Nick Hern is home to many of the most exciting and renowned plays & playwrights working today – including Jez Butterworth, Helen Edmundson and Robert Icke - as well as numerous exciting, emerging voices
Theatre adaptations of many bestselling authors appear – such as Andrea Levy’s Small Island , Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman and Hilary Mantel’s short story collection The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher
Book SynopsisAt Miami's Cherokee Valley Zoo & Conservation Centre, the most dangerous thing that ever happened was the tapir's caesarian section. That is until Hurricane Jonas sets itself on a crash course straight towards it. Now zookeeper Bonnie must rush to batten down the hatches and ensure the safety of her animals – and herself. Halfway across the world in the Yorkshire Dales, Bonnie's friend Carol feels the repercussions of that tempestuous night. Will she be able to help from afar? Or will the danger they all face turn out to be deeper and darker than a spot of bad weather? Lily Bevan's play Zoo is a wildly inventive comedy drama about courage, female friendship and flamingos. It premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2018, where it was selected as one of the Guardian's Best Shows of the Fringe. It also enjoyed London runs at Theatre503 and the 2020 VAULT Festival. This edition also includes twelve comic monologues for female performers, some of which featured in the BBC Radio 4 series, Talking to Strangers (co-written with Sally Phillips), and were performed by Olivia Colman, Jessica Hynes and Emma Thompson, amongst others. 'Lily Bevan is one of the most consistently astonishing writers of her generation. She has an imagination like no other and her relationship with words is like a marriage between Flaubert and Spike Milligan' Emma ThompsonTrade Review'[Zoo is] a brilliant play' * The Times *'[Zoo is] clever, funny and touching… worth recommending to anyone with an interest in friendship, hurricanes or North Yorkshire bats' * The List *
£11.39
Book Synopsis'A vinaigrette of despair poured over a salad of joy.' Lola is sixteen years old, sharp-witted and has her whole life ahead of her – until she's diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. Now her brilliant mind is rapidly turning into useless mush. So she's promised herself two things before she dies: 1. She's going to get All The Sex and 2. She'll definitively discover the Meaning of Life. Stuart Slade's play Glee & Me is an unexpectedly optimistic portrayal of love and the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit. It won the Judges Award in the 2019 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, and was first performed at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, in September 2021.Trade Review'A joyous play that asks how life is best lived when death's inevitability is impossible to ignore' * The Times *'Ferocious black humour' * Whatsonstage *'A play about life and how we live it, not about death in all its inevitability... a witty and warm-hearted celebration' * Guardian *'Frank, fresh, and blessedly unmawkish... remarkably believable – and extremely funny' * Independent *'Fiercely funny... heart-wrenching but ultimately comforting' * The Stage *
£11.39
Book Synopsis'What use is a boy who can't say his own name?' Sonny is twelve. Living with a stammer, he is finding his way in a world ruled by vicious vowels, confusing consonants, and the biggest beast of all – small talk. His only escape is with a comic-book hero of his own creation, who helps Sonny soar above his reality. But when he's cast by the headteacher in the school production of Hamlet, he soon discovers that language is power – and the real heroes are closer than he thinks. Wonder Boy, Ross Willis's play about the power of finding your own voice, premiered at Bristol Old Vic in March 2022, directed by Sally Cookson. It was named Best Play at the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards 2023.Trade Review'Audaciously inventive, sparky yet sensitive, giddily enjoyable... an extraordinary exploration of adolescence... Willis can make quotidian detail startling... Even the stage directions ping... Willis's play unfolds itself in miraculous ways. It's some kind of wonderful' * Guardian *'Boundingly imaginative' * The Times *'Few things in theatre can match the electricity of a first-night crowd that believes what they've just seen will join the canon. Wonder Boy, by rights, should be on the school curriculum tomorrow... Willis' writing has all the roguish energy of a Year 8 inner-city classroom... Willis has a terrific theatrical imagination and his dialogue also sizzles... a work designed to celebrate and find joy in overcoming adversity. You can't help but be washed along with it' * WhatsOnStage *'A welcome treat... as heartwarming and as it is heartbreaking... impressive stuff' * British Theatre Guide *'Exhilarating... Ross Willis has a terrific feel for words... inspiring, irrespective of age' * Observer *
£20.50
Book Synopsis‘The end-of-the-world quiz waits for no man, literally. Onwards, ever onwards, to our fiery decline. Round three…’ It's the end of the world. The last night on Earth. An asteroid is heading straight for us and there's nothing we can do about it. Except for maybe host a pub quiz – which is exactly what landlady Kathy and her quizmaster Rav are doing. But, with time ticking, some unexpected guests explode on the scene – Bobby wants to settle old scores, and Fran wants one last shot at love. Alison Carr's play The Last Quiz Night on Earth is an innovative comedy-drama featuring a fully interactive pub quiz for the audience to participate in, complete with real teams, real questions and real swapping each other's answers for marking. It was premiered by Box of Tricks in 2020 on a UK tour, taking in a host of theatres, community venues and pubs. Ideal for performance by amateurs – either in theatres or more unconventional spaces (such as theatre bars and local pubs) – this play offers rich opportunities for audience participation. Quizzing compulsory, alcohol optional.
