Written by: Paul Lucas
Directed by: Orna Joseph
Performed: Wed 20th - Fri 22nd July 2005 at 7.45pm, Sat 23rd July 2005 at 2.30 & 7.30pm at St. Anne's Hall, Wandsworth

Dr. Ratner..........................................................
Dr. Drabble........................................................
Matthew.............................................................
Polly....................................................................
Mr. Smith...........................................................
Lisa.....................................................................
Victor..................................................................
Slow Assassin.................................................

Stuart Butler
Robert Hartley
Richard Frampton
Amanda Clarke
David Russell
Rachel Tozer
John Laing
Craig Abbott

Producer.......................................
Stage Manager............................
Lighting Design...........................
Lighting Operator.......................
Sound Operator..........................
Costume Co-ordinators............


Prompt..........................................
Front of House Manager...........
Catering Manager.......................

Mark Stannett
Rachel Jones
Tracey Childs
Lesley Tulley
Mike Ainsworth
Susan Jones,
Lesley Tulley,
Amanda Clarke
Sarah Monk
Ian Pring
Clare Pepperell

The cult novel, The Dice Man by Luke Rheinhart, which describes a world where people make all decisions on the basis of a roll of a die, has inspired a number of spin-offs including, believe it or not, a ballet.  However, one of the most genius adaptations has to be The Dice House, a play by Paul Lucas.  Debuting at the Edinburgh Festival and making its way to the West End last spring, it could be considered one of the most zany, clever, black comedies to hit the stage in some time.   

Dr Ratner, a psychiatrist, has set up a ‘home’ for dice therapy in a derelict house in the middle of the English countryside.  Patients are encouraged to give themselves completely over to the dice.  The results include bizarre choices in dress and activities for most residents including Dr Ratner who spends most of the play dressed in a selection of women’s apparel. 

Dr Drabble, another psychiatrist, who has previously shown complete contempt for dice therapy in professional circles, must find a way to penetrate the Dice House when he discovers his wife is one of its newest residential recruits.  He blackmails one of his former patients, Matthew, to enter the house with a cunning plan to kidnap his wife. As with all plans in a farce setting, things go spectacularly wrong from the second Matthew enters the house.  Especially when he discovers that Dr Drabble’s true intentions for his wife are far worse than kidnap.  From that point onwards the play races down a number of parallel routes including love, genital hair shaving, impersonation, dismemberment and revenge to a satisfying, but by no means orthodox, nor, perhaps, legal conclusion.