After the Peace

In the aftermath of a future civil war in England, Sophie is hoping that the uneasy peace will allow her life to return to normal. But when she meets Caz at the rebuilt swimming pool where she works, dark truths begin to surface.

Longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize 2019

Premiered at RADA Festival 20109 directed by Deborah Paige. The cast included Sharlene Whyte (Mum), Mara Allen (Sophie), Bo Poraj (Dad), Emma Ernest (Caz). It was designed by Anna Cierpial, with lighting by Matt Leventhall and the fight director was Bret Yount.

After The Peace was developed at Criterion New Writing and an extract was performed at the Criterion Showcase in November 2019 directed by Michael Davies, with Polly Misch, Kwaku Mills, Phil Cheadle and Ruth Lass.

Family Trees

Mair discovers that her elderly mother, Enid, is having a secret affair. As Mair investigates the past, she finds that time is slippery, sexuality is fluid and memory unreliable in both women’s worlds.

Family Trees had a rehearsed reading at Bolton Octagon directed by artistic director Lotte Wakeham in November 2019. The cast included Esh Alladi (Young Dev), Simona Bitmate (Younf Enid), Amy Drake (Mair), Greg Kelly (Young Edward), John McArdle (Edward), Nakib Narat (Dev), Alice Procter (Kim), Sue Radcliffe (Enid) and Susan Twist (Lady M).

Lotte Wakeham directed a rehearsed reading of a previous version of the play at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough in 2018. The cast included Heather Stoney, Libby Wattis, Ceridwen Smith, Sarah Pearman, Laura Kirman, Dharmesh Patel, Niall Ransome, Paul Kynman and Madhav Sharma.

On The March

In 1919, Verity’s heart is broken at a suffragist march; in 1970 Jackie is torn between principles and ambition at the Women’s Liberation Movement conference; and in 2019 successful politican Nadima’s bluff is called by a young woman in need of help.

A site-specific, promenade adventure into the march of women’s history, directed by Jo Noble and performed by the Oxford Playhouse Young Company in Oxford Town Hall. With music by Matt Winkworth and movement by Emma Webb. Commissioned by Oxford Playhouse to mark 100 years of (some) women getting the vote. And many others finding their voice.

Pixel Dust

When 15 year-old Daniella moves to a new school in a different city, she finds herself isolated and lonely. She retreats into the comfort of screens, and starts to look for her birth mother online. But the search throws up some dangerous and unexpected results in the real world.

Commissioned by Metta Theatre and directed by Poppy Burton-Morgan at Omnibus Theatre, London and Assembly Roxy Upstairs, Edinburgh, 2017. With design and video projections by William Reynolds. Performed by Simone James.

“Timely and intelligent… the show poses some intriguing questions about the way identity is constructed both on and offline.” The Stage

“Clare Bayley’s engaging script [has] a stream-of-consciousness, understated kind of naturalism.” The Scotsman

“Pixel Dust is that rare thing: a piece of theatre about the internet that isn’t utterly technophobic… hugely refreshing.” Broadway Baby

The Protectors

In a future devastated by environmental collapse, Erica is hoping to win round her daughter’s affections with a rare delicacy. But her motives are mixed and the dangers are greater than either has anticipated.

A short play commissioned as part of Metta Theatre’s Mouthful, a response to the global food crisis. The Protectors was informed by the decline of biodiversity and the work of the Finnish scientist, Ilkka Hanski. It and opened at Trafalgar Studios Two in September 2015, directed by Poppy Burton-Morgan, designed by William Reynolds. The cast included: Dona Croll, Alisha Bailey, Robert Hands and Harry Lister Smith.

Other writers involved in Mouthful were Bola Agbaje, Lydia Adetunji, Inua Ellams and Neil LaBute.