£12.34
Book Synopsis'I just need to hear you say you believe me. You've known me my whole life. Would you be friends with someone capable of doing that?' When his friend becomes embroiled in a rape allegation, Chris Quinn offers his support. Only the rules keep changing, nothing is clear-cut, and Chris finds himself caught in a tussle between loyalty, love and doubt. Caitríona Daly's Duck Duck Goose is a viscerally charged play examining the nature of consent, trust and trial by social media. Full of moral ambiguity and psychological complexity, it was developed as part of Fishamble's A Play for Ireland initiative, and first performed by the company in the 2021 Dublin Theatre Festival.Trade Review'A nuanced and insightful look at the social impact of sexual violence... provoking, timely and challenging' * Irish Times *'A dramatically sophisticated tackling of contemporary stories about rape' * Independent.ie *'Addresses important issues around disclosure, consent and allegations of rape' * Arts Review *
£9.99
Book SynopsisThis accessible, systematic guide will teach you how to memorise your lines quickly and effectively, and let go of the fear of forgetting them – helping you build confidence and focus, and reducing anxiety and stress around auditions, rehearsal and performance. Inside, you’ll find dozens of tips, tricks and techniques such as Memory Palaces, Mental Maps, Creative Memorisation, Visual Cues and many more, along with exercises and examples to illustrate how they work in practice. Discover how to harness these tools to strengthen your memory, and develop a personalised line-learning strategy that works for you and your acting process – one that is easier, faster and more enjoyable. The Compact Guides are pocket-sized introductions for actors and theatremakers, each tackling a key topic in a clear and comprehensive way. Written by industry professionals with extensive hands-on experience of their subject, they provide you with maximum information in minimum time.Trade Review'Very handy and easy-to-read… I highly recommend trying these creative ideas' * Drama Resource *'There is plenty in this small and reasonably priced book for any actor to try out if they want to improve their speed of and confidence in learning lines for rehearsal, the film set or a last-minute audition or self-tape' * British Theatre Guide *
£8.54
Book SynopsisRaffish, urbane and frequently drunk, David Highland has kept a grip on his remote coastal parish through a combination of disordered charm and high-handed determination. When his faith impels him to take a hard line with a bereaved parishioner, he finds himself dangerously isolated from public opinion. As his own family begins to fracture, David must face a future that threatens to extinguish not only his position in the town, but everything he stands for. The Southbury Child is a darkly comic play exploring family and community, the savage divisions of contemporary society, and the rituals that punctuate our lives. It was co-produced by Chichester Festival Theatre and the Bridge Theatre, London, in 2022, starring Alex Jennings and directed by Nicholas Hytner.Trade Review'Hugely cathartic, this is the play of the year so far... blissfully funny and ineffably touching... a heaven-sent new play' * Telegraph *'A rare and heartfelt portrait of post-Christian Britain' * The Times *'Electrifying, bristling with wit and ideas... Can almost be considered as a companion piece to Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, exploring some of the same themes in a similar setting, a clash of local cultures embedded within a fracturing national culture' * Broadway World *'Beautifully crafted... Beresford has captured a moment of change in our time... It's a cracking state of the nation piece' * WhatsOnStage *'A fine new play to soothe the soul and mend the heart... Beresford plumbs the deepest human feelings [with] a scene of savage beauty I'll never forget' * Mail on Sunday *'An impressive state-of-the-nation play... Chekhovian in intensity... deeply moving, with some fabulously funny lines, while a succession of twists ensures the drama never drops' * The Stage *'Painfully funny.... properly laugh-out-loud character comedy that gets near the knuckle and stays there... the best West Country drama I've seen since Jerusalem' * Time Out *
£10.44
Book SynopsisCan you remember your first time? In this hilarious and heartbreaking true story, theatre-maker and activist Nathaniel Hall can't seem to forget his. To be fair, he's had it playing on repeat for the last fifteen years… but now he's ready to lift the lid on his life-changing secret. First presented by Dibby Theatre and Waterside Arts, First Time went on to critical and audience acclaim on tour of the UK and at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It smashes through the stigma and shame of HIV, to present an uplifting and inspirational guide to staying positive in a negative world. This edition features the full script of First Time, alongside extensive material about HIV/AIDS and the themes and issues explored in the play, including several workshop plans which can be used with students and community groups. 'A truly remarkable story of triumph. I was in awe' Russell T DaviesTrade Review'A visceral, interactive and educational theatrical journey' * ThreeWeeks *'Heartbreaking and eye-opening yet extremely uplifting... a touching and effective piece of theatre, handling an exceptionally heavy subject with ease' * Broadway World *'Funny and frank... a captivating, life-affirming tale of resilience and determination' * The List *'Funny, moving and powerful' * The Reviews Hub *'Punches home political and emotional key points with devastating clarity... moving, educational and littered with quick-fire humour' * The Stage *'The raw, autobiographical passion escalates this to another level' * Scotsman *'Universal and deeply moving' * Attitude *'An unabashedly heart-on-sleeve, crowd-pleasing show but also a crucial one for raising awareness about HIV' -- Lyn Gardner * Stagedoor *'Packs an emotional punch that resonates even after you've left the theatre' * Guardian *
£12.59
