Charles, a company accountant, has been arrested for shoplifting. When a police officer asks him whether the offence was "a cry for help", he denies it; later, while he is ironing his shirts, he begins to wonder whether, in fact, this first-ever act of rebellion is showing him that, rather than lamenting the loss of his job and the collapse of his marriage, he should be rejoicing - for he is free! "Starch" was first presented in the Arundel Theatre Trail in 2005, winning the Joy Goun Award for Best Play.