Martin Paul Roche - Theatre Writer

15/06/2026

There appears to be an uncanny carved likeness of me spending the last 45 years of my life waiting for other people to arrive for a rehearsal … 😳😆

15/06/2026

It's said that a picture paints a thousand words. This small selection of images represents just some of my 30 works and which contain over 315,000 words ... and it's growing.
Details of all of them may be found in one place in an online catalogue. Just follow the link to find the story behind the images and the opportunities that new works bring😊
https://www.flipbookpdf.net/web/site/75bd8c020d4e2dba72f58e3f743b9d540562af4dFBP33997391.pdf.html

Represented by Stagescripts Ltd

14/06/2026

'Camels and Kings' - a two act play for four women.

"England, June 1940. The country may be at war, but for Dorothea Stapleton little has changed in her world in sixty years. She is from an era consumed by family connections, position, standards. Where reputation is all and must be protected - whatever the price.
Equally, she is conditioned by ‘The Establishment’ which demands that one must always do the right thing and act for the greater good and sometimes, maintain two histories: that which is known and that which must remain secret.
And Dorothea has a secret.
During the summer, Agnes unexpectedly arrives in Dorothea’s world of anachronisms; sweeping away convention, oblivious to entitlement. As they adjust to one another, their lives intertwine and unravel in a most unexpected manner as they both discover that the world can be a very small and unpredictable place.
As Dorothea says, “Fate is a permanent and an unforgiving guest at my table; behaving in a despicable manner when one least expects it.”
And that expectation is about to be realised."

The play is published by Stagescripts Ltd and further details may be found here: https://www.stagescripts.com/collections/martin-paul-roche/products/camels-and-kings

14/06/2026

"𝑳𝙞𝒗𝙞𝒏𝙜 𝙬𝒊𝙩𝒉 𝑳𝙤𝒊𝙨"

"Darren is the epitome of middle-aged manhood: of modernity, of masculinity, of marriage, of monotony. His life is filled with satisfying expectations, roles, cultural and relationship norms and the identity which comes with them.
But that is the outer Darren.
Because there is also the inner Darren who lives in a world that the ‘real’ world never sees. An alternate world where he knows himself by more than just another name. It is a surreal place of solitude, loneliness, questioning. But equally, such hopes and desires; a yearning to be free and one day, to be at ease in more than his own skin. A world of comfort, of confidence in which ‘just being yourself’ takes on a fulfilled life of its own.
But it is a world where only he exists and with him, his secret. And with his secret come the issues he fights with every minute of every day: conflict, confusion, guilt, fear, betrayal. They are now polluting and poisoning both worlds and will soon make them both uninhabitable for him.
Time is running out. And why?
Because Darren is trying to please two people in one body."

'Living with Lois' is available now from Stagescripts Ltd by following this link: https://www.stagescripts.com/collections/plays-drama-1/products/living-with-lois?_pos=8&_fid=ad7ca4c17&_ss=c

PS: While giving a shoutout to this play, I'm also looking ahead and therefore sending best withes to Woodford Players and Windsor Community Playhouse who both have productions in the next several months. Best of luck and I do hope you and your audiences enjoy it!

13/06/2026

‘The King's Orphan’ - a two act play for a cast of four, available from Stagescripts Ltd.

“What a gem! A script that moves an audience from tears to laughter and back again - not just once but again and again. A powerful piece of theatre from Martin Paul Roche.”

https://www.stagescripts.com/collections/martin-paul-roche/products/the-kings-orphan

“During the Great War, 116 young men who had once called Blackburn Orphanage home answered the call to serve King and Country. Fifteen never returned. Among them was William North, a young man whose story has all but vanished from history.
The King's Orphan imagines the life of this forgotten orphan, giving a voice to one of the countless ordinary men whose extraordinary sacrifice shaped a generation. While not a factual biography, the play draws inspiration from the lives of the orphanage boys who went to war, exploring themes of duty, belonging, courage and loss.
At its heart, the story is also a tribute to James and Jane Dixon, the husband and wife whose compassion transformed the lives of vulnerable children and instilled in them values of dignity, self-respect and hope. Through the imagined life of William North, the play honours not only those who fought and fell, but also the remarkable people who gave them a family, a future and something worth fighting for.
A moving story of remembrance, sacrifice and hope, The King's Orphan restores a forgotten voice to history and celebrates the enduring power of love in the face of war.”

