Neighbourhood Watch

I have a friend in the force and he tells me that, day to day, the police are hanging on by a whisker… by that much…It’s not just here, mark you. It’s nationwide. One breath of wind – anarchy! Things are not right on The Bluebell Hill Development. Theft, petty crime, vandalism, all the ills of modern suburban existence are on the increase. Newcomers Martin and his sister Hilda are the crime wave’s latest victims – on the very day of their housewarming party, no less – and resolve to take action. After all, the law of the land, all that’s right and proper and even God Himself are surely on their side. But what starts out as a well intentioned neighbourhood watch scheme soon develops into something altogether more sinister. In these matters, it seems the frying pan is closer to the fire than anyone realises. Alan Ayckbourn’s cautionary tale of the dangers of taking the law into your own hands is his seventy fifth play. It is also the three hundredth new play to be commissioned by the SJT.