Ray Cooney OBE

Master of Farce

I’ve always been enthusiastic about great writing, and couldn’t be happier to have turned my passion into a thriving career as a professional Author. With digital and online technologies continuing to disrupt the print industry, it's important to provide an accessible place where I can connect with a wider audience. Here you will find samplings of my work, ranging from published stories to more personal pieces, which I invite you to explore and enjoy below.

Ray Cooney began his theatrical career as a boy actor in Song of Norway at the Palace Theatre in 1946. Following a period in repertory theatres around the UK, he joined the Brian Rix Company at the Whitehall Theatre and it was during this period he began his writing career including the West End hits MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, TWO INTO ONE, OUT OF ORDER, IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY, FUNNY MONEY, CAUGHT IN THE NET, TOM DICK & HARRY and many more. In 1983, he formed the Theatre of Comedy at the Shaftesbury Theatre and became its first Artistic Director. In February 2013, the film of his most successful play RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, directed by Ray, had its world premier in Leicester Square and has now come out on DVD.

In December 2022, Ray will have been married to the lovely Linda for 61 years (Aaagh!! says Linda).

My Story

My Plays

Plays

Latest News

Mr Pugh's Garden

This story came about after I found this extraordinary photograph that I had taken of reflections in a window of the garden.

The book is on sale for £5 with all profits going to the Samaritans.

If you wish to buy this book, you can do so by either cheque or by online banking.

Written by Linda Cooney

Illustrated by Teresa Witz

Please email - info@raycooneyplays.co.uk

Please make cheques payable to 'Ray Cooney Plays' and send to Ray Cooney Plays

Online banking - Please use Sort Code 30-93-49, Account No. 01324219, Ref. Mr Pugh's Garden

Other details if required; BIC: LOYDGB21195, IBAN: GB57 LOYD 3093 4901 3242 19

It's Her Turn Now - The Mill at Sonning

It's Her Turn Now

CAST

Raphael Bar - John Worthington

Jules Brown - Gavin Foster

Eric Carte - Paul Willey

Felicity Duncan - Georgina Pigden

Elizabeth Elvin - Rebecca Willey MP

Harry Gostelow - The Manager

James Holmes - The Waiter

Michelle Morris - Tracey Worthington

Charlie Parker-Swift - A Body

Reviews

It's Her Turn Now

1/36

The Mill at Sonning

Honoured and humbled The Mill at Sonning are naming their auditorium The Ray Cooney Auditorium when in September at a Gala Performance of 'Two Into One".

Such a great joy seeing Ray Cooney plays performed there over the last 38 years.

Long may it continue .

Love and thanks to Sally Hughes and all at the Mill.

Poland Trip - Krakow - May 2019

For the love of Pigeons

Ray Cooney Plays is supporting the following;

More News

Based on the original play OUT OF ORDER by Ray Cooney

OUT OF ORDER is Ray Cooney’s classic farce about MPs behaving badly. Here it has been turned on its head and adapted so that it is female MPs behaving badly.

When Rebecca Willey MP, a government Junior Minister, plans to spend the evening with John Worthington, special advisor to the opposition, they check into a hotel for their naughty affair. Except things start to go disastrously wrong!

A conniving waiter, a suspicious hotel manager, an alert private detective, an angry wife, a furious husband, a bungling secretary, an unconscious nurse, and – let’s not forget – a dead body, all put Mrs Willey’s career in serious jeopardy.

Sally Hughes says: “I was invited to the read through of this play as we were coming out of lockdown. It was a late summer’s afternoon in Ray Cooney’s garden with a few invited producers and a wonderful cast. We all knew and loved the original version of the play OUT OF ORDER and didn’t know what to expect. Well it was a riot. We laughed until tears ran down our faces.”

This classic farce is absolutely jam-packed with all the hilarious ingredients for a wonderful evening’s entertainment.

By Ray Cooney

Adaptation by Michael Barfoot

ALL TICKETS INCLUDE A DELICIOUS TWO-COURSE MEAL IN THE RESTAURANT BEFORE THE SHOW.

FOR MATINEE PERFORMANCES:
Restaurant open and serving lunch from 12.15pm – 2pm
Performance starts 2.15pm
FOR EVENING PERFORMANCES
Restaurant open and serving dinner from 6.15pm – 8pm
Performance starts 8.15pm