13/06/2026

'́Iͥs͛ ᴛⷮhͪeͤrͬeͤ aͣnyвⷡoͦdͩy ᴛⷮhͪeͤrͬeͤ?'́

This play has been performed several times in the UK and also in South Africa. It has always been a popular choice with audiences.
2 acts, 3 women, one set.

For further information concerning licensing, click:
https://www.stagescripts.com/collections/martin-paul-roche/products/is-there-anybody-there

"Sue has spent her life married to an empty space.
Her husband.
A man who wasn’t ever there; not with her anyhow.
And she fooled herself into thinking her manufactured life had been manufactured by her.
But a perfect life is not always what it seems and her husband's death has made her realise that.
When Sue meets Ann, an employee of her late husband, she finds a soul mate in more ways than one. And following a chance conversation, they hatch a plan to laugh, to drink, to joke and to make fun with impunity about the afterlife and those who ask the question “Is there anybody there?”
But life can bring with it unexpected turns and what begins as a joke soon becomes much more."

‘Is there anybody there?’ explores a range of emotions, expectations and fears.
It questions what motivates us, what we want out of life ... and what we think about what might come after it.
It delves into 'friendship.' What we expect from it and then, within the fractures, what is really going on when it all goes wrong.
Finally, it considers those times when we are alone and assess our lives with that inner monologue we all rehearse. Who are we actually speaking with ... and who answers us back?
The journey the characters go on begins and ends in two very different places and the question of the piece is not resolved. That is a matter for the audience to decide.
What will you decide? Was anybody there?

Published by Stagescripts Ltd

13/06/2026

A one-act play, available now ...
⁣
"𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 … 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠! 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝!"

Norman and Delilah have found each other on a dating website and are meeting at a rented apartment. They are virgins in every aspect of the etiquette of life; in conversation, dating, relationships and naturally, AirBnB.

This is their first meeting. Their first everything in fact. Might awkwardness and naivety go some way to excusing their embarrassment? Allow them to find a common ground, even a glimmer of hope of something more? And how do they know what to hope for, if it’s something they’ve never had?

But Norman and Delilah will be fine. After all, Norman has brought Garibaldi biscuits and Delilah has brought handcuffs. What’s more, she has also taken precautions. She has kept the receipt. And that can only mean one thing. Norman can keep his hat on.

12/06/2026

11/06/2026

Could you help shape the future of a local charity supporting families across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre?

Home-Start Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre is seeking a new Chairperson of Trustees to lead our Board and help us continue making a difference to families with young children across our communities.

Last year alone, we supported over 160 local families through our free, confidential and non-judgemental services. As demand continues to grow, we are looking for an inspiring leader to help guide our next chapter.

As Chairperson, you will:
✔ Lead our Board of Trustees
✔ Provide strategic direction and governance oversight
✔ Support and challenge the CEO
✔ Act as an ambassador for Home-Start BFW
✔ Help ensure the charity remains strong, effective and sustainable
We are looking for someone with:
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Strategic thinking and sound judgement
• A passion for supporting children and families
• An understanding of governance and accountability
• The ability to build positive relationships and work collaboratively
Previous Chair experience is welcome but not essential.
Time commitment: Approximately 8–10 hours per month
This is an opportunity to use your skills, experience and networks to make a genuine difference to local families and help give children the best possible start in life.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive Board.
For an informal conversation or application pack, please contact:
[email protected]
01253 728615

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11/06/2026

Did you know that a digital map/record is being created to capture memories and to celebrate the life and legacy of our late Queen Elizabeth?
People across the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and worldwide are being invited to send us their memories of Queen Elizabeth using then website which has been created in her memory.

Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial