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Nick Hern Books

UPDATE, 1pm Friday 19 March – this 40% Off Sale has now finished. Thank you so much to everyone who took part!

Choose from hundreds of top plays and books, and support freelancers affected by the impact of COVID-19


On 16 March 2020, as the COVID pandemic continued to spread across the UK, hundreds of theatres nationwide were forced to shut their doors. At the time, we all thought it would only be for a few weeks – but incredibly, a full year on, these treasured stages are still dark. That was also the day we temporarily shut down the NHB office, as our team switched to working remotely. Twelve months later, those doors remain closed, too.

So as the theatre community prepares to mark this unexpected anniversary, we've ventured back to NHB HQ to raid our shelves and offer you the chance to save 40% on hundreds of great playscripts and theatre books, and raise money for hard-hit theatre-workers and freelancers, in our special Sale.

Due to incredible demand, we've extended the Sale by an extra 24 hours, so it now finishes at 1pm GMT on Friday 19 March. No voucher code is required – just fill your basket with as many of the brilliant titles below as you like, head to checkout, and your discount will be automatically applied. This offer applies to paperback and hardback editions only (ebooks are not included), and all orders over £40 receive free UK delivery.

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.

We've put together an incredible selection of almost SIX HUNDRED titles, all currently available at 40% off – choose from famous, award-winning hits; wonderful, lesser-known plays we just know you'll love; brilliant shows that were sadly forced to close due to COVID; books to develop your skills or learn new ones; fascinating reads by leading names, and much more.

Pick up something you always had your eye on at a special price, or try something you've never heard of before – who knows, you might be about to discover your new favourite writer...

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!

Head to the bottom of this page the entire range – or check out our curated Sale Selections, bringing together books and playscripts on different subjects and themes – and be sure to grab your bargains before our Sale ends on Friday.

It's been a really rough year for everyone connected to theatre, but we've been constantly inspired by the resilience and creativity shown by so many across the community, and with venues starting to announce re-opening plans, there's genuine hope that the lights might come back on soon. So join us to celebrate the art form we all love, and thank you for helping support freelancers at this really difficult time.

Some key info:

  • This Sale runs from 1pm GMT on Tuesday 16 March to 1pm GMT on Friday 19 March only.
  • Only titles listed on this page are available at a 40% discount. This offer applies to the physical editions (paperback, hardback and CD) only; ebooks are not included.
  • Stock of all titles included in the Sale is strictly limited. If your order contains a title that has already sold out, we will get in touch to ask if you would like to: a) swap for an item of the same value, or b) receive a refund for the value of that item.
  • All Sale orders will be dispatched from Monday 22 March. From this point, our standard delivery times will apply – please click here for more information.
  • £1 from every book sold will be donated to the Theatre Artists Fund, which provides emergency support for theatre workers and freelancers across the UK.

With almost six hundred titles included in our Sale, there's a lot to choose from.

So to help you browse through what's available, we've put together fifteen curated selections of playscripts and books on different subjects and themes, and for different readers – each packed with fantastic titles we just know you'll love. Explore tailored lists for actors, backstage practitioners and drama teachers, plays impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic you can still enjoy on the page, plays in translation, adaptations, tie-in and special editions, and more.

Click here to browse the selections – or see below for the entire range of what's available at the 40% discount.
Showing 1-30 of 568 items.
Stage Lighting Design

Stage Lighting Design

The Art, The Craft, The Life

By Richard Pilbrow

The definitive text for today's and tomorrow's lighting designers, covering the complete history, theory and practice of lighting design.

Russian Avant-Garde Theatre

Russian Avant-Garde Theatre

War, Revolution & Design

Edited by John E. Bowlt

A sumptuously illustrated survey of the remarkable flowering of radical, visionary and experimental design for performance in Russia in the twenty years between 1913 and 1933, published alongside a major exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

Jack Thorne Plays: One

Jack Thorne Plays: One

By Jack Thorne

The first collection of plays by one of the UK's most exciting young writers.

My Life in Pieces

My Life in Pieces (Hardback edition)

An Alternative Autobiography

By Simon Callow

An alternative autobiography of the well-loved actor and man of the theatre, winner of the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography.

  • Hardback£20.00 £16.00
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
What Do I Know?

What Do I Know?

People, Politics and the Arts

By Richard Eyre

A collection of fifty short pieces written by the former Artistic Director of the National Theatre.

The James Plays

The James Plays

James I, II and III

By Rona Munro

Rona Munro's vividly imagined historical cycle brings to life three generations of Stewart kings who ruled Scotland in the tumultuous fifteenth century.

Shakespeare in 100 Objects

Shakespeare in 100 Objects

Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum

Edited by Janet Birkett

A fascinating selection of one hundred objects, each illustrated in full colour and accompanied by a compact essay, chosen by the Victoria and Albert Museum's curators for the insight they afford into the world of Shakespeare and his plays.

