Plays
I’ve written several plays which have been performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and beyond by Orange Works, the theatre company I formed with various theatre friends.
The first four of our plays have now been published, and the sixth is currently in development. The book can be ordered from https://www.mrbooks.co.uk/iantuckerbell
On this page you can find out more about my plays, about Orange Works, and about my work as a playwright. If you are interested in staging any of my work, or inviting Orange Works to perform in your area do get in touch.
If you want to know more about Orange Works you can visit orangeworks.org.uk
TEll me about your mother
LOCUSTS
Locusts is an “exemplary drama” – warm, funny, and profoundly touching.
The play explores the impact of past traumas on present day life, as love, family, and faith are put to the test.
It tells the story of Stephen, whose past resurfaces as Pete – a once-trusted church leader – appears, asking for Stephen’s help in repeating damaging mistakes. Stephen’s partner, Jeff, is facing problems of his own and knows nothing of this part of Stephen’s past. Now, they must all face the truth.
Premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2023 to great critical and audience acclaim, Locusts shines a light on a pressing issue while delivering a moving, warm, and humour-filled theatrical experience.
“Outstanding: understated, nuanced, and profoundly touching” The Wee Review
coming out later in life
From Today Everything
Changes
This one-act play portrays Chris, a widowed man in his mid-sixties, who begins to explore his sexuality for the first time.
Chris meets Alan, a younger man, and as their relationship begins to form Chris comes to terms with the implications for him, his family, and his future.
This has since been performed to acclaim at both the Sevenoaks Festival, the Southern Counties Drama Festival, the Faversham Fringe Festival and over two years at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe recieving 4* reviews and audience acclaim.
Mum is in the margarine tub
Trans Pennine
‘Trans Pennine’ is a funny, fast-paced, and emotional play about family disagreements, gender-identity, and caravan holidays.
Following her death, the family begrudgingly go to scatter Mum’s ashes in the Yorkshire Dales – a commemoration of a wife and mother none of them liked. Their bitter and fateful journey takes them to the caravan site of past family holidays, where secrets are revealed, truths are unearthed, and their relationships, identities, and prejudices are tested to the full.
Dad is angry, Ben is Amy, and Mum is in the margarine tub.
Trans Pennine premiered in the summer of 2018 and was performed at the Camden Fringe, the Faversham Fringe, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018 and 2019, where it was very warmly received.
sausage roll?
Hobnobs & Fruitcake
I’d long wanted to create a play in the traditions of Commedia Del’Arte, and this is it! Premiering at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe, Hobnobs is a silly tale of love, lies, scheming, and swearing. With biscuits.
See my beret?
Cast requirements: three men playing ages 40-70, three women playing ages 40-50
men, mental health, and flat pack furniture
Being Frank
Frank’s son is facing a mental health crisis, and Frank hasn’t a clue what to do about it, and it’s opening up wounds he thought long forgotten.
Weaving real-life stories into a fictional narrative, ‘Being Frank’ uses humour, music, movement and a good deal of honesty to explore men’s relationships with each other, with mental health, and with flat-pack furniture.
Being Frank premiered at the Old Fire Station, Tonbridge, in the summer of 2019 before heading to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where it received excellent reviews from press and public alike.
One day is finally here
Hymn to Canada
A new one-act play written for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2020 – which sadly didn’t happen due to the pandemic.
Hymn to Canada is both a humorous and emotional story that explores why people put off doing the things they dream of, while touching on themes of past-mistakes, self-forgiveness, and the nature of family.
Cast requirements: two men playing ages 70 and 45, and two women playing ages 60s and 25.
Other work
A few of my other plays you might be interested in
Conversations with my Younger Self
This play asks a simple question: if you could meet yourself as a teenager – before work, relationships, and adulthood have shaped and changed you – what would you say? What advice would you give?
If you only had ten minutes – what would be the important things you’d want to change?
“Conversations” premiered at The Oast Theatre, Tonbridge, in January 2017
Titternick
Titternick tells the story of a young chap who writes a stage version of James Cameron’s “Titanic”.
His play is quickly taken up by a local amateur group who, concerned with, copyright law, make a number of changes – the end result being “Titternick” – a ship sailing from Hull to Mexico, filled with Mexicans, Landed Gentry, and Coal-Miners.
“Titternick” was performed by Borograds in the summer of 2015 to great acclaim and laughter. It contains original songs for which backing tracks are available.
What’s Best for Dad?
A short (10 minute) observational play about the effects of grief on a family.
Len’s wife has died, and he and his son return home after the wake to memories, good wishes, and family tensions. His daughter and her partner visit and the family reminisce, fight, and try to work out what to do to support Len in his grief and loss.
“What’s Best For Dad” premiered at The Oast Theatre, Tonbridge, in November 2016.