Book SynopsisThis step-by-step guide to learning and practising an American accent is for anyone who wants to use a General American accent with confidence in auditions and performance. Inside, you'll find an easy-to-follow breakdown of the fundamentals required for the accent – including the shape and position of the mouth; vowels and consonants; rhythm; stressing; pitch; pace and more – as well as structured drills and exercises to build on and consolidate what you've learned, using extracts from contemporary American plays. The book is supplemented by dozens of online audio clips of General American voices, recorded by native speakers, so you can listen to the target sounds and repeat for practice. Also included are tips on fully integrating the accent into your performance, as well as a series of vocal warm-ups. Rebecca Gausnell is a voice and dialect coach, who has worked internationally in theatre, film and television. Born and raised in the United States, she studied acting in Chicago, before completing an MFA in Voice Studies in London. The Compact Guides are pocket-sized introductions for actors and theatremakers, each tackling a key topic in a clear and comprehensive way. Written by industry professionals with extensive hands-on experience of their subject, they provide you with maximum information in minimum time.Trade Review'Detailed and specific... the exercises are clearly described and valuable, and the voice recordings that accompany the book are very useful for illustrating what is being described in words... a worthwhile investment for someone seeking to expand their voice and accent skills or about to go into rehearsal' * British Theatre Guide *'A useful reference book… students and teachers will find the passages from a range of plays, many of them contemporary, very helpful… the dimension that really makes this book work is the voice files that accompany each of the sections, allowing the actor to practise in real time and making for a much more interactive experience' * Drama & Theatre magazine *
£9.49
Book SynopsisFourteen-year-old Jim Hawkins is serving ale in The Admiral Benbow Inn – when suddenly the door slams open and in strides Billy Bones, the infamous pirate, to change Jim’s life forever… Soon, Jim finds himself on board The Jolly Todger and setting sail on the high seas. Alongside him, the crew includes Captain Birdseye, Black Dog, Blue Peter, the one-legged Long John Silver, and a parrot called Alexa – and their destination: a mysterious tropical paradise in the Caribbean named Treasure Island. Or Skeleton Island. Depends who you ask. This riotously chaotic adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved Treasure Island is a collaboration between John Nicholson (The Hound of the Baskervilles) and the physical-comedy theatre company Le Navet Bete, with their four actors playing dozens of characters. Following the company’s hilarious, hit adaptations of Dracula: The Bloody Truth and The Three Musketeers, it premiered at the Plymouth Athenaeum in 2019, and in a Black Spot-defying production at the Exeter Northcott Theatre in 2020, before touring nationally. If you’re looking for a rip-roaring, swashbuckling, family-friendly retelling of a classic story to perform with your theatre company or drama group, then X marks this spot.Trade Review'A ripping good yarn with an abundance of theatrical surprises' * The Stage *'Batten down the hatches for breakneck and breathless barrels of laugh-out-loud hilarity' * British Theatre Guide *'Great fun... a version of Stevenson's novel that not only entertains, it refreshes the narrative for a modern audience' * The Reviews Hub *
£12.34
Book SynopsisFrom the liberation of the electric wheelchair to the ignominy of discrimination and incarceration, there have been both great advances and terrible setbacks for disabled people in Britain over the last fifty years. Hard-hitting and hilarious, personal and poignant, CripTales comprises six fictional monologues portraying some very real experiences. From negotiating friendships and personal assistants, navigating the benefits system, and experiencing sexual fulfilment, they challenge the view that having a disability is a problem or ‘not normal’. Normal doesn’t exist! CripTales was commissioned by the BBC and broadcast on BBC Four and BBC America in 2020 to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the UK’s Disability Discrimination Act, which criminalised discrimination against disabled people in many areas of life. The production had disabled people at its core – as writers, directors and actors of all six monologues. Mat Fraser, the series’ Creative Director, said, ‘Disabled voices have been shut out of mainstream TV drama for too long and this is a chance to showcase some of the wonderful, inventive, funny, dramatic, sexy and sobering potential available… We called the series CripTales, as the word ‘crip’ has been taken by the disabled community as a self-empowering title since the late ’80s, and these are authentic stories and tales from people who identify as Deaf and Disabled people and who are embedded in disabled community.’Trade Review'Hilarious and wise and gentle and furious all at once' * The Times *'Moving and authentic… succeeds both as a collective artistic statement, and as an unusually in-depth experience in disability awareness… an emotionally complex, topically diverse series that makes a strong statement for the disability experience and disabled artists’ unique ability to interpret it' * Forbes *'A brilliant, shocking, and funny collection… feels like a significant step forward' * Culture Whisper *'Sharp, dark and unexpected all at once… these monologues give Alan Bennett a run for his money' * The i paper *'Thought-provoking, amusing and touching' * Financial Times *
£10.44
Book SynopsisVinny's organising a surprise birthday party for his mate, Anita. It's not going well: his choice of venue is a bit misguided, Anita's not keen on leaving the house, and everyone else has their own stuff going on. Maybe a surprise party wasn't the best idea? Tom Wells's Stuff is a play about friendship and loss – and the way people try to do the right thing for their mates when there isn't really a right thing to do. Written specifically for young people, the play formed part of the 2019 National Theatre Connections Festival and was premiered by youth theatres across the UK. It offers rich opportunities for an ensemble cast of teenagers.Trade ReviewTom Wells has perfected the art of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. His wry observations and relatable characterisations lead to an often profound beauty that makes him, for my money, one of our most important playwrights. MyTheatreMates.com
£9.49
