Dead Man's Hat explores the myths of the Old American West, with many an acknowledgement to films like Shane and High Plains Drifter. A compelling stranger arrives at a remote homestead. Seventeen year-old Anne is ready to fall under his spell. Her mother, Kate, remains suspicious but she is desperate for help against the local rancher who is after their land. Is this stranger their saviour or their downfall?
Paradise Drive is the story of a family during the 1980's, 'four strangers bound in blood'. David works for British Rail and is about to leave the Labour Party. Jennifer his wife, seems to have lost purpose to her life. Their daughter, Sally, is upwardly mobile and marries an ad man while son, John, is a struggling artist. The play moves through a series of painfully humorous family occasions towards its tragic climax.
In The Bleak Midwinter is based on a medieval mystery play. Zac, the dreaming shepherd, and Miriam, his pragmatic, long-suffering wife, journey from Black Mountains border country to Bethlehem where they must register for the 'poll tax'. Along the way they are plagued by sheep-stealer Mak and his lively girlfriend, Gill, not to mention a certain Mary and Joseph.
Charles Way was born in Devon in 1955. He trained as an actor at Rose Bruford College in London then joined Leeds Education team for which he wrote his first professional play in 1978. He became resident writer at Theatre Centre in London and has since written over thirty plays, many especially for young people. His plays include The Flood (published by Collins), Witness (Duke Playhouse, Lancaster), She Scored For Wales and In Living Memory. Adaptations include On the Black Hill, and Ash On A Young Man's Sleeve. Charles has also written several large-scale community projects including the opera, A Song of Streets, for the Welsh National Opera and the people of Cardiff and Bordertown for Monmouth.
- ISBN10 1854111140
- ISBN13 9781854111142
- Publish Date 23 February 1995
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 3 September 2024
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Poetry Wales Press
- Imprint Seren
- Format Paperback
- Pages 180
- Language English