Jez Butterworth Plays: Two

Jez Butterworth Plays: Two

By Jez Butterworth

Three extraordinary plays by one of the most audacious and talented playwrights of our times: Jerusalem, The River and The Ferryman. Plus his short film The Clear Road Ahead, and a conversation with playwright Simon Stephens.

Robert Holman Plays: One

Robert Holman Plays: One

By Robert Holman

Five plays from Robert Holman's first decade of playwriting.

Ibsen on Theatre

Ibsen on Theatre

Edited by Frode Helland and Julie Holledge

A unique collection of everything that Ibsen wrote about the theatre.

Kenneth Lonergan: Three Plays

Kenneth Lonergan: Three Plays

By Kenneth Lonergan

A collection of plays by the acclaimed film director, playwright and screenwriter: This Is Our Youth, The Waverly Gallery and Lobby Hero.

Drama Menu

Drama Menu

Theatre Games in Three Courses

By Glyn Trefor-Jones

Packed full of tried-and-tested theatre games, exercises and improvisation ideas, Drama Menu is a unique new resource for drama teachers and workshop leaders.

Caryl Churchill Plays: Four

Caryl Churchill Plays: Four

By Caryl Churchill

The fourth volume of the collected plays of one of the best playwrights alive.

Caryl Churchill Plays: Five

Caryl Churchill Plays: Five

By Caryl Churchill

The fifth volume of the collected plays of one of our finest playwrights.

Caryl Churchill: Shorts

Caryl Churchill: Shorts

By Caryl Churchill

Ten short plays by Caryl Churchill, written for stage, radio and TV, selected and introduced by the author.

Finding Your Voice

Finding Your Voice

A step-by-step guide for actors

By Barbara Houseman

A simple, step-by-step manual, written by an RSC voice coach, which offers everything that an actor needs to work on their voice.

Freeing Shakespeare's Voice

Freeing Shakespeare's Voice

The Actor's Guide to Talking the Text

By Kristin Linklater

A practical approach to breaking through the barriers of restraint and incomprehension when faced with Shakespeare.

Girls Like That and other plays for teenagers

Girls Like That and other plays for teenagers

By Evan Placey

Four urgent and explosive plays by award-winning playwright Evan Placey, each tackling issues facing young people today.

The Integrated Voice (with DVD)

The Integrated Voice (with DVD)

A Complete Voice Course for Actors

By Sarah Case

A unique new approach to the understanding and training of the actor's voice, with an accompanying 110-minute DVD showing the work in action.

Irish Shorts

Irish Shorts

Two-handers from the Abbey Theatre, Ireland

Selected by Aideen Howard

A collection of short plays by exciting new Irish writers, selected and introduced by the literary manager of the Abbey Theatre.

Making Theatre

Making Theatre

The Frazzled Drama Teacher's Guide to Devising

By Joss Bennathan

An inspiring, practical handbook for anyone working with young people to make devised theatre.

Maydays & Trying It On: two plays

Maydays & Trying It On: two plays

By David Edgar

Two plays by David Edgar, written thirty-five years apart, both exploring the theme of youth and revolution.

Playwriting

Playwriting

Structure, Character, How and What to Write

By Stephen Jeffreys

An authoritative guide to playwrighting, by a true master of the craft. Indispensable for playwrights at every level of experience.

Stage Management

Stage Management

The Essential Handbook

By Gail Pallin

The highly successful "Bible for any stage manager", now in a revised and updated edition.

  • Paperback£16.99 £13.59
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
  • Ebook£16.99 £13.59
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How Musicals Work

How Musicals Work

And How to Write Your Own

By Julian Woolford

Why do some musicals work, while others just don't? And what should you do if you're thinking of writing your own? Julian Woolford, a successful writer and director of musicals and lecturer in writing musicals at the University of London, explores the musical-theatre canon to answer these and many other questions.

Puppetry: How to Do It

Puppetry: How to Do It

By Mervyn Millar

A practical, accessible and inspiring guide to using puppetry in theatre, by a leading expert in the field.

So You Want To Be A Theatre Producer?

So You Want To Be A Theatre Producer?

By James Seabright

A comprehensive guide to every aspect of producing a show, from raising the money to creating a hit. Revised and updated.

So You Want To Be A TV Presenter?

So You Want To Be A TV Presenter?

By Kathryn Wolfe

A practical, vocational guide to starting a career on TV as a presenter, packed with accessible advice and top tips to ensure success.

Caryl Churchill Plays: Three

Caryl Churchill Plays: Three

By Caryl Churchill

Spanning almost ten years and embracing a remarkable range of style and subject matter, this is the third volume of Churchill's Collected Plays,

Plays from VAULT 5

Plays from VAULT 5

Five new plays from VAULT Festival

This anthology, the fifth from Nick Hern Books, comprises five of the best plays from VAULT Festival 2020, London's biggest and most exciting arts festival.