A year ago Vi Davies suffered a stroke and her son Howard gave up his college course to nurse her. Vi is now capable of looking after herself but cannot let go of her son. Howard finds this situation extremely difficult, not least because he has a secret - he is gay, and has been seeing Bernard Fowler, Vi's insurance agent, for some time. A caravan holiday does nothing to relieve the tension...2 women, 2 men, 1 girl

This ingeniously constructed play is set in three separate flats over a bank holiday weekend. Shifting backwards and forwards in time it depicts a triangle of relationships: Michael, a homosexual, who is in love with his flatmate Andrew, who in turn is having an affair with Lesley, whose husband Tom seeks respite from their disintegrating marriage in the arms of Alison. 2 women, 3 men

Three women in the hospital for cancer treatments must cope with the uncertainties of their health and with the inevitable secrets and half truths from relatives and the nursing staff. Marlene, the strongest and most outspoken of them, keeps the atmosphere in the ward cheery. Her activities add considerable interest to their hospital stays.5 women, 2 women or men

The action in this hilarious comedy of the strains and stresses of property buying and selling alternates between two living-rooms and will be familiar to anyone who has ever experienced house buying! The Walshes are selling to the Gibbons but Ray Gibbons has arranged a nice little scam involving a fake survey to make the Walshes bring down the sale price. Meanwhile, the Lovejoys, who were selling to the Walshes but now can't, arrive to create havoc.3 women, 3 men

Griff has discovered that his son Nigel is not only a drag queen but gay; hours later, Nigel is in hospital having been hurt in a car crash in which his lover, Kevin, has incurred much worse injuries. Robust, sensible Ruby, Griff's wife, has much to deal with - Nigel's fears, Griff's prejudices, her own confused emotions, Kevin's parents - and has to use every resource at her disposal to keep the peace.3 women, 3 men

Mid-life crisis is hitting Ted. A row is the catalyst for his decision to leave Beryl, his wife of 32 years. At first she is shattered, but events give her a new lease of life. When Ted decides that the grass is not so green, Beryl makes a decision that six months ago would have been unthinkable.

Hoping to revive their flagging marriage, and celebrate twenty-five years together, Dougie takes Lorna back to their honeymoon hotel in Majorca. The hotel is still managed by the same couple and Lorna is reminded of her liaison with Miguel, the hotel owner and local Romeo. Out of the memories of Lorna, Miguel and his 'wife', Regietta, step their younger selves to re-enact the events of twenty-five years ago and we eavesdrop on earlier decisions with the knowledge of what happens later!4 women, 3 men

A summer evening's barbecue is the setting for a meeting of the Trealaw and District Operatic Society. Next season's play is to be announced but Nick, the society's business manager, has promised a different show and the plum roles to four different people. As the evening progresses each character's foibles and talents are revealed: Joyce, once talented and well meaning, is a lush; Teddy is alternately sweet and strident; Derek is pathetic but lovable. The complex relationships between players emerge as moments of pure slapstick and farce alternate with ones full of real drama and pathos.6 women, 4 men

Frank Vickery's poignant, yet humorous study of the destructive power of an obsessive maternal love was presented at the Duke of York's Theatre, London in 1989. Iris is fussy, houseproud and dictatorial. To add to her own, and her family's problems, she also nurtures an intensely possessive love for her only child Simon, a medical student. Impatiently awaiting his arrival for a weekend visit, Iris frets, worries and berates her ever-patient husband Ron whose calmness only serves to fuel her irritation. When Simon does come, unexpectedly accompanied by a girlfriend, Deryn, Iris's joy quickly turns to jealousy and suspicion and despite Deryn's determined effort to get on with Iris, it isn't long before the two are at loggerheads.2 women, 2 men

When young Tracy discovers she is pregnant, she doesn't know how to break the news to her solid, dependable mother, to her hypochondriac father or to her boyfriend. Gran, who is permanently ensconced in bed on stage, knows all, sees all and attempts to pave the way for Tracy's announcement.4 women, 3 men

This perceptive and comical play from the author of One O'Clock from the House involves a wedding that does not get off to an auspicious start and goes from bad to worse.3 women, 4 men

Seizing the opportunity, while her parents are out, Doreen decides to invite round Eric, her boyfriend. However, the evening is doomed to failure for all concerned: Doreen tries to calm Eric's passions while Mam and Dad overcome a ruined hair-do, the losing of all-important tickets and the car's flat battery only to find that they have the wrong night.2 women, 2 men

This scorching comedy of personalities and situations revolves around the funeral of an elderly father. The family includes a cook who bakes almondless almond cakes, a man who is convinced his shopping trolley is a dog he has already taught it to beg and a sister who is a happy inmate at a psychiatric home. The hilarity includes a posthumous joke played by a Father on his daughters. This is not a close knit family; they've even got the wrong person from the psychiatric home!8 women, 5 men, 1 boy

After I'm Gone is a play for one man and three women. Mam does not want her daughter Matti to marry and leave her on her own, and tries to prevent the match. Matt, however, though rather simple and innocent, is determined. The marriage takes place, and brings into Mam's house not only the undertaker husband but also his deaf and ageing father. Unexpectedly Mam and Dad hit it off and get married themselves. Some time later Mam comes to Matti with a surprise present from Dad - a trip for them on a world cruise. The will 'catch a boat' - the phrase for Matti, has a secondary meaning...2 women, 1 man

A very funny comedy, written with Frank Vickery's usual panache and style. Nancy and Cyril are to meet their son's girlfriend, Susan. Cyril, naturally bald, goes into hiding when his wig disappears, and reappears in disguise. But there are further problems when Susan loses a contact lens in the salad - Cyril is soon on his way to hospital wearing a dead kitten on his head.2 women, 2 men

Frank Vickery is the only living Welsh playwrite who can continually fill large theatres with his new plays. He has a loyal audience in south Wales that continue to support and celebrate his unique voice. The plays in this volume represent the 10 year partnership between Vickery and the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff. Throughout the 1990's, Vickery wrote annually for the Sherman Theatre. "KISS ON THE BOTTOM" (1991) is an all female comedy set in a cancer ward of a hopital in the south Wales valleys. "EROGENOUS ZONES" (1992) is set in a city and shifts backward and forward in time to depict a triange of relationships. "ROOTS AND WINGS" (1995) again set in a hospital concerns two families and their attitudes to their son's homosexuality. Vickery is obsessed with the taboos' within society. These plays reflect his obsession and magnificently demonstrate how he transposes ordinary people's lives to the stage with relevance and great humour.