Book SynopsisUp-and-coming comics Alex and Ben have been booked in the warm-up spot for a beloved but fading double act's comeback tour. Neither is delighted to be playing to a sparse crowd in a sleepy seaside town – but when it's revealed that a Hollywood director is in the audience, both acts glimpse a final chance for their big break. Cue sabotage, mistaken identity and full-on farcical mayhem, as the performance descends into a desperate battle for the limelight. With the action alternating between offstage and on, and the tone between Noises Off and Morecambe and Wise's old-school charm, The Comeback is a heart-warming exploration of bittersweet nostalgia and the enduring power of friendship. It is the joyful and dazzlingly funny debut play by The Pin's award-winning Ben Ashenden and Alex Owen – 'destined to become one of the great comedy duos' (Radio Times). It opened at the West End's Noël Coward Theatre in December 2020.Trade Review'A bulletproof nugget of comic theatre' * Guardian *'A neat conceit, played to the hilt of escalating, exhausting buffoonery… an uproarious, gag-a-minute triumph' * Telegraph *'Has plenty of charm… a high-energy meta-comedy' * The Times *'Hugely enjoyable… a complicated, fast-paced farce' * The Arts Desk *'Has everything you'd want in a comedy show… The Comeback is jam-packed with gags; from throwaway one-liners to clever call-backs which only get funnier and never lose speed or outstay their welcome. But what makes it so clever is how emotional moments are brought in and out throughout the show; you aren't just watching farcical situations, there are real moments of emotion too… an unmissable show full of heart and hysterical chaos that will leave you smiling for days' * Broadway World *'Surreal, silly and very, very funny... will simply make you laugh your socks off’ * Evening Standard *
£9.49
Book SynopsisInspired by Georges Seurat's pointillist masterpiece, Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical celebrates the art of creation and the creation of art. In the first half of the musical, set in 1884, the people - and the animals - in the painting come to life in a world where, for the artist George, art comes before love, before everything. In the second half, a century later, Seurat's great-grandson is wrestling with the same obsessions in present-day New York. Sunday in the Park with George was premiered on Broadway in May 1984, in a production directed by James Lapine. An earlier, incomplete version had been performed Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in July 1983. The musical went on to win the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The first London production opened at the National Theatre in March 1990. It won the 1991 Olivier Award for Best New Musical.Trade Review'The first truly modernist work of musical theatre that Broadway has ever produced' * New York Times *'Penetrates the mystery of artistic creation... overpoweringly affecting... what a show this is... irresistible' * Daily Telegraph *'This is great musical theatre' * Sunday Times *
£12.34
Book SynopsisTwo compelling and thought-provoking plays from one of the twentieth century's most significant writers. Anna Christie Eugene O’Neill’s epic Pulitzer Prize-winning play about love and forgiveness charts one woman’s longing to forget the dark secrets of her past and hope for salvation. Exiled from her home by the Old Devil Sea to the inland plains, Anna Christie’s life changed for ever at just five years of age. Fifteen years later, she is reunited with the father who sent her away, and sets sail in search of a new beginning. Anna Christie was first staged at the Vanderbilt Theater, New York, in November 1921. Its first London production was at the Strand Theatre in April 1923. The Emperor Jones An expressionistic chronicle of a black dictator's flight from his oppressed subjects. Brutus Jones rules his island's citizens from his opulent palace with tyrannical ease – until the day that they all disappear. They have retreated to the hills, following their former native leader Lem, and plan to revolt. It is time for the Emperor to make good his escape. The Emperor Jones was first performed at the Playwrights' Theater, New York, in November 1920. Its UK premiere was at the Ambassadors' Theatre, London, in September 1925. This edition includes a full introduction, biographical sketch and chronology.Trade Review'The first serious American play about black experience... a historic landmark and a shattering piece of theatre' * Guardian on 'The Emperor Jones' *'There is a raw vigour and humanity in Anna Christie that few other dramatists can match' * Telegraph on 'Anna Christie' *'O'Neill is like an American Shakespeare, the father of American drama' * New York Times *
£12.59
Book SynopsisA controversial work of extraordinary power, remarkable length (9 acts), and use of asides to express the characters' unspoken thoughts. An outstanding, somewhat Freudian play from one of the twentieth century's most significant writers. Nina Leeds is a mercurial woman, haunted and broken by the death of her fiancé Gordon Shaw in the First World War – after her father had convinced him to postpone the marriage until his safe return. Always searching for the ever-elusive happiness Shaw gave her, she flirts with the feelings of the various men in her life: her friend Charles Marsden, deeply in love with her, is nevertheless too shy to confess; her new husband Sam Evans, with his own history of mental illness and inability to give her a child; Edmund 'Ned' Darrell, so desperate for her to leave Sam that he gives her the child she craves so badly. And then finally comes little Gordon, the result of Nina's affair with Ned, ignorant of his parentage – the only man she really dotes on whilst the others orbit around her... Eugene O'Neill's play Strange Interlude opened on Broadway in January 1928, and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This edition includes a full introduction, biographical sketch and chronology.Trade Review'Will strike viewers with its modernity... often startingly funny as well as touching... wonderfully gripping' * Telegraph *'Shines with quiet magnificence' * Evening Standard *'Epic, heartbreaking... has a deliciously waspish sense of humour' * Time Out *'Remains an important text... full of theatrical excitement' * Independent *'[A] great play... holds its own with the very best of O'Neill's writing' * Exeunt Magazine *
£10.44
