Players at Guilden Sutton village hall in November 2005, and subsequently performed by Guilden Sutton Players at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2006.

Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

HILARY - bombastic, middle-aged team leader/organizer.
SIOBHAN - caring and diplomatic. Old friend of Hilary.
YVONNE - overworked/overweight stressed-out mum and friend of Hilary.
MAGGIE - overweight younger mum.
VICKY - artistic, fit, glamorous middle-aged divorcee.
ANDREW - trim toyboy.
AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR - may be played by person playing ANDREW in the version of the play for 6 characters.
HANDSOME DRUNK - may be played by person playing ANDREW in the version of the play for 6 characters.
MADGE - elderly cockney marshall, can double up with the person playing SIOBHAN or HILARY in the version of the play for 6 characters.
ETHEL - elderly cockney marshall, can double up with the person playing SIOBHAN or HILARY in the version of the play for 6 characters.

Additional characters for the ensemble version of the play:
POLICEMAN, can double with HANDSOME DRUNK if required.
RON, elderly cockney marshall, married to Madge.
MARSHALLS, between 2 and 5 needed.
PHOTOGRAPHERS, at least 2 needed, preferably male.
RADIO VOICE

This play was originally written and performed as an ensemble piece for 11 people, but to accommodate smaller casts, and to allow for the financial constraints that often face professional theatrical productions, the script has been revised so that it can be performed either as an ensemble piece or with a cast of just 6 with some doubling and trebling of parts. To accommodate both cast sizes there are two versions of Act III in the script.

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    A park; Chester Train Station; London.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features Physical Comedy
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

"A genuinely funny and even touching ensemble piece" - Edinburgh Fringe review, The Scotsman

"Moving, emotional, poignant, and best of all it makes you laugh..." - Chester Chronicle

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £70 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
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Authors

Gail Young

Gail Young

Gail Young has directed and acted with community theatre groups for many years in the Chester and Wirral area of NW England. She turned her hand to writing in 2005, taking her first full-length play, Cheshire Cats, to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2006. The production was a “Fringe ...

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