This site has limited support for your browser. We recommend switching to Edge, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.

Not sure where to start? Discover all our scripts

Talk to one of our experts here

Thank you for purchasing with Stagescripts

Shopping basket 0

Sorry, looks like we don't have enough of this product.

Products

Need help? Contact our team here

Pair with
Subtotal Free
Shipping, taxes, and discount codes are calculated at checkout
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Diners Club
  • Discover
  • Google Pay
  • Maestro
  • Mastercard
  • Shop Pay
  • Union Pay
  • Visa

Charade

Janet Shaw

Genre: Comedy

Cast size: 15

Duration: 110 mins approx

Janet Shaw | Comedy | Full-length | 5m, 7f, 1f junior, 2 m/f5

Short synopsis

Kate is about to marry Steven on a romantic Greek Island. Their families haven’t met before arriving and now do so with a clash of style and temperament. Felicity, Kate’s genteel and refined mother is confronted with Steven’s mother, Rene, a loud and brash ‘rough diamond’ and immediately the sparks begin to fly! Their arguing leads to a rift between the nearly newlyweds who call off the wedding. Kate’s Aunt arrives and reveals that Kate and Steven both have the same father which cements a new uneasy relationship between Felicity and Rene. Humour and pathos abound in this hilarious play.

A wedding invitation to the idyllic island of Xantos turns out to be a date with disaster. It is 1970 and Kate is about to marry Steven on the romantic Greek Island of Xantos. Their families haven’t met before arriving and, when they do, the two mothers detest each other on sight due to a volcanic clash of style and temperament.

Felicity, Kate’s genteel and refined mother, is confronted with Steven’s mother, Rene, a loud and brash ‘rough diamond’ and immediately the sparks begin to fly! During this, the two fathers of course, are nowhere to be found. Their mother's arguing turns Kate and Steven's ceremony into a nightmare ,and leads to a rift between the nearly newlyweds, who call off the wedding.

Kate’s Aunt Issie arrives and reveals that Kate and Steven both have the same father - a fact which has the effect of cementing a new and uneasy relationship between Felicity and Rene. Skeletons now fall out of various cupboards at an alarming rate. What is Felicity hiding from her sister Issie? And what is the secret that the bride's father shares with the guests that leaves them reeling with shock? It's been twenty five years since World War Two ended, but ghosts from the past emerge for these families, leaving behind a trail of heartbreak and discovery.

A bittersweet adult comedy full of humour and pathos which will have you laughing and crying, probably at the same time.

5m, 7f, 1f junior, 2m/f

  • Maria - a Greek ‘maid of all work’ at the Taverna
  • Alex - 24, a forthright young woman, owner of the Taverna, Felicity’s niece
  • Nico - 20-35, a Greek friend of Alex’s
  • Felicity - 50-60, a middle class snob, highly strung, a perfectionist
  • Justin - 18-22, Felicity’s son
  • Kaitlin (Kate) - 24, Felicity’s daughter, marrying Steven
  • Rene - 50-60, a rough diamond, loud and brash, protective of her lifestyle and her children
  • Pat - 50-60, Rene’s sister, another rough diamond, but not quite so loud
  • Steven - 25-30, Rene’s son, marrying Kate
  • Danny - 20-25, Steven’s Best Man
  • Isobelle (Issie) - 50-60, Felicity’s sister, a mental patient, rather confused but has lucid moments
  • Richard - 55-65, a bigamist and philanderer, musician, works on cruise ships
  • White Coats - two medical orderlies (one speaking, one non-speaking) (m/f)
  • Gail - 9-14, a young girl
Free

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.

[{"variant_id":"55490500198786" , "metafield_value":""},{"variant_id":"55490500264322" , "metafield_value":""},{"variant_id":"55490500297090" , "metafield_value":""},{"variant_id":"55490500362626" , "metafield_value":""}]

Charade

Free
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.

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

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.