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 421-450 of 568 items.
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.

Russian Dolls

Russian Dolls

By Kate Lock

Kate Lock's play about a surprising relationship between two very different women, winner of the 2015 Adrian Pagan Award.

Same

Same

By Deborah Bruce

A play exporing the apparent gulf between the young and old, commissioned as part of the 2014 National Theatre Connections Festival.

Satin 'n' Steel

Satin 'n' Steel

By Amanda Whittington

A comic two-hander about the irresistible allure of showbusiness, from the author of Be My Baby.

  • Paperback£8.99 £7.19
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
Scorch

Scorch

By Stacey Gregg

A touching and provocative story of first love though the eyes of a gender-curious teen, inspired by recent UK cases of 'gender fraud'.

Scottish Shorts

Scottish Shorts

Edited by Philip Howard

A collection of nine very different short plays by three remarkable generations of Scottish writers, ideal performance in studio theatres and at festivals.

  • Paperback£10.99 £8.79
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
  • Ebook£10.99 £8.79
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A Screen Acting Workshop

A Screen Acting Workshop

By Mel Churcher

A comprehensive training course in screen acting by an internationally renowned teacher and acting coach.

Second Person Narrative

Second Person Narrative

By Jemma Kennedy

A play about growing up, and forging your own identity. Part of Platform, a series of big-cast plays with predominantly or all-female casts, written specifically for performance by school, college and youth-theatre groups.

Secret Life of Humans

Secret Life of Humans

By David Byrne

A thrilling play about Dr Jacob Bronowski, buried secrets, and six million years of human history.

The Secret River

The Secret River (stage version)

By Kate Grenville Adapted by Andrew Bovell

A deeply moving and unflinching journey into Australia's dark history, adapted from Kate Grenville's acclaimed novel.

Secrets of Stage Success

Secrets of Stage Success

Your Questions Answered

By Louise Dearman and Mark Evans
Two of the biggest musical-theatre stars working today answer questions submitted by the public on a wide range of theatrical topics.
seeds

seeds

By Mel Pennant

A play about two mothers united in sorrow, sharing the hardship of protecting their sons – one in life, and one in death.

Sex with Robots and Other Devices

Sex with Robots and Other Devices

By Nessah Muthy

A fearless examination of the future of sex, and a fascinating vision of where humanity could be heading next.

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.

Shakespeare Monologues for Men

Shakespeare Monologues for Men

By Luke Dixon

Fifty monologues for men drawn from across the Shakespeare canon, all prefaced with a summary of the vital information you need to place the piece in context and to perform it to maximum effect in your own unique way.

Shakespeare Monologues for Women

Shakespeare Monologues for Women

By Luke Dixon

Fifty monologues for women drawn from across the Shakespeare canon, all prefaced with a summary of the vital information you need to place the piece in context and to perform it to maximum effect in your own unique way.

Shakespeare Monologues for Young Men

Shakespeare Monologues for Young Men

By Luke Dixon

Forty monologues for young men drawn from across the whole of Shakespeare's canon, complete with summaries, ideas for consideration and a glossary. Part of the Nick Hern Books Good Audition Guides series.

Shakespeare Monologues for Young Women

Shakespeare Monologues for Young Women

By Luke Dixon

Forty monologues for young women, drawn from across the whole of Shakespeare's canon, complete with summaries, ideas for consideration and a glossary. Part of the Nick Hern Books Good Audition Guides series.

Shakespeare On Stage

Shakespeare On Stage

Thirteen Leading Actors on Thirteen Key Roles

By Julian Curry

Thirteen leading actors take us behind the scenes, each recreating in detail a memorable performance in one of Shakespeare's major roles.

Shakespeare's Lost Play

Shakespeare's Lost Play

In Search of Cardenio

By Gregory Doran

A thrilling act of literary detection as Gregory Doran attempts to rediscover Shakespeare's lost play.

Shangri-La

Shangri-La

By Amy Ng

A debut play laying bare the contradictions and private pain of cultural tourism.

Shibboleth

Shibboleth

By Stacey Gregg

An exhilarating and unsentimental exploration of working-class life in Belfast.

  • Paperback£9.99 £7.99
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
  • Ebook£9.99 £7.99
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Shush

Shush

By Elaine Murphy

A funny and insightful play about the power of female friendship.

Singing With Your Own Voice

Singing With Your Own Voice

By Orlanda Cook

A comprehensive instruction manual, full of practical exercises, which starts with overhauling our attitude to our voice.

Six Acts of Love

Six Acts of Love

By Ioanna Anderson

A bittersweet play about the rich complexities of life, love and death.

  • Paperback£8.99 £7.19
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
Sixty Five Miles

Sixty Five Miles

By Matt Hartley

A devastating drama about family and the ties that bind us together. Winner of the Under-26 Award at the 2005 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

The Small Hours

The Small Hours

By Katherine Soper

A National Theatre Connections play about teenagers, nightlife, and the small choices that have momentous consequences.

Small Island

Small Island (English Mastery Secondary set text)

By Andrea Levy Adapted by Helen Edmundson

A stage version of Andrea Levy's epic novel tracing the tangled history of Jamaica and Britain - set text edition for the English Mastery Secondary programme.

The Small Things

The Small Things

By Enda Walsh

A fierce and devastating fable about enforced silence.

  • Paperback£7.99 £6.39
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
  • Ebook£7.99 £6.39
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Snowflake

Snowflake

By Mike Bartlett

An epic story about generational conflict, fathers and daughters, and whether we're living in the best or worst of times.