Practice To Deceive
Ann Gawthorpe & Lesley Bown
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Cast size: 7
Duration: Two Act
Ann Gawthorpe & Lesley Bown | Thriller/Mystery | Full-length | 7f
Short synopsis
- Synopsis
- Characters
It is the mid 1950s and Hilary is hosting a committee meeting about the Christmas Bazaar while her husband is out furthering his political career. Chat, over coffee and biscuits, is suddenly cut short when one of the committee members collapses and dies. It appears to be a straightforward case of natural causes and Hilary is about to call for an ambulance when Carol, a doctor friend who is staying with her, says the woman has been poisoned with Bromate, which appears to have been substituted for sweeteners.
But who had access to the deceased’s coffee cup? While each committee member strives to prove they didn’t do it, another one of them collapses and dies, but was this another case of Bromate poisoning or a heart attack? Secrets come tumbling out as accusations fly around.
In an attempt to keep the police from finding out about the poisoning, because of the effect that this will have on her husband’s ambitions, Hilary persuades the rest of the committee to keep quiet about the Bromate in the hope that it won’t be picked up in the post mortem.
But the genie is out of the bottle and Hilary soon finds herself the victim of blackmail and extortion as two committee members see ways of realising their long-held dreams. The last straw is when Carol says she has been having an affair with Hilary’s husband. Pushed to the limit Hilary attempts to poison Carol with the sweeteners. Will she succeed? Is Bromate all Carol says it is? Is Carol even who she says she is?
This play is full of twists and turns with the final one coming in the last line.
Applying for and paying royalties
To apply for royalties, please complete the form on our apply for royalties page.
To pay for fixed fee royalties having received your Quotation from us, please go to this payment form.
More information
If you require any additional information regarding this script, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.
Frequently asked questions
Can we try before we buy?
Of course! All our plays and pantomimes have a free Preview Script available for download as an A4 pdf file that contains 60-75% of the full script. If you like what you read then you can buy an inexpensive e-script of the entire play (typically less than half the cost of a traditional printed script) which is licensed to you for your personal use. Purchasing a script copying licence allows you to make just enough copies to support rehearsals and performances.
All our musicals are included in our perusal service. Through this, representatives of producing organisations can request a USB Stick of perusal material which comprise the script/libretto and piano/vocal score as PDF files; a Cast (or Studio) Recording as MP3 files and (where available) an MP4 file video of either the premiere production or of a subsequent production.
Some titles have the facility to read the entire script online on our website.
Do we need a Licence To Perform?
The simple answer is, yes.
Under the international laws of copyright, you must be in possession of a valid, unexpired licence before performing any piece of theatre unless the owner or managers of the copyright has waived their rights.
Why do you insist on providing a formal royalties quotation?
When you request a quotation, it is logged in our system, it forms part of an orderly queue and protects your place in that queue should multiple licensing requests occur for the same show.
Need help?
Contact us
If you need help with our scripts, please contact our customer service team, we would be more than happy to help.
Established for over 25 years
Unearthing future talent
Stagescripts is a trusted licensing company run by theatre professionals with decades of experience on and off stage. Our curated catalogue includes over 1,000 carefully selected plays, musicals, and pantomimes — from fresh, undiscovered writing to well-loved classics.
We’re passionate about helping theatre-makers at every level discover scripts that inspire, challenge, and connect with audiences. Whether you're staging a village hall production or leading a professional company, our team offers expert advice, flexible support, and a responsive, personal service to help your next performance shine.
