Robots, romance, a murder-mystery, downsizing, a homicidal insurance salesman, gender reassignment, Kindertransport and taking a stand are the subjects of this year’s oneACTS festival.Expect drama, comedy, mystery and mayhem as local actors, directors and playwrights bring eight new plays to the cornerHOUSE in Douglas Road, Surbiton.Four short plays on one night will alternate with four on another in the arts centre’s week-long showcase of original playwriting which runs from Monday, April 27 to Saturday, May 2 at 7.45pm.Tickets for the festival, now in its 14th year, cost £10 (£8 concessions) and are available at the bottom of this page.For the performance run and more details about each play see below.If you have any issues booking tickets emailby Dermot Murphy - directed by Jon Constantby L.A. Green - directed by Jackie DaviesIntervalby Michael Staniforth - directed by Sheryl Hillby Norman Marks - directed by Graham Largeby Elisabeth Marrion - directed by Sharon Lawsby Emma Burton - directed by Nicholas BondIntervalby Ian Davies - directed by Jim Dunkby Jane Marchant - directed by Norman Marks- After many bad experiences, Cheryl has found the man of her dreams. As she sits in a hotel lobby, waiting to meet someone, she tells us about the romance and her plan to ensure she does not lose him.- Wayne until recently was known as Marion and is starting gender reassignment. His sister Melissa is helping him buy clothes to begin his new journey in life. By the end of their time at the charity shop, Wayne is one step closer to knowing who he is and who he wants to be, while Melissa understands her new brother much better.- Rob has taken a stand. Is that praiseworthy or unfair on his wife and only daughter? And will their voices be drowned out by the unexpected newcomer? Single Issue is a tense drama about private passions and the public purse.- Lady Cecily’s calm in the drawing room of Largeleat Manor is interrupted by the announcement of her husband’s death. An investigation ensues led by Detective Inspector French. The unexpected answer to the mysterious death of Sir Howard Donne-Rutting comes from an equally unexpected source.- From the end of 1938, fearing for the safety of Jewish children living in Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia, the British Government made arrangements to allow them to come to England. The Kindertransport came to an abrupt end with the outbreak of the Second World War. The Dreidel is Rebecca’s story as she remembers the day she had to leave her parents.- The story is set in the year 2314 - on Mars. The government is under threat by a group called the Mars Liberation Front. The police have raided the offices of Softbrain Technologies and arrested its CEO, Evelyn Blade, on suspicion of funding the MLF. Worried that he might also be linked to the group, DC John Lindsey sneaks into the evidence cupboard, where he encounters Evelyn Blade's android servant.- Since his wife’s death Colin has become confused and erratic. His children have decided that he needs to downsize and move to managed, sheltered, accommodation. He sits waiting, surrounded by boxes of possessions to take to his new home. It is not his choice to leave, but the process of downsizing and packing generates warm nostalgic flashbacks which represent key aspects of his life.– A homicidal insurance salesman gets more than he bargained for when he calls on retired couple Derek and Elaine.