Book SynopsisOozing with sophistication and wit, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music (based on Ingmar Bergman's film Smiles on a Summer Night) is a passionate story of intertwined love affairs, regret and longing centred on elegant actress Desirée Armfeldt, and her family and flirtations. When Desirée performs in the town of her former lover, old passions rekindle and during a weekend in the country, the entangled romances of four couples are laid bare. With the magic of music on a summer's night, love's joys and complications play out in three-quarter time. Filled with beautiful iconic numbers, including 'Send in the Clowns' and 'A Weekend in the Country', A Little Night Music is a romantic musical by one of our greatest living composers. It opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre in February 1973 in a production directed by Harold Prince, winning Best Musical at the New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards and the Tony Awards. The musical premiered in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre in April 1975. It has since enjoyed professional productions in the West End, by opera companies, in a 2009 Broadway revival, and elsewhere, and it is a popular choice for regional groups. It was adapted for film in 1977, with Harold Prince directing.Trade Review'Heady, civilised, sophisticated and enchanting. Sondheim's breathtaking lyrics have the kind of sassy poetry that Cole Porter mastered' * New York Times *
£9.99
Book SynopsisA bawdy, fast-paced, raunchy comedy musical from one of the world's most influential and innovative creators of musical theatre, loosely based on the plays of Plautus. Pseudolus, a simpering slave, is trying to win his own freedom by cooking up a romance for his master's son, Hero, with the pretty young virgin Philia. But there's a problem – not only is Philia owned by Marcus Lycus, an infamous courtesan dealer, but she's also already promised to swaggering soldier Miles Gloriosus... and neither of them are keen to give her up. Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, with a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, ran for three years on Broadway. The first British production, starring Frankie Howerd as the cowardly slave Pseudolus, ran almost as long and spawned the TV series Up Pompeii! A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum won the 1962 Tony Award for Best Musical.Trade Review'The funniest, bawdiest and most enchanting musical that Plautus, with a little help from Stephen Sondheim, Burt Shevelove and Lary Belbart, ever wrote' * New York Times *'Spectacularly generous when it comes to the gags... one of the most exuberant opening numbers ever penned... The comic plot never stops boiling in a show that creates mounting farcical mayhem with rare precision... a brilliantly crafted hit... preposterously enjoyable' * Daily Telegraph *'A brilliant synthesis of stock characters from Plautus... a vertiginously funny show' * Guardian *'Simply irresistible... blissfully hilarious... a glorious gag-fest... A delirium of good, clean, filthy fun... a cornucopia of delight' * Independent *'Gloriously mischievous' * The Times *'Delightful... just sit back and enjoy it' * Financial Times *
£12.59
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price George Farquhar's immortal comedy about two young gentlemen with a misguided plan to get enrich themselves at the expense of a series of young heiresses. A pair of London gentlemen, Archer and Aimwell, pose as a Lord and his servant in order to procure one handsome dowry to split between them. While Aimwell, the 'lord', works on the affections of Lady Bountiful's daughter Dorinda, his 'servant' Archer makes his bid for her son's wife. George Farquhar's play The Beaux Stratagem was first produced at the Theatre Royal, London, in 1707. This edition, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is edited and introduced by Simon Trussler.
£6.71
Book SynopsisA Drama Classic: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A classic Restoration comedy by one of the earliest and most celebrated female playwrights. Arriving in Naples at carnival time, a group of exiled cavaliers determine to enjoy themselves. They are repeatedly tempted and tricked by various prostitutes and their pimps, until their leader, the Rover, is finally forced to give up his wild behaviour when he falls in love with a single-minded, wealthy virgin. Aphra Behn's The Rover was first performed at the Dorset Garden Theatre, London, in March 1677. This edition in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series is edited and introduced by Simon Trussler.
£13.64
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Middleton and Rowley's masterpiece, a tale of murder, lust, seduction and blackmail in the seventeenth century. Alsemero has fallen in love with the beautiful Beatrice after a chance meeting in a church – but Beatrice has already been promised to another man. Unable to marry the man she loves, she employs the hated De Flores, her father's servant, to murder the man her father bids her marry. As payment, De Flores demands Beatrice. And then things get worse... Thomas Middleton and William Rowley's play The Changeling was mostly likely first performed in 1622. This edition of the play in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series is edited and introduced by Trevor Griffiths. Set Text >> The Changeling is a set text for AQA Drama and Theatre Studies A/AS Level, AQA English Literature A/AS Level, OCR English Literature A/AS Level and WJEC English Literature A/AS Level.
£6.71
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Chekhov's early tragedy, translated and introduced by Stephen Mulrine. Arkadina, a famous actress, and her lover, a famous novelist, are spending the summer on her country estate, but their glamorous presence proves fatally disruptive to the lives of all those present, especially her son, Konstantin and Nina, the girl he loves. Anton Chekhov's play The Seagull was first staged at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in St Petersburg in October 1896. This translation by Stephen Mulrine, published in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, was first staged by English Touring Theatre in 1997.
£6.59
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Molière's classic farce, Le Malade Imaginaire, in a fresh and performable translation. The 'imaginary invalid' Argan is so obsessed with his health that he fails to notice what is happening around him in his own family. His scheming wife and loving daughter are finally revealed to him in their true light by Argan's brother, who poses as a quack doctor and suggests he feigns death to test their loyalty. This English version of Molière's The Hypochondriac, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is translated and introduced by Martin Sorrell.
