News
David’s latest play Keep Your Sunny Side Up! a musical play based on the life and career of Dame Gracie Fields recently played to great acclaim at the Lantern Theatre, Brighton.
The show has been nominated in four categories in the 25/26 National Fringe Theatre Awards. (Lisa Rouselle: Lead Performance In A Musical, Pete Moody: Musical Direction, David Hampshire: Best New Musical (Book) and Outstanding Production.
A free-to-view online reading of Funny Turns to benefit the Jermyn Street Theatre Reopening Fund was produced in 2021. Introduced by Dame Joanna Lumley, the cast featured Linda Thorson, Gary Wilmot, Andrew Wincott, Timothy Bentinck, Gay Soper, Georgia Riley, Crissy Mullen, Lewis Rae, David Forest and David Hampshire. The reading was directed by Hayward B. Morse.
Funny Turns by David Hampshire, 2023
‘’A wonderful five star play. Funny, touching, beautifully realized and full of heart and truth. It’s ‘The Good Companions’ meets ‘The Entertainer’ and it’s as good as Priestley and better than Osborne. Seriously.’’
Gyles Brandreth
‘’A heart-rendingly funny play and an important piece of literature; well observed and essential for the understanding of a modern audience. Five stars.’’
Remotegoat
‘’It’s moving and entertaining with great writing and fabulous performances. It made me laugh and cry and it should be a major hit. See it.’’
Su Pollard
‘’A vintage piece that reflects a bygone age; delightful, funny and sad, and exactly what good theatre is all about.’’
forallevents.com
‘’A magical play that warms the heart and lightens the soul.’’
Adrian Barry, Director, The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain
”I loved the play. I recognized all the characters and it made me laugh and cry.”
Derek Fowlds
‘‘I haven’t enjoyed a play so much in years. The characters are so well drawn that they would resonate with anyone who has ever lived in theatrical digs. I’m still thinking about it.”
Melanie Hughes, Writer.
Stagescripts Ltd have published and administer the performance rights to David’s full-length play Face Value. A 25th wedding anniversary provides the impetus for this darkly comic play which explores the evolving relationships between three couples.
“Well done. There is no doubt that you have a firm grasp of character and a good ear for dialogue.”
Richard Harris, Playwright (‘Stepping Out, Outside Edge‘).
“I really like the play. The dialogue trips beautifully off the tongue.“
Virginia Stride, Actress.
“I loved the way the play was structured and thought it was a real lesson in comic writing. Allan’s character especially was a tour-de-force.“
Tom Jensen, Playwright.
Stagescripts Ltd publish and administer the performance rights to three volumes of David’s short plays under the series title, Moments In Life. Moments In Life: Volume One Moments In Life: Volume Two Moments In Life: Volume Three Receive a free bonus script if all three volumes are purchased together: Moments In Life: An Eye For An Eye
Please click on the image below for further information on the play, to order a free sample E-script or to purchase a printed copy.
David’s plays are performed throughout the UK and Europe. Briefcase Encounter and Over the Top (Up) were recently performed in Scotland by the Linlithgow players. Briefcase Encounter was performed by Rare Fortune Productions at the OSO in Barnes as part of their Brief Encounters presentation and Funny Turns is regularly produced, most recently by The Henfield Players, Neath Little Theatre and The NODS Theatre Company, Derby.