Gammer Gurton's Needle is famous as the second oldest comedy in English (Ralph Roister Doister is the oldest). Probably written in the 1550's, Gammer was first published in 1575.

This translation into understandable modern English has made it one of America's favorite contest plays. The play is a rollicking farce laid in a sixteenth century English hamlet which could have been the model for Li'l Abner's Dogpatch. Among its often-patched, seldom-washed inhabitants is Gammer Gurton, a jolly old gossip whose most precious possession is a steel needle. But, alas!—Gammer loses her needle, and the entire village finds itself in a turmoil. Hodge valiantly searches, Diccon complicates matters with some insane mischief, and Dame Chat dares anybody to accuse her of stealing anything!

Gammer Gurton's Needle has been tickling audiences for more than 400 years; your audiences will love you for giving them the opportunity to see this "translation" of this wonderful old play. For all groups, including Children's Theatre. A consistent contest winner. Specify One-Act Version (also see Gammer Gurton in 3 acts). Simple costumes (mainly rags). Colorful but simple exterior set. A Director's Script (prompt book) is available from the publisher. It contains drawings of costumes and set, details on all techical aspects of staging, discussion of characterization, plot, and theme. It also suggests the complete blocking and full stage directions for all movement and business.

'Project Communicate' of Trenton Junior College in Missouri toured Gammer to 10 schools—elementary through high school. South Burlington, Vt., High School presented Gammer to three elementary schools who "received it with enthusiasm and delight." Gammer was used in Upland, Calif., to dedicate a new auditorium. "The colorful setting full of colorful characters put us in first place."—Alvarado, Texas. "Wonderful to find a play with some meat in it."—Chillicothe, Mo. "We entered Gammer in the State Drama Festival...the judge was very impressed. We won a superior rating."— Roanoke, Va.

Other Clark adaptations of ancient scripts: The Frogs, The Narrenschneiden, Phaedra

See also: Beowulf, A Canterbury Tale From the Wife of Bath, The Sheep Thief, The Trouble with Midas