In a redeveloping Sydney neighborhood, an elderly and cultured man named Timmothy Timmony runs an old bookshop in an otherwise abandoned warehouse. At closing time, Simon Matthews, a young, uncultured adventurer, comes to the shop in pursuit of a particular volume. Just as Simon learns that the book was sold to his arch enemy, the two men find themselves locked in the building for the night.
Over time, Simon and Timmony reveal that the book contains a code identifying the whereabouts of an invaluable artifact. As the night wears on, the two men maneuver for position, seeking power and information. When they deduce that the artifact is located somewhere in the shop, the stage is set for a revelatory and dramatic conclusion.
Down an Alley Filled with Cats made its world premiere at The Stables Theatre in Sydney in August 1983. The play premiered in London's West End at The Mermaid Theatre on November 27, 1985, and off-Broadway at the Quaigh Theatre on December 4, 1986.