No Sex Please, We're British

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 11:01pm

One of my clients - I design theatre posters - is producing this play during their 2012-13 season. Their brief, which is the wiki entry's plot synopsis, doesn't give me much to go by, so I come to you, oh gods of theatre knowledge for a little more background.

I need something to design around, other than "madcap" and "pornography". I've searched google. I've checked my local library systems. I've searched the torrent sites. And, I'm hoping someone here has done the play before and can hopefully provide some insight. Please help!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 11:18pm

Can they send you a script?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/12/12 at 11:18pm

Can they send you a script?

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 12:17am

Updated On: 5/13/12 at 12:17 AM

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 12:59am

Thanks guys-

I want to have a quick turnaround, and as they are on the other side of the country, my last resort is ordering one from Sam French. I have googled (boy, have I googled) and I have a synopsis and I've done the image search and seen what other designers have done. The problem is... it's all very... generic.

I was hoping to find someone who has had an experience with the show in some form. I have a logo developed, but I need some ideas on an accompanying illustration. Is there more to the play than a conservative married couple receiving a deluge of Swedish pornography and the ensuing hilarity of them trying to conceal it? Reading the play may be my only answer, but I thought a check here wouldn't hurt.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 2:26am

How about a take on the hear, see and speak no evil trio, but with three bobbies? And play with variations on what organs they are covering.

p.s. I've never seen the play.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 5:52am

Try asking on the West End board - I think you're more likely to find someone who's seen it there.

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 6:40am

Henrik - ... that's not bad!

Scripps - BRILLIANT suggestion!

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 7:14am

Updated On: 5/13/12 at 07:14 AM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 6:33pm

Since its a farce.... im sure plenty of doors and some places to hide would suffice nicely. And then there is always reading the script.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 9:43pm

You know I saw this play on one of my trips to London. I remember laughing hysterically and enjoying the show. Oddly enough, I can't remember anything about it. As I think of it, I saw DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER only a few weeks ago and enjoyed it, too. Sadly, I can't recall one element of the plot right now. Must be something about the genre.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 9:50pm

Well according to my research, its an apartment above an English bank.
The photos I googled (as I predicted) has lots of doors.

[bobs3]

Posted: 5/13/12 at 10:09pm

I saw it in London in the late 1970s. My friends and I went to see it because we liked the title (we were 18 at the time and knew nothing about theater). I do remember it was very funny and the plot involved a bank manager and some canisters of pornographic films.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 9:41pm

Oh its a theatre poster.

Basically.... porn just keeps showing up at the uptight people's home which is above a bank.

Hands over the eyes of staunch Englanders while boobies are paraded in front of them comes to mind.
Everyone loves boobies even the English.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 9:41pm

Oh its a theatre poster.

Basically.... porn just keeps showing up at the uptight people's home which is above a bank.

Hands over the eyes of staunch Englanders while boobies are paraded in front of them comes to mind.
Everyone loves boobies even the English.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 9:41pm

Oh its a theatre poster.

Basically.... porn just keeps showing up at the uptight people's home which is above a bank.

Hands over the eyes of staunch Englanders while boobies are paraded in front of them comes to mind.
Everyone loves boobies even the English.

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 5/16/12 at 11:03pm

Thanks for your help guys, and especially those that sent me private messages. I've finished a draft, so we'll see how it goes!

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 8:37am

I saw the original London production back in the late 1970's.
It's basically your average door slamming farce set in an apartment. The script should give you as much as you need above that.

I'm surprised to see this being done in 2012. Back in the late 80s when it closed its 18 year run it was tired, very dated and most importantly, not funny!

Just after closing in the West End it embarked on a much anticipated UK tour. The tour folded 6 weeks into its 38 week run. I can only think that there were not enough Japanese tourists in the provinces to fill the theatres!

The London artwork.


The movie poster!


You could also use the fact that the show was Micheal Crawfords West End debut!

Updated On: 5/18/12 at 08:37 AM

[Proper Villain]

Posted: 5/18/12 at 11:24am

Thanks Mamas - I love those cartoonish pre-80s posters. I dug deep into the internet, and didn't find any inspiration that clicked. (Even the original poster and logo... does it really "say" anything about the play itself other than "silly"?) Talked to the director. SPARK! Thanks again for the input.