Plays 2: Chez nous / Privates on Parade / Born in the Gardens / Passion Play / Poppy

by Peter Nichols

A rich selection from the best of Nichols' work up to and including his award-winning Privates on Parade



This volume continues the stage plays of Peter Nichols, newly revised and introduced by the author. Chez Nous is about English couples who bring their emotional baggage with them on a holiday to France; Privates on Parade is a hit play inspired by the author's experience in Singapore after the war working for the Combined Services Entertainments where he met among others John Schlesinger and Kenneth Williams at a time when 'mixed' entertainment relied on men dressing up as women; Born in the Gardens is inspired by the author's native city Bristol while Passion Play is a play about passion among the elderly - won Best Play (Evening Standard) in 1981. Poppy (the musical that opened the RSC's residence at the Barbican) is set in the Victorian Far East. It takes a pop at imperial hypocrisy and wickedness and won the Best Musical award.

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

NOT alias for John Christopher

Peter Nichols was an English playwright, screenwriter, and journalist known for his sharp wit and incisive social commentary. His most celebrated works, including A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The National Health, and Privates on Parade, blend comedy with profound explorations of human struggles, often drawing from his own life experiences.
Born in Bristol, Nichols served in the British Army’s Combined Services Entertainment Unit before studying acting at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He initially gained recognition writing for television before transitioning to the stage, where his plays tackled themes such as illness, war, and personal betrayal, frequently using humor as a counterpoint to tragedy. His distinctive voice made him one of Britain’s most autobiographical playwrights, chronicling his experiences in his memoir Feeling You're Behind and his published diaries.
Over his career, Nichols received critical acclaim and numerous awards, culminating in his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2018 for services to drama. His legacy endures through his sharp, compassionate, and deeply human storytelling.