Heaven's Above
Diana Raffle
Genre: Comedy
Cast size: 4
Duration: 45 mins approx
Diana Raffle | Comedy | One Act | 2m, 2f
Short synopsis
- Synopsis
- Characters
Sally is dead, or so she is told by Larry, an officious celestial administrator covering for St Peter, who is busy dealing with a rush in Bognor. Having entered hospital for a routine hysterectomy, she finds that things didn’t quite go according to plan on the operating table and she is now in a queue with others at the gates of heaven.
Sally is in denial and won’t believe Larry that she is dead, claiming that this is nothing more than a bad dream and demanding to be returned to her hospital bed, her loving husband and three unopened boxes of chocolates in her bedside locker.
Whilst waiting for Larry to sort out her paperwork, she sits on a bench next to Bernice and Melvin who also recently died but whose circumstances are rather different. Depressed Bernice has taken her own life as she had little worth living for and death held a certain appeal. Melvin, who has died of a heart attack on the tennis court, was widowed some year earlier and has been faithfully waiting to be reunited with his wife Annie.
When Larry reveals that Bernice and Melvin’s lives have been saved and they can choose to return, Sally is furious as she is the only one who believes she has a life worth returning to. Melvin discovers that Annie is now enjoying her time in heaven with a Frenchman so chooses to return to life. With Bernice being tempted to return and make the most of her second chance, Sally becomes further enraged.
Eventually, a clerical error made in the admin department gives her back the life that she realises she so desperately wants, however it’s not without its twist.
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.
