KNIGHTSBRIDGE - A Play

Sep 21, 2026

KNIGHTSBRIDGE is a stage play set in Muriel Stokes’ middle-class sitting-room “somewhere behind Harrods,” on an afternoon in summer. The action centers on Henry Bulstrode and his daughter’s future—introduced through Henry and Francesca visiting while Muriel is away. Their conversation blends class manners with awkward family expectations, while photographs and past wartime tragedy shape the emotional stakes. The opening scenes establish tensions around marriage, approval, and the humor of social intrusion via telephone contact.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Characters

Setting

Scene 1

Arrival and conversation

Phone call and impressions

# KNIGHTSBRIDGE A Play JOHN MORTIMER French'sActingEdition MoRTim∈R580497 AUTHOR.. 622 Wandsworth # BASEMENT STOCK 06/006 JUN2DUo Battersea District Library Lavender Hill London SW111JBTelephone 01-8717466 THIS BOOK SHOULD BE RETURNED ON OR BEFORETHE LATEST DATE SHOWN ON THIS LABEL LATEST DATE SHOWN ON THIS LABEL OR THE CARDINSERTED IN THE POCKET. 200147937 DF # KNIGHTSBRIDGEA Play byJOHN MORTIMER FRENCH SAMUEL LONDONNEW YORK TORONTO SYDNEY HOLLYWOOD 200147937 ◎1973 BY ADVANPRESS LTD This play is fully protected under the copyright laws of the BritishCommonwealth of Nations,the United States ofAmerica,and all countriesof the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions. All rights are strictly reserved. It is an infringement of the copyright to give any public performance orreading of this play either in its entirety or in the form of excerpts withoutthe prior consent of the copyright owners.No part of this publication maybe transmitted,stored in a retrieval system,or reproduced in any form or byany means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying,manuscript,typescript,recording,or otherwise,without the prior permission of the copyright owners. SAMUEL FRENCH LTD,26 SoUTHAMPTON STREET,STRAND,LONDONWC27JE,or their authorized agents,issue licences to amateurs to giveperformances of this play on payment of a fee.The fee must be paid andthe licence obtained before a performance is given. Licences are issued subject to the understanding that it shall be madeclear in all advertising matter that the audience will witness an amateurperformance;and that the names of the authors of the plays shall beincluded on all announcements and on all programmes. The royalty fee indicated below is subject to contract and subject tovariation at the sole discretion of Samuel French Ltd. Basic fee for each and everyperformance by amateursCode Ein the British Isles In theatres or halls seating 600 or more the fee will be subject tonegotiation. In territories overseas the fee quoted above may not apply.Applicationmust be made to our local authorized agents,or if there is no such agent,to Samuel French Ltd,London. Applications to perform the play by professionals should be made toPETERS &RAMSAY LTD,14a Goodwin's Court,London,WC2. W-A ISBN 0573121303 8292 580427. CHARA CTERS Henry BulstrodeFrancesca StokesMuriel StokesA Man in a Mackintosh The action of the play passes in the sitting-roomof Muriel Stokes’flat,somewhere behindHarrods Time-the present 1 # KNIGHTSBRIDGE Muriel Stokes'middle-class sitting-room.An afternoon in summerThere are three doors,one to the entrance hall,one to the kitchen,the third to another room.The hall door is ajar.The room containsantiques mixed with Harrods'furniture.There are photographs ofa man in uniform,Muriel with a dog,her daughter,Francesca,as aschoolgirl As the CURTAIN rises there is the sound of the front door knocker,then voices in the hall.The door opens,Henry and Francesca enter.Francesca is about nineteen,with an upper-class voice.She is short-sighted,very pretty,wearing jeans and abig sweater into which shealways seems to be trying to hide,when not cowering apologeticallybehind her hair.Henry is in his forties,with greying hair,youngclothes,a flowery shirt with matching tie.He is a successful tele-vision interviewer who specializes in laying bare the human heart Henry What's your mother do exactly? Francesca(over her shoulder,to whoever has let them in)Thankyou,Mrs B.We'd better wait for Mummy.Don't stop yourironing.(She shuts the inner door)Did you say what does shedo? Henry Yes. Francesca Well—she's just Mummy.(With an apologetic laugh)Awfully boring,actually. Henry(after a pause)How's she going to take it?Francesca Take what? Henry The idea of us.I mean,she knows I've taken you out.She must be starting to wonder if we'll ever... Francesca I’m afraid she's pretty sure we have... Henry I mean get married.Will she approve of me

FAQs

Where does the play take place and when does it happen?

The action passes in Muriel Stokes’ sitting-room, somewhere behind Harrods. The time is the present, on an afternoon in summer.

Who are the main characters introduced at the start of the play excerpt?

The excerpt lists Henry Bulstrode, Francesca Stokes, and Muriel Stokes, along with “A Man in a Mackintosh.”

What conflict is established between Henry and Francesca regarding marriage?

Henry worries about how Muriel will react to the idea of Henry and Francesca together and asks whether she will approve of him.

Sep 21, 2026

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