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George Bernard Shaw

Gregory Lunn and Mrs Juno are in love, having met during a sea voyage. On a sofa in a hotel where both are staying, they discuss their feelings. They are both already married, so they decide they must part, but are unable to do so. They then recognise the voices of their respective spouses, apparently staying together at the same hotel. They leave in confusion. Mrs Lunn and Mr. Sibthorpe Juno enter and sit together on the same sofa that the other pair have just left.

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Bernard Shaw Library

Overruled

In the small town of Little Pifflington, Lord Augustus Highcastle tells his secretary Horatio Beamish that the war is a very serious matter, especially as he has three German brothers-in-law. He soon learns that a female spy is after an important document in his possession. A glamorous woman visits him. After flattering him by saying how important he is, she tells him that she suspects her sister-in-law of being the spy. She explains that Augustus' brother, known as Blueloo, has made a bet that Augustus can be easily tricked, and intends to use this woman to prove it. If she can get the document, a list of British gun emplacements, and take it to Blueloo, Augustus's incompetence will be exposed.

Augustus Does His Bit: A True-to-Life Farce

Captain Charles Edstaston is assigned to the Imperial Russian court in Saint Petersburg, during the 34-year rule of Empress Catherine the Great, and brings his fiancee, Claire, with him. In the midst of court intrigue and palace politics, primarily instigated by Catherine's favored statesman and military leader, the drunken, ill-mannered, but crafty Prince Patiomkin.

Great Catherine: Whom Glory Still Adores

A room in the War Office on 1 April 1912. General Mitchener is in a state of considerable anxiety about the number of Suffragettes chaining themselves to government buildings. He has had all the railings removed, but is informed by an orderly that another suffragette has padlocked herself to the door scraper. Surprisingly, he has received a letter from the Prime Minister, Balsquith, telling him to release the woman and let her into the building. When he does so, he learns that this suffragette is none other than the Prime Minister himself, disguised as a woman.

Press Cuttings

"Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy" by George Bernard Shaw is an ambitious and intellectually stimulating play that blends humor, romance, and profound philosophical discourse. This captivating work revolves around the enigmatic character of John Tanner, a witty and fiercely independent intellectual, who finds himself entangled in a battle of wits and wills. At the center of the plot is Ann Whitefield, a strong-willed and intelligent young woman who sets her sights on marrying Tanner. However, Tanner, a confirmed bachelor, is determined to avoid the trap of marriage and the responsibilities that come with it. He believes that marriage enslaves men, forcing them to cater to the desires of women and abandon their own ambitions.

Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy

"Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw is a captivating and witty play that explores themes of social class, identity, and the transformative power of education. Set in early 20th-century London, the play follows the unlikely encounter between Eliza Doolittle, a poor and unrefined flower girl, and Henry Higgins, a renowned phonetician and language expert. Higgins makes a bet with his friend Colonel Pickering that he can transform Eliza's Cockney accent and appearance into that of a proper, well-spoken lady, fit to pass off as a duchess at a high-society event. What begins as an experiment soon evolves into a journey of self-discovery for both Eliza and Higgins.

Pygmalion

The three-character play is set in the drawing room of a flat located on Cromwell Road in London. Shaw describes Henry Apjohn as a very beautiful youth, moving as in a dream, walking as on air, while Aurora Bompas has an air of being a young and beautiful woman but as a matter of hard fact, she is, dress and pretensions apart, a very ordinary South Kensington female of about 37, hopelessly inferior in physical and spiritual distinction to the beautiful youth. The third character is Aurora's husband Teddy, a robust, thicknecked, well groomed city man, with a strong chin but a blithering eye and credulous mouth.

How He Lied to Her Husband

"Major Barbara" by George Bernard Shaw is a compelling and thought-provoking play that grapples with the clash between idealism and pragmatism, wealth and poverty, and the moral complexities of the arms industry. Set in early 20th-century London, the play follows the lives of the Undershaft family, whose members are drawn into a compelling and often humorous exploration of their values and beliefs. The story revolves around Barbara Undershaft, a dedicated major in the Salvation Army, known for her passionate commitment to helping the poor and downtrodden. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers that her estranged father, Andrew Undershaft, is a wealthy arms manufacturer with a thriving business.

Major Barbara

"Heartbreak House" by George Bernard Shaw is a captivating and satirical play that explores the state of British society on the brink of World War I. Set in the idyllic country estate of Captain Shotover, the play introduces audiences to a cast of eccentric characters, each representing different aspects of society and human nature. The plot revolves around the visit of Ellie Dunn, a young woman who is invited to Heartbreak House by Hesione Hushabye, an unconventional and vivacious woman married to Hector Hushabye, Captain Shotover's son. As the play unfolds, Ellie finds herself entangled in a web of romantic entanglements and family secrets, mirroring the chaotic state of the world outside the idyllic estate.

Heartbreak House

"Androcles and the Lion" by George Bernard Shaw is a delightful and thought-provoking play that blends humor, compassion, and social commentary. Set in ancient Rome, the play tells the story of Androcles, a gentle and kind-hearted Christian tailor who finds himself thrown into the brutal world of gladiatorial combat. The play opens with Androcles fleeing from his cruel master, escaping into the wilderness where he encounters a wounded lion. Showing compassion, Androcles tends to the lion's injury and forms an unlikely bond with the fierce creature. Little does he know that this act of kindness will change his life forever.