He then studied at the University of Natal, from which he graduated with a BA in 1934. While at University, he began writing plays. His play "Queer Cargo" was produced by the Durban Repertory Theatre in 1932. Sailing for England, post-graduation, he by chance met a cousin of Charles Wyndham, the founder of London's Wyndham's Theatre. "Queer Cargo" was subsequently produced at Wyndham's Theatre where it ran for seven months. Langley wrote other plays for the West End stage in this period, which included "For Ever" and "Farm of Three Echoes". His first big success came in 1935 with the publication of his first novel, "Cage Me a Peacock", a satire set in ancient Rome. This was followed by another novel, "There's a Porpoise Close Behind Us", and a children's book, "The Land of Green Ginger", in 1936. Langley began writing for films in the 1930s, helping to write the British films "King of the Damned" and "Secret of Stamboul." Langley then left London for Hollywood, having accepted a seven-year contract as a screenwriter for MGM.