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John C Bird

JOHN C BIRD  (1933 - )

 Nationality:    British
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Literary Agent:    n/a


John C Bird is a playwright based in Solihull, England. a former journalist and university lecturer, he has lived and worked in the United States, Canada, Cyprus and the United Kingdom. He has a PhD in History from London University and some of his plays are history based. In addition to plays his published and broadcast work includes television comedy material, poetry, short fiction and non-fiction books on subjects as diverse as careers for the over-40s and Britain's treatment of enemy aliens in wartime.

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below is a list of John C Bird's plays - click on a Play Title for more information

 Alby And The Big Fellah         Bo And Joe         City Of Dreams         Sign Of The Times         Trusting Herr Schickelgruber

Alby And The Big Fellah

Synopsis:
The action takes place in a hospital room where 15-year-old alby, suffering from cancer, is being visited by his best friend, Matt. The play explores the differing reactions of the two boys to the impending possibility of alby's death. Despite the sombre scenario, alby (sporting a Che Guevara beret to hide his loss of hair through chemotherapy treatment) retains his sense of humour throughout and provides a droll commentary on his illness, the medical profession and his conception of Heaven and its proprietor, who he always refers to as The Big Fellah. The play ends on an upbeat note.

Notes:
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1st Produced:
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Organisations:
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1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2004)   978-1840944891

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
12 min One act

Parts:
Male:  2            Female:  -            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Bo And Joe

Synopsis:
The play is a fictional evocation of the ill-starred relationship in the early 1880's between Beatrice Potter and Joseph Chamberlain, the leading radical politician of his time. Beatrice later married Sidney Webb and the pair became renowned socialist writers and thinkers and founders of the London School of Economics. Her affair with Chamberlain is seen in flashback after Beatrice's memory is triggered by an entry in her diary. The play opens in September 1939 in the Webb's home and ends with Beatrice listening to Joseph's son, Neville, (the last person she encounters during the flashback) on the wireless announcing Britain's declaration of war on Germany.

Notes:
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1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2001)   978-1840943658

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama One act

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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City Of Dreams

Synopsis:
Fred Newman, a local government accountant, dreamed of leaving his nagging wife and dead-end job and travelling the world. a heart attack and early retirement provides the opportunity to take off and head first for Dallas, his 'City of Dreams'. Here he meets a Mexican chambermaid who is also on the run, but from different demons. For a while it looks like they may become an 'item', but will they both find the happiness they seek?

Notes:
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1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
Free reading sample mailto:playwrightspublishingco@yahoo.complaywrightspublishingco@yahoo.com,    -

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
One act

Parts:
Male:  1            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Sign Of The Times

Synopsis:
The play tackles the theme of wartime xenophobia and its effect on a family living in the East End of London during the early days of the First World War. Leo Hoffmann, the proprietor of a family bakery business and a naturalised subject of German descent, is mistakenly perceived as sympathetic to the enemy and is injured when the business is attacked and vandalised by a street mob. The play explores the differing reactions of Leo and his wife and son to the traumatic episode and the way in which they are able to come to terms with an uncertain future.

Notes:
-

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2001)   978-1840943290

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama One act

Parts:
Male:  3            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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Trusting Herr Schickelgruber

Synopsis:
It is September 1938. The eyes of the world are on Germany. Two men are in the spotlight - Germany's dictator adolf Hitler and British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. Hitler has already illegally appropriated into the Third Reich. Chamberlain has initiated a dialogue with Hitler to try to find a settlement that will preserve peace in Europe. Drawing on historical sources, the play presents an imagined account of what occurred in private before and after the meetings between the two leaders; in particular Hitler's intimate, sometimes volatile relationship with his mistress, Eva Braun, and the frank and lively interaction between Chamberlain and his (fictional) shrewd valet, Walter Wright.

Notes:
a free reading copy of the play is Available from the publishers

1st Produced:
-    -

Organisations:
-

1st Published:
New Theatre Publications (2007)   978-1840945843

Music:
-

To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies

Booksellers:

Genre:
Drama Historical

Parts:
Male:  4            Female:  1            Other:  -

Further Reference:
-

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