Latest News

'Having A Play': Nick Hern Books holds free playwriting panel event at Almeida Theatre, 6 June

As part of Nick Hern Books' 25th anniversary celebrations, we're holding a free panel event at the Almeida Theatre on 6 June, featuring four NHB playwrights.

Fiona Doyle's play SO Gay has been announced as the winner of Salisbury Playhouse's playwriting competition A Play for the Nation's Youth.

Our Top 10 most performed plays

The top 10 most performed plays licensed through NHB in 2012 are revealed!

What's got us excited... The Thrill of Love

Amanda Whittington's brand new play opens tonight at the New Vic Theatre.

Guide to Plays for Performance: new supplement out now!

The new supplement to our Guide to Plays for Performance is available now to download FREE from this site.

Plays to Perform site recommended for teachers

Teaching Drama Magazine says our Plays to Perform site is 'really useful and easy to use', and recommends it for all teachers and lecturers looking for a play to perform.

Guide to Plays for Performance

The essential guide to plays licensed by Nick Hern Books for amateur performance.
Full Details »

Detailed information on our most popular plays, including: Storyline summaries, extracts, cast breakdowns, staging requirements, press reviews.

Free Download (8Mb) | Order Printed Copy

Have your say – and win £30 worth of playscripts!

Rehearsal shot

Join in the discussion by reviewing any of the plays on this site, posting a comment, passing on any production tips, or requesting advice from other theatre groups.

It’s easy to get involved – simply submit your feedback via the Discussion Board underneath each of the plays, and we’ll get it added to the site for others to read.

This is your site too, so don’t be shy about sharing your knowledge and expertise.

Latest Posts:

Barton Theatre Company on Iron
A short note about The Haunting from the Partington Players
Falmouth Academy, Massachusetts, discuss their performance of Arabian Nights
University of Nottingham recently performed Eight and it went down a storm.
Hear how the Nortonians AmDram Group provoked side-splitting laughter with The Hound of the Baskervilles
CHADS Theatre in Cheadle Hulme discuss their amateur premiere of A Tender Thing
Bangor English Drama Society (BEDS) reveal the joys of directing Arabian Nights
Ryan Vernel shares his thoughts on Ella Hickson's Eight
Questors hope to see you at their post show discussion to Parlour Song on 17 October 2012, for a chance to meet the company and talk about their experience in staging Jez Butterworth's play.
Do you need to borrow some breeches? If you're staging Lilies on the Land, do get in touch with admin@thelionspart.co.uk where you can borrow the full range of costume, including WLA badges and armbands, the iconic dungarees and even milking jackets!
A warm recommendation to stage Passing Places - a road movie for the stage!
Read a review from the Malta Sunday Times and feedback from audience members of Unifaun Theatre Company's production of the controversial play Paul
In case you need to learn how to tar and feather someone on stage for Loyal Women (or just for fun), we'll show you how!
David Baxter shares his staging tips for Contractions, Mike Bartlett's ink black comedy for two female performers.
The Kelvin Players Theatre Company share their secrets for a successful production of Ladies' Day, and have props to give away!
Congratulations to the young cast of Mission Theatre's Youth production of His Dark Materials on their great review; they have clearly done a brilliant job!
Fat Dog Theatre recommends 100 as a play for which there are minimal staging requirements
Putney Arts Theatre on why they chose to stage Foxfinder
Unbroken, a modern reworking of La Ronde, with plenty of opportunities for physical theatre
Companies interested in performing Mine can get in touch with Capital Theatre Company to use their originally composed music to go with the play.
Anyone in need of costumes for Ladies' Day? Contact the Burton Joyce Players to find out more.
An interview with the cast of Putney Art's upcoming production of Little Gem.
Parlour Song by Jez Butterworth, the writer of Jerusalem, is a great comedy with dark undercurrents.
Dominic Cooke's version of Arabian Nights is 'the perfect mix of storytelling with space for physical theatre and movement'.
Tips on staging Liz Lochhead's Good Things, the perfect alternative Christmas show.
Rattigan's Winslow Boy is a revelation for Putney Arts Theatre
Glowing review of Unifaun Theatre's production of The Female of the Species in the Times of Malta!