The true stars of theatre aren't just to be found on the stage – for every actor who takes a bow, there's an army of brilliant creatives behind the scenes who are absolutely essential to making the show happen. 

In this selection, we've rounded up some practical, inspiring books for whatever backstage career you're thinking of pursuing – including stage management, directing, production, composing, design, lighting, and more – all available at 40% off in our Sale.

Plus, £1 from every book sold in our Sale will go to the Theatre Artists Fund, which continues to provide emergency support for theatre-workers and freelancers across the UK affected by the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the theatre sector.

Remember, everything included in the Sale has been handpicked from the shelves at NHB HQ, and stock is strictly limited. So if you see something you want, move fast to avoid missing out – because once it's gone, it's gone!

Take a look at what's on offer below, and head back to our main Sale page to browse the whole range of playscripts and books currently available at a very special 40% discount, for a limited time only.

Looking for books on writing and creating theatre? Check out our Sale selection on Devising, Improv and Writing.