The Aunt Maud Mysteries
A one-act comic mystery by Gail Lowe
An eccentric aunt, a seaside hotel and a legendary treasure. What could possibly go wrong?
Captain Ferdinand’s Treasure is a comic mystery for schools, youth theatres and adult casts, with suspicious characters, physical comedy and plenty of opportunities to build suspense.
Amy and Jonathan Cooper arrive in Maudsley Middleton expecting a quiet stay with their Aunt Maud. Instead, a visit to The Smuggler’s Inn brings them face to face with a threatened hotel sale, a film actress, a treasure hunter and the legend of Captain Ferdinand.
When a storm cuts off the road, a supposed ghost is only the beginning of the trouble. With missing jewels, suspicious guests and Inspector Clewe confidently reaching the wrong conclusions, Maud and the twins must unravel the mystery before someone gets away with much more than a stolen necklace.
At a glance
- Running time: Approximately 50–60 minutes
- Format: One act, with a prologue and epilogue
- Cast: 11 roles, comprising ten speaking parts and one non-speaking police constable
- Casting: Five female, four male and two male or female roles as written; all roles may be played by performers of any gender
- Setting: A fictional coastal village in the present day
Bringing Aunt Maud to the stage
The script includes production notes, suggested staging, set plans, lighting cues, props and costume information to help you plan your production.
The staging suggestions use a main playing area and a forestage, allowing scenes to move between locations while changes take place behind the tabs. Use these suggestions as a starting point, develop your own staging solutions, or give your students the opportunity to take the creative lead.
The play offers opportunities to explore comic timing, physical comedy, characterisation, suspense and ensemble storytelling, with creative roles for students backstage as well as on stage.
Read a sample
Get to know Aunt Maud and the twins before choosing the play for your group. The free sample includes the character list and the full dinner service scene, so you can see the characters and how the comedy plays across the ensemble.
Choose your scripts and production licence
Whether you prefer downloadable scripts or individual paperbacks, choose the option that suits your school or youth theatre group.
Downloadable production pack — £60
Everything below is included for one school or youth theatre group:
- Full script PDF
- Production notes, staging suggestions and set plans
- Lighting cues, props and costume information
- Permission to print and digitally share the resources with your cast and production team
- Performance licence for up to three performances within a 12-month licence period
Add private recording permission* for £15, bringing the total to £75.
Additional performances** within the same 12-month licence period cost just £10 each.
Prefer printed scripts?
Individual paperback scripts are available from Amazon, currently priced at £8.99 each. Each cast member can buy their own copy, and your school or group can purchase a separate performance licence.
| Licence | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to three performances within 12 months | £35 |
| Optional private recording permission | £15 |
| Each additional performance within the same licence period | £10 |
Buying paperback scripts does not include permission to photocopy or digitally share them.
Just want to read the play?
The £7.50 digital reading copy provides the complete script and production notes as a PDF for individual reading and assessment. It does not include permission for cast copying, performance or recording.
*Recording your production
The optional £15 recording licence permits recording of your licensed production and private sharing with cast, crew and their families, including through password-protected access.
Public uploads, livestreaming and selling recordings require separate permission. Your group is responsible for participant consent and any permissions needed for third-party music or other material.
**Additional performances
Additional performances cost £10 each within your existing 12-month licence period.
For information about adult amateur productions or requirements outside these school and youth theatre options, contact gail@gaillowe.org.