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Curious Tales for Christmas



A collection of 3 Victorian Ghost Stories, Curious Tales for Christmas comprise three pieces of ghostly horror, and great fun they are. The first is an American ghost story by Ambrose Bierce set in the Deep South. Playing with Fire is an Arthur Conan Doyle piece in which a seance takes place in an artist's studio, with unexpected and spooky results. Bram Stoker is the featured artist in the final piece, The Judge's House.


The Middle Toe of the Right Foot by Ambrose Bierce. Set in 1800's Texas, a man who tricks a suspected murderer into settling an argument by means of a knife duel in a deserted house with a satisfyingly creepy ending.


Cast Size: 1M.

Running Time: 15 minutes.


Playing with Fire by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Set in Victorian London, it features a staple of that time- the séance. An experienced Scottish medium is persuaded to join an enthusiastic but inexperienced group with disastrous, unicorn-rampaging results.


Cast Size: 3 M/1F.

Running Time: 20 minutes.


The Judge's House by Bram Stoker. A screenwriter is sent on retreat to Cork to finish a script but discovers the supposedly perfect house he's renting is haunted by one of it's former residents, a vengeful hanging Judge with an army of rats in tow.


Cast Size: 3M/1F with doubling.

Running Time: 45 minutes.


Royalty Rate: $35.00 for an individual one-act.

$50.00 to perform all three.


Appropriate for all ages. 


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Stewart Roche trained at the Gaiety School of Acting. He is the artistic director of Purple Heart Theatre Company. With the company he has acted in Curious Tales, Hollywood Valhalla, Men of Tortuga, After Miss Julie, Red Light Winter, How to Act around Cops, Shooters, Mojo, Some Voices, Love and Understanding, Never the Sinner and Coyote on a Fence. For the company he has directed Helter Skelter/Union Square and The Santaland Diaries. Other theatre work includes Overtime (New Theatre) King Lear (Second Age) Suburbia, American Buffalo and True West (Lughnasa) Valparaiso, The Quest and The Alchemist (Iomha) Film and TV: About Adam, Stages, RiRa, 43, The Question and The Fiddlers Cross. Stewart's first play "The Devil's Kiss" received a rehearsed reading as part of The New Theatre's new writing week in November 2012. His second play "Curious Tales" had its world premiere at Theatre Upstairs@Lannigans in December 2012 and is due to return to Bewleys later this year. His new play "Revenant" is due to receive its world premiere in the New Theatre in November 2013. He is currently working on a documentary about the Hellfire club.



Copyright © Stewart Roche



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