Poppy + George

A romantic drama with music inspired by the days of music hall and beyond, from the author of the modern classic Kindertransport.

It is 1919. The Great War is over and Poppy Wright arrives in London from the north of England to make her mark in the world. Deep in the heart of the East End she finds work in Smith's tailor and costumiers workshop, where she meets dashing chauffeur George, and falls in love.

This is a time of change and opportunity, emerging from the losses of war, when all are questioning who they are and what roles they can play in forging a new, modern era. It’s time to ditch the corset and discover who really wears the trousers.

Poppy + George is a beguiling romance that draws on a world of female impersonators, popular song and double entendre. It was first performed at the Watford Palace Theatre in February 2016.

Diane Samuels is a playwright whose work has been widely produced. Her play Kindertransport won the Verity Bargate and Meyer-Whitworth Awards, and was first produced by the Soho Theatre Company in 1993. Subsequently it has been translated into many languages, performed in the West End, Off-Broadway and all over the world, and revived numerous times.

Other plays include: The True-Life Fiction of Mata Hari (Watford Palace Theatre, 2002); Cinderella’s Daughter (Trestle Theatre tour, 2005); 3 Sisters on Hope Street with Tracy-Ann Oberman (co-produced by Liverpool Everyman/Playhouse and Hampstead Theatres, 2008) and Poppy + George (Watford Palace Theatre, 2016).

Her plays for younger audiences include One Hundred Million Footsteps for Quicksilver Theatre Company and Chalk Circle, Frankie’s Monster and How to Beat a Giant at the Unicorn Theatre.

Her musical, The A-Z of Mrs P, with music and lyrics by Gwyneth Herbert, had its world premiere at Southwark Playhouse in 2014.

For BBC radio, plays include Swine, Doctor Y, Watch Out for Mister Stork, Hen Party, Tiger Wings and Psyche.

She also works as a teacher/facilitator of creative writing to all ages.