A black farce masterpiece, Loot follows the fortunes of two young thieves, Hal and Dennis. Dennis is a hearse driver for an undertaker.

They have robbed the bank next door to the funeral parlour and have returned to Hal's home to hide out with the loot. Hal's mother has just died and the pair put the money in her coffin, hiding the body elsewhere in the house. A corrupt policeman and a murderous nurse join the fray to provide a satirical look at two of society's most august institutions.

Playing with all the conventions of popular farce, Orton creates a world gone mad. The play has been called a Freudian nightmare, which sports with superstitions about death, and life.

First produced in London in 1966, Loot was hailed as 'the most genuinely quick-witted, pungent and sprightly entertainment by a new, young British playwright for a decade' by the Sunday Telegraph.

It was also heavily censored, with the Lord Chancellor's red pencil scoring through references to the royal family and several very mild swear words. It was also forbidden to have a live actress play the part of the ill treated corpse. These days no-one is likely to be shocked by the play, but plenty of laughs are guaranteed.

Tickets for Loot may be purchased from Michael Edmunds, 2 Church Yard Tring, on 01442 823130.