£5.78
Book SynopsisBased on the true story of Alma Rattenbury, who, in 1935, went on trial with her eighteen-year-old lover for the murder of her husband. In the play, Terence Rattigan pits Alma against a formidable lady juror, whose own life offers a plangent counterpoint to the central tale of love, betrayal, guilt and obsession. Published in this edition alongside a major revival of the play at The Old Vic, London, Cause Célèbre was Rattigan's last play and was still running in the West End at the time of his death in 1977. It comes, like the other volumes in NHB's uniform edition of Rattigan's plays, with an authoritative introduction by Rattigan scholar Dan Rebellato. ‘Few dramatists of this century have written with more understanding of the human heart than Terence Rattigan’ - Michael BillingtonTrade ReviewReviews from Rattigan's centenary revival, 2011: 'mixes anguish, suspense, humour and compassion to often electrifying effect' Telegraph 'stands the test of time... behind the play one senses the compassionate understanding for the outcast that was always Rattigan's trump card as a dramatist' Guardian 'still knocks its characters off their smugly held moral high ground with more eloquence and ruthlessness than anything produced by today's current crop of playwrights' Independent
£10.44
Book SynopsisTerence Rattigan’s After the Dance is a brilliant attack on the hedonistic lifestyle of the ‘bright young things’ of the 1920s and 30s. David is a high-living, hard-drinking, successful writer involved with two women: his wife Joan and an earnest-minded younger woman, Helen. When Joan commits suicide, David considers following her, but instead returns to a life of parties and drinking. After the Dance was first produced at the St James’s Theatre, London, in June l939. It signalled a more serious direction in Rattigan's writing after the relative frivolity of the hugely successful French Without Tears. It opened to euphoric reviews, but only a month later the European crisis was darkening the national mood and audiences began to dwindle. The play was pulled in August after only sixty performances. This edition includes an authoritative introduction, biographical sketch and chronology.Trade Review'One of the supreme dramatists of the 20th century' * Guardian *'A harrowing critique of a period of heedless frivolity and a dazzling reminder of the strengths of Rattigan’s writing' * Evening Standard *'A great and wonderful revelation... combines superb social comedy with shafts of powerful emotion' * Telegraph *
£12.34
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Oscar Wilde's undying comedy – in an edition to fit any handbag. Jack Worthing pretends to be Earnest to avoid certain social obligations. But Gwendolen has fallen in love with him as Earnest - and he with her. Quizzed as to his origins by her aunt Lady Bracknell, Jack has to admit to being found in a handbag. After further complications involving Jack's friend Algernon, who is also passing himself off as Earnest, Jack's true origins are revealed. Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest was first performed in February 1895 at the St James's Theatre in London. This edition in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series includes an introduction by Dan Rebellato.
£6.59
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A classically bawdy Restoration Comedy, widely regarded as one of the filthiest and funniest plays ever written. The City of London in the seventeenth century. Harry Horner wants to seduce as many women as possible, but he needs to convince their husbands that he’s physically incapable of any such thing. Cannily, his faux impotence also allows him to sniff out and unmask those respectably virtuous ladies who secretly ache for him. William Wycherley's The Country Wife was first performed in January 1675, by the King's Company, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.
£6.71
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Henrik Ibsen's revolutionary play about a woman's awakening to her need for a life of her own. A Doll's House was premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 1879. This English version of A Doll's House is translated and introduced by Kenneth McLeish.
£999.99
Book SynopsisA brilliant and painfully truthful portrait of Stanley Spencer, the wayward genius of modern British painting. Coming from humble origins, Stanley Spencer never lost his 'rough edges', despite being taken up by the smart set. His stubborn championing of ordinary people and local places as suitable subjects for religious painting was revolutionary. His appetite for life was hugely attractive, though his attitude to women in general and his long-suffering wife in particular was deeply selfish: 'Why can't I have two wives if that's what I need?' Pam Gems' play Stanley was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in February 1996, directed by John Caird and featuring Antony Sher as Stanley. The play won Best Play at the 1996 Evening Standard Awards, and Best New Play at the 1997 Olivier Awards. Trade Review'Highly plausible, deeply moving' * Guardian *'Very funny and affecting' * Independent *
£999.99
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Pug, a junior demon, persuades his master Satan to let him spend a day in London. Taking over the body of a recently hanged thief, Pug becomes servant to a squire from Norfolk, Fitzdottrel, who doesn't believe that Pug is a devil but is happy that he asks no wages. Ben Jonson's comedy The Devil is an Ass was first performed by the King's Men in 1616. This edition of The Devil is an Ass in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series is edited by Peter Happé, and introduced by Simon Trussler.
£999.99
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A Jacobean tale of personal vengeance in a morally bankrupt world. Vindice has vowed to revenge the murder of his beloved Gloriana by the lustful Duke, and when he gains access to the court in disguise, havoc ensues... The Revenger's Tragedy was first performed in London in 1606 or 1607, and was subsequently published anonymously. It has been variously attributed to Cyril Tourneur and Thomas Middleton. This edition of the play, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is edited by R.A. Foakes and includes an introduction by Trevor R. Griffiths.
£6.36
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price The classic story of the learned Doctor Faustus who sells his soul to the devil. This edition of Christopher Marlowe's play contains two self-contained versions, known as the A-text and the B-text, allowing readers to compare the available versions, and performers to choose the version that suits them best. It also contains a full introduction, notes on further reading, a chronology and a glossary of difficult words. Edited by D. Bevington & E. Rasmussen, and introduced by Simon Trussler.
£999.99
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A classic Restoration-era comedy about the sexual exploits of two officers, the womanising Plume and the cowardly Brazen, as they go about their task of recruiting soldiers in the town of Shrewsbury. George Farquhar's play The Recruiting Officer was first staged at Drury Lane in 1706. It was an immediate hit and went on to become one of the most frequently performed plays of the 18th century. This edition in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series is edited and introduced by Simon Trussler.
