Recital
Christopher Owen
Genre: Comedy
Cast size: 2
Duration: 30 - 35 mins approx
Christopher Owen | Comedy | One Act | 1m, 1f
Short synopsis
- Synopsis
- Characters
- Reviews
Gillian is a concert platform singer in her 40’s, specialising in songs from the shows and popular classics. Trevor is her middle-aged piano accompanist. Gillian is temperamental, highly strung and very difficult to get on with. She is maddened by Trevor who is, in her estimation, repetitive and a complete bore.
They’ve been touring together for years, and this present tour seems to them to have been going on forever.
The comedy is set in Gillian’s 3-star hotel bedroom. She has a performance booked for tonight in a concert hall that’s 150 miles away. She has a sore throat, and if this wasn’t bad enough, last night Trevor got drunk, tripped and broke his wrist! He can no longer play for her! They have to find another pianist urgently.
Trevor phones everyone they know… Vic, Jeremy, Bill, (and even Barry, who Gillian thinks has died) leaving voicemails hither and thither. Gillian draws the line however about asking her husband Gerald to accompany her on the piano as he is apparently having an affair with a harpist. Try as Trevor might, it seems that no one is available or willing to accompany Gillian.
Whilst waiting for return phone calls they reminisce and bicker like an old married couple about the places they’ve toured at home and overseas, the restaurants they’ve been to: the good, the bad and the dreadful.
Trevor doesn’t like silence and launches into an account of meeting his foster mother in later life in Canada, an account Gillian has heard a thousand times before which maddens her.
She is rapidly losing her voice and he does his back in when bending down to retrieve his mobile from the floor, but good news arrives when Vic phones to say he can after all play for Gillian. Trevor is overjoyed. But Gillian now has no voice left with which to sing. Disaster!
The photos portray 'Another Way Theatre' performing a second half as 'The Recital' as Gillian and the replacement accompanist in a 'Revue' style with songs of their choice.
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.
