Biggles goes for a Burton?

VON STALHEIN: I’ve been writing ‘German Military History Since 1835.’

BIGGLES: That’s a bloody long time to spend working on a book.

VON STALHEIN: This is it, my friend. Do you recognise what we fought for?

BIGGLES: I looked at the quadrophonic hi-fi, the in-built aquarium and the vividly colourful abstract macrame wall hanging. As far as I could determine, none of them represented my deeds on the battlefield.

About the Script


Synopsis

For those who remember the exploits of the fictional British aviator Captain James Bigglesworth, it may come as some surprise to learn he's still alive - just. As Biggles lies on his deathbed, near the point where he'll finally go to join his chums, what does he think of the world as it is now, the world he fought so hard to save?

The fictional aviator looks back from his room in the Manfred von Richfochten Retirement Home for Old Pilots. Visited by the ghosts of his former pals and his arch enemy, he wonders if killing so many people really made the preceding century a better place.



Characters

Biggles, male, aged a hundred and something.

One shadow puppeteer (optional)

The ghosts of Algy, Ginger, Bertie and von Stalhein, either played by actors or as recordings.



Duration

Sixty minutes.



Production History

Staged at Scruffy Murphy's Hotel, Sydney, Australia in September 2000.
Cast: Ian McGregor, Vicci Imber and Mark Newland (Puppeteer).
Produced and directed by Sean Pardy.

Broadcast by ABC Radio National on 29 September 2002. Biggles was played by Kirk Alexander, with Simon Wilton as Algy, Michael Carman as Ginger, Bruce Kerr as Bertie and Gary Files as von Stalhein. Sound Engineer: Melissa May. Produced and directed by Anne McInerney.

Rehearsed reading at the Brighton Theatre Company, starring and directed by Kirk Alexander in Brighton, Victoria, 11 October, 2002.



Read the script

If you want to read the script please email me at simon@simonluckhurst.com.