£6.71
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price The Italian Court is riddled with corruption in this classic Jacobean tragedy. The Duke Brascino is openly seducing a married woman, Vittoria, while plotting the murder of his own wife. Vittoria's brother Flamineo, a cold-blooded murderer, tries to exploit his position as Brascino's servant and pander. Finally Brascino's enemies, outraged by his perversions, seek a vicious revenge. John Webster's play The White Devil was first performed at the Red Bull Theatre, London, by Queen Anne's Men in 1612. This edition, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is edited by J.R. Brown, with an introduction from Simon Trussler.
£999.99
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Molière's comedy about the notorious womaniser, in a fresh and performable translation by Kenneth McLeish. Set in Sicily, Moliere's play retells the famous myth of Don Juan, the womaniser with no morals and a scorn for religion. It charts his relationship with his servant Sganarelle, his romantic philandering, his false conversion and his ultimate punishment. Don Juan was first performed in 1665 in the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris, with Molière playing the role of Sganarelle. This version in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series is translated and introduced by Kenneth McLeish.
£6.12
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Dryden's 1677 play All for Love is a version of the Antony and Cleopatra story, told as a heroic tragedy. Antony and Octavius Caesar are struggling for control of what was to become the Roman Empire. Antony and Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, are lovers and political allies, but their forces have been defeated at the battle of Actium. The play is set in Alexandria, under siege by Octavius Caesar. This edition in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series is edited and introduced by Trevor R. Griffiths.
£6.36
Book SynopsisA bitingly witty play about the loyalty and trust a couple must give each other.
£17.55
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A ghoulish and bloody 16th-century tragedy. The ghost of a murdered courtier is promised by Revenge that he will see his murderer killed by his mistress. The two ghostly figures sit down to watch the violent proceedings. Thomas Kyd's play The Spanish Tragedy is credited with establishing a new genre in English theatre, the revenge play or revenge tragedy. This edition of the play in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series includes an introduction by Simon Trussler.Trade Review'A murky world of royal skulduggery, hangings, knifings and delayed revenge, which is by no means remote from our own violent times' * Evening Standard *
£999.99
Book SynopsisAn explosive, gripping and disturbing play about the phenomenon of False Memory Syndrome. Anna Weiss is a hypnotherapist, specialising in revealing 'lost' memories. Under her care, twenty-year-old Lynn has begun to 'remember' a long history of sexual abuse by her father. When Lynn confronts her father, David, he protests his innocence vehemently – so are Lynn's memories real or are they dark auto-suggestions? Mike Cullen's play Anna Weiss was first performed at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 1997, winning the Edinburgh Festival Critics' Award. It was revived at the Whitehall Theatre in the West End in 1999.Trade Review'This is one of those rare plays that leaves an audience emotionally overwhelmed and desperate to talk about what they have just seen... Cullen has joined the major league of contemporary dramatists' * Daily Telegraph *'A piece of theatre as intriguing and slippery as any you are likely to see this year' * Independent *
£10.79
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price A classic comedy of manners, ridiculing affectation and pretentiousness. Joseph Surface is apparently a model citizen; his brother Charles is a dissolute wastrel. But when the schemings of the scandalmongers go awry, the reverse is shown to be true. Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The School for Scandal was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre in 1777. This edition, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is edited and introduced by Colin Counsell.
£6.23
Book SynopsisA white-knuckle ride through a nightmare Dublin, where enemies and allies are interchangeable. First we meet Howie. He tells us how, one night, he gets caught up in a gang intent on beating up Rookie. He's supposed to be baby-sitting his five-year-old brother, but he goes just the same. They beat up Rookie. Howie returns to discover a horrible accident has happened to the little boy. Then we hear the story from Rookie's point of view... Mark O'Rowe's play Howie the Rookie was first performed at the Bush Theatre, London, in February 1999. It won the George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.Trade Review'Grabs you by the collar and head-butts you into submission' * Sunday Times *'Outstanding' * Telegraph *'A magnificent mix of violence and poignancy' * The Stage *'Startling... there are shades of Homer's Odyssey in the sweep of this telling, or of Joyce's Ulysses in the elevation of ordinary detail to heroic form' * Irish Times *'Mesmerising... funny, tragic, shocking and disturbing in turn' * Scotsman *'[Has] the lip-smacking relish and the whooping vulgarity of Behan, Joyce or Flann O'Brien' * Whatsonstage.com *
£20.79
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Henrik Ibsen's mighty epic, by turns fantastic and tragic, based on the Norwegian fairy tale Per Gynt. Ibsen's play, his last to be written in verse, follows the poet and braggart Peer Gynt as, fleeing disgrace, he swaggers and seduces his way from the fjords of Norway to the deserts of Africa and back. Peer Gynt was originally published in 1867, and first performed in Christiania (Oslo) in 1876. This English version, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is translated and introduced by Kenneth McLeish.
