Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gasping | 1990 | Ben Elton | Buy |
| 2 | Silly Cow | 1998 | Ben Elton | Buy |
| 3 | Ben Elton Plays 1 | 1998 | Ben Elton | Buy |
| 4 | Upstart Crow | 2018 | Ben Elton | Buy |
Ben Elton’s published plays include Gasping (1990), a satire about a corporation that privatizes the air supply, and Silly Cow (1998), a comedy about a newspaper critic. Ben Elton Plays 1 (1998) collects his theatrical work, and Upstart Crow (2018) adapts his BBC sitcom about Shakespeare for the stage.
Elton’s plays carry the same satirical sensibility as his novels and stand-up comedy. Gasping targets corporate greed, while Silly Cow takes aim at media culture. The plays demonstrate the range of Elton’s comedy, from broad farce to pointed social commentary.