“Bayley’s The Protectors is a knock-out, five-star dystopia… a vision of resistance in a world in which corporate food interests have eradicated natural vegetables. Heartbreaking” **** Kate Maltby, The Times

Blue Sky

Investigative journalist Jane is trying to find out what happened to a terror suspect who disappeared without trace after stepping off a plane to Karachi. Ray, a planespotter, could help but he just wants a quiet life. And Mina, the disappeared man’s wife, is convinced he’s left her for another woman. A political drama about complicity, denial and extraordinary rendition.help.

First produced at Hampstead Downstairs in London and Sherman Theatre, Cardiff in 2012 directed by Elizabeth Freestone for Pentabus. [https://pentabus.co.uk/blue-sky ] Designed by Naomi Dawson, lighting by Johanna Town, sound by Adrienne Quartly. With Sarah Malin (Jane), Manjeet Mann (Mina), Jacob Krichefski (Ray) and Dominique Bull (Ana).

“Bayley shifts fluently between the morality of high politics, and the personal variety… painfully convincing” Daily Telegraph

“Skilfully shatters any image of sleepy, bucolic England… the roar of planes will never sound so innocent again” The Arts Desk

The US premiere, directed by Gus Heagerty for Burning Coal Theatre Company, opened at CAM Raleigh, North Carolina on 28 January 2016. With Shannon Malone, John Allore, Rimsha Afzal and Mya Ison. Sound design by Patrick Calhoun.

Clare featured on Start the Week with Andrew Marr: Torture, Terrorism and Secrets in October 2012

The Enchantment

In bohemian Paris in the 1880s, a young Swedish woman falls for a known philanderer. For a while her life is illuminated by love, but when the affair loses its lustre, she takes her fate into her own hands. An English version of the fictionalised autobiography of the celebrated writer Victoria Benedictsson, from a literal translation by Ben Anderman.

First produced at the National Theatre, Cottesloe, directed by Paul Miller, designed by Simon Daw, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by John Leonard, music by David Shrubsole.

With Nancy Carroll, Judith Coke, Niamh Cusack, Edward Davenport, Patrick Drury, Avril Elgar, Madeleine Herrington,Ray Newe, Claudia Renton, Marlene Sidaway, Hugh Skinner, Zubin Varla.

“An immaculate version, a major act of reclamation… The excitement lies in an unknown play combining an autobiographic authenticity with a statement about the role of women in late 19th century society.” Michael Billington, The Guardian

“Fascinating play… The Enchantment is an astonishingly mature work.” Benedict Nightingale, The Times

‘Clare Bayley’s sensitive translation… gives the play its first British outing and reveals Benedictsson to be a playwright of wit and insight.’ Sarah Hemming, Financial Times.

The Container

Five migrants in the back of a container lorry have risked everything to get to the UK. The agent is demanding more money, but not everyone can pay. An award-winning play written to be performed inside a container.

Container was first directed by Tom Wright and premiered at the Udderbelly, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2007 where it won a Fringe First and the Amnesty International Award. Designed by Naomi Dawson, Sound by Adrienne Quartly. With Mercy Ojelade (Asha), Doreene Blackstock (Fatima), Waleed Elgadi (Jemal), Chris Spirides (The Agent), Deborah (Mariam) and Hemi Yeroham (Ahmed).

It was revived at the Young Vic in London in 2009, again directed by Tom Wright. This  production was filmed by Digital Theatre.

In 2010 The Container went to Chapter Arts, Cardiff where it was directed by Bridget Keehan. In 2013 Kwame Kwei Armagh produced the play at his theatre Centre Stage in Baltimore, USA directed by Johanna Gruenhut. In the same year it went to the SummerWorks Festival in Toronto, Canada.

In 2014 it was part of the Big West Festival in Melbourne Australia, directed by Kevin Hopkins. In the same year the Digital Theatre version of Tom Wright’s production was broadcast on London Live TV.

Zachary Florence revived his production for Theatre Fix in Toronto, Canada which opened at Canadian Stage on 31 August 2016. The Italian premiere opened at Teatro Belli, Rome in November 2016.

Future productions of the play are being planned for Mexico, Prishtina, Kosovo, and Malaysia.