£6.71
Book SynopsisA comedy drama set in the seedily glamorous world of 17th-century London theatre. John Shank is an actor, talent-scout and trainer of boy players in the 1630s, when women's roles are still played by precocious boys. Up to his eyes in debt, Shank's only hope of escaping destitution is an unpromising 14-year-old would-be, Stephen Hammerton. Can he train up Stephen to be the new star of the London stage? Nicholas Wright's play Cressida was first performed at the Albery Theatre, London, in 2000, in a production by the Almeida Theatre.Trade Review'Delightful, light-minded comedy of manners' * Evening Standard *
£11.69
Book SynopsisA simple and delightfully inventive re-telling of the stories from the Arabian Nights. It is wedding night in the palace of King Shahrayar. By morning the new Queen Shahrazad is to be put to death, like a thousand young brides before her. But she has one gift that could save her – the gift of storytelling. Can the young Queen transport the vengeful King to the mystical land of her stories? On her side she has a rich array of characters including Ali Baba, Es-Sinbad the Sailor and Princess Parizade – adventurers in strange and magical worlds populated by giant beasts, talking birds and crafty thieves. Will her silver-tongued storytelling save her life? This edition was published alongside the Young Vic's production in 1998.Trade Review‘The best demonstration all year of the living power of theatre' * Observer *
£12.34
Book SynopsisA chilling emotional thriller about two men and a woman bound together by the secrets of surviving a childhood in a Glasgow tenement. Ken is a vacuum cleaner salesman obsessed with the riddance of dirt and dust. Clare got rid of her baby twenty years before. Frank wants to rid himself of the shadow of his violent faith. So, is murder ever justified? In defence of a child? And if you're never caught, do you get away with it, or are you forever in hiding? Linda McLean's play Riddance was first staged at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 1999. This edition of the play is in the Nick Hern Books Instant Playscript series - designed to reflect the immediacy of the play on the stage. Printed only a few days before opening night, the aim is to give audiences at the theatre and readers all over the world instant access to the best of current new writing as it hits the stage.Trade Review'A taut poetic thriller combining delicacy with a pressure-cooker energy' * Guardian *'You find yourself leaning forward, anxious to plunge into McLean's rippling pool of revelations' * Independent *
£19.66
Book SynopsisDrama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price One of Henrik Ibsen's most powerful studies of female psychology, The Lady from the Sea introduces the character of Hilde Wangel, who reappears in Ibsen's later play The Master Builder. Ellida Wangel cannot give herself fully to her husband because she is overwhelmed by memories of the past and her attraction to the ocean. Will she suffocate on dry land, or find freedom across the sea? This English version of The Lady from the Sea, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is translated by Kenneth McLeish, with a full introduction by Stephen Mulrine, biography and suggestions for further reading.
£5.78
Book SynopsisTwo plays by award-winning playwright Marie Jones: the smash hit Stones in His Pockets, which ran for four years in London's West End; and an earlier monologue, A Night in November, exploring the subjects of football and sectarianism, set during the 1994 World Cup. Stones in His Pockets is a comedy with a poignant undercurrent, about a small rural town in Ireland where a Hollywood epic is being filmed. The story centres on Charlie Conlon and Jake Quinn, who, like much of the town, are employed as extras for the filming. After a tragic incident concerning a local teenager, Charlie and Jake assume responsibility for giving an account of events, taking on all the roles themselves. A two-hander that delights in exploring the limits of comedy and theatricality, and the collision of romanticised notions of 'Irishness' and the harsher reality, Stones in His Pockets has delighted audiences around the world. Marie Jones's play was first staged at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast in June 1999 before opening at the Tricycle Theatre, London, in August 1999. It transferred to the New Ambassadors Theatre, London, in May 2000. Stones in His Pockets won the 2001 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. A Night in November is a one-man show following Kenneth McCallister, family man and Ulsterman, on the fateful night in November in Belfast when the Republic of Ireland qualifies against Northern Ireland for the World Cup, and Kenneth finds himself watching the sectarian hatred of the crowd rather than the football. A Night in November was first performed at The West Belfast Festival, Whiterock, Belfast, in August 1994, then toured extensively throughout Ireland, and was also seen in New York. It was staged in London at the Tricycle Theatre in March 1995.Trade Review'[Stones in His Pockets is] a delightful piece... often richly funny' * Daily Telegraph *'[Stones in His Pockets is] an unalloyed source of joy, laughter, tears and delight... Marie Jones's script digs deep and dark while giving us two hours of serious pleasure' * Daily Mail *'[In Stones in His Pockets,] Jones builds an astonishingly complete, acute, funny and humane picture - a complete theatrical tour de force - hilarious, loveable and at times even breathtaking' * Scotsman *'[Stones in His Pockets] is clearly magical, dealing as it does with myths, memories, class and sex, with two actors who create a whole world on stage. The play itself not only sends up the delirious fantasy of film, it becomes a moving and heartfelt tribute to the imaginative power of live performance' * Guardian *'If there is a more cleverly constructed, enterprisingly acted play [than Stones in His Pockets] on offer in London right now, I cannot think of it' * The Times *
£10.44
Book SynopsisA darkly comic thriller set in the grim, seething and sometimes hilarious criminal world of Dublin's suburbs. Carl, a youngish but overweight Dublin taxi driver, owes Jackie three grand in gambling debts. Jackie wants the money, and he wants it now, not least because an armed robbery he has master-minded has just gone badly wrong. From there it is all downhill for Carl and his father-in-law George. And not in a good way. Robert Massey's play Rank was first staged by Fishamble: The New Play Company in October 2008 as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. It transferred to the Tricycle Theatre, London, in November 2008.Trade Review'Enjoyable... filthily funny... the stakes are terrifyingly high' * Guardian *'A cracking comedy thriller... shuffles menace, high-stakes anxiety and light relief in a carousel of black comedy' * Telegraph *
£8.54
