BEN TRAVERS (1886 - 1990) |
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Nationality: English Email: n/a Website: n/a |
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Literary Agent: United Agents |
Ben Travers was born in Hendon in 1886 and was sent to Charterhouse in the reign of Queen Victoria. His school career was a complete failure and was terminated, as he himself asserted, by mutual consent. He then spent several years in commerce for which he displayed very little interest or aptitude, but in 1911 he found more congenial employment in the firm of John Lane, the publisher and founder of the Bodley Head. Virtually all his farces of the twenties and thirties were filmed and other screenplays included POT LUCK, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, LADY IN DANGER and UNCLE SILAS. He wrote five novels, two volumes of autobiography and a book on cricket. During the 1914-18 war he was a Squadron Commander in the RNAS and RAF, and received the Air Force Cross, and in 1939 he rejoined the RAF as Squadron Leader. He was also the Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, Vice President of Somerset County Cricket CLub, and President of the Dramatist's Club. In 1976 he was presented with a Special Standard Drama Award for his services to the Theatre, and he received the C.B.E. in the Queen's Birthday Honours. When Ben Travers died in 1980, at the age of 94, the title of his book of cricket reminiscences was changed in characteristic Traver's form, from 94 NOT OUT to 94 DECLARED.
Plays by Ben Travers
After You with the Milk | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1980 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French, London, 1985 | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #34886 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Comedy | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 3 | Female | 3 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | This sophisticated, saucy, fast-moving comedy takes place in the heat-wave summer of 1935 and centres on Dottie, young, attractive and slightly dizzy, whose vocabulary seems devoid of the word 'no'. Her overt kindness and soft-heartedness leads her into a life of turmoil as, in her endeavours to please everyone all of the time, she indulges in several affairs with complicated and desperate results! | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Banana Ridge | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1938 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85486 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Bed Before Yesterday, The | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1975 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French, London, 1976 | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #34887 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Comedy | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 4 | Female | 4 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | Alma, a rich but physically far from lovely widow, has had no sexual experience since the sole occasion on her wedding night twenty years ago. She marries impoverished Victor on the understanding that their marriage will be based on friendship. But intervention from Victor's son, his unconventional girlfriend and Alma's free-and-easy cousin warm up her long-cooled fires with unexpected results. Period 1930 | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Bit Of A Test, A | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1933 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85484 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Corkers End | ||
| 1st Produced: | Guildford | 1968 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French, NY, | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #34888 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 7 | Female | 4 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: |
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Further Reference: | - | |||||
Cuckoo In The Nest, A | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1925 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French Ltd, London | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85479 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Farce | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 7 | Female | 6 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | Major Bone and his wife arrive at their daughter's flat where they are going to spend the weekend. Their daughter, Barbara and her husband Peter are going to a house-party in the country. Barbara unexpectedly arrives - she was on the train waiting for Peter. Peter had been talking to an exotic looking woman on the platform and had missed the train. She had got of at the next station and had come back home. A telephone call to the garage informs her that Peter and the exotic woman have taken the car and are driving off to Somerset. Barbara and her parents go in pursuit. Peter's car breaks down. He and the woman - the French wife of an M.P. Peter had been asked to escort her to the house-party try to book into an hotel. But there is only one room - so they pretend they are married. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Cup Of Kindness, A | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1929 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85480 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Dippers, The | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1922 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85478 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Dirty Work | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1932 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85483 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Malacca Linda | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1922 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85477 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Night Like This, A | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1930 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85481 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Nun's Veiling | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1956 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French, London, 1956 | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #34889 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Play/Drama | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 6 | Female | 7 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: |
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Further Reference: | - | |||||
Outrageous Fortune | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1947 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85489 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Plunder | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1928 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | in "Five Plays" Allen, London, 1977 | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #34890 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Farce | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 13 | Female | 7 | ||
Parts other: | extras | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | Mrs Hewlett is a unpopular woman, and suave, international thief Freddy Malone is keen to relieve the nouveau riche lady of her jewellery. In an unexpected twist, his old school chum, DArcy Tuck, also wants to swindle Mrs Hewlett of her wealth, compelling Freddy to enlist his bungling friend as an accomplice in the crafty thievery. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Rookery Nook | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1926 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French Ltd, London | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #34891 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Farce | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 5 | Female | 4 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | Gerald and his cousin Clive are staying at Rookery Nook with various relatives. Gerald's wife has not joined him yet as her mother is ill. That night a young girl, Rhoda, wearing only her pyjamas knocks at the door seeking shelter from her father. They take her in. Of course everyone gets the wrong idea as the boys try to hide the girl and make excuses. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
She Follows Me About | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1943 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85488 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Spotted Dick | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1939 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85487 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Thark | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1927 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French, London, | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #34892 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Farce | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 6 | Female | 5 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | Period 1927, a wild night, a sinister butler and plethora of romantic mix ups | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Thekla | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1935 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85485 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Turkey Time | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1931 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85482 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | n/a | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | n/a | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
Wild Horses | ||
| 1st Produced: | - - - | 1952 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French Ltd, London | ISBN/ASIN: | - | |||
| Music: | - | doollee no | #85490 | |||
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 | |||||
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Genre: | Farce | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 9 | Female | 4 | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | - | |||||
Synopsis: | A painting called "Wild Horses" changes hands with great rapidity. Who owns it? Who thinks they own it? And did anybody have the right to sell it on any occasion? Plus that charwoman is no lady. . . | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||

