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 121-150 of 567 items.
The Crocodile

The Crocodile

By Tom Basden Original author Fyodor Dostoyevsky

A ferociously funny, eye-poppingly theatrical play about art, animals and what happens when you try to take on the system from within... a crocodile.

Crossings

Crossings

By Deirdre Kinahan

A play with live music, waltzing and unexpected connections, exploring how we return, resettle and adapt.

Crush: The Musical

Crush: The Musical

By Maureen Chadwick and Kath Gotts

An outrageously fun musical set in an all-girls school in the 60s, from the team behind Bad Girls: The Musical.

Cyrano de Bergerac

Cyrano de Bergerac

By Edmond Rostand Translated by Anthony Burgess

The nineteenth-century French classic about the swordsman-poet with the nose too large to be taken seriously, in an acclaimed English translation by Anthony Burgess.

Dances of Death

Dances of Death

By Howard Brenton Original author August Strindberg

A gripping new version of Strindberg's masterly, darkly hilarious depiction of the struggles and strains of marriage.

  • 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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Dara

Dara

By Shahid Nadeem Adapted by Tanya Ronder

An intense domestic drama of global consequence – for India then and for our world now.

Dark Sublime

Dark Sublime

By Michael Dennis

A play about joy and heartbreak, quarries and transmat beams – a love-letter to British sci-fi television.

Darknet

Darknet

By Rose Lewenstein

A fascinating - and terrifying - drama that explores the world of data commodification and the uncharted deep web.

Daughter

Daughter

By Adam Lazarus

A darkly satirical monologue about fatherhood, love and toxic masculinity.

Daughterhood

Daughterhood

By Charley Miles

A beautiful, ferocious play about the bonds that tie us, and how we sometimes need to break them.

Dealing with Clair

Dealing with Clair

By Martin Crimp

A satire on yuppie moral and emotional bankruptcy and a bleak, black comedy thriller.

Dear Evan Hansen: The Complete Book and Lyrics

Dear Evan Hansen: The Complete Book and Lyrics (West End edition)

By Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

A new edition of the hugely successful musical, published alongside its West End premiere. 

Dear Lupin

Dear Lupin (stage version)

By Roger Mortimer and Charlie Mortimer Adapted by Michael Simkins

Michael Simkins' immensely charming stage adaptation of Dear Lupin, the witty and touching collection of letters from a father to his son that became a huge bestseller, winner of The Sunday Times Humour Book of the Year.

  • 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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The Deep Blue Sea

The Deep Blue Sea

By Terence Rattigan

Written in the early fifties when Rattigan was at the height of his powers, The Deep Blue Sea is a powerful account of lives blighted by love - or the lack of it.

Desire Under the Elms & The Great God Brown

Desire Under the Elms & The Great God Brown

By Eugene O'Neill

Two plays from one of the twentieth century's most significant writers, developed and conceived in tandem, drawing on the raw experience of the author's own family relationships.

  • Paperback£12.99 £10.39
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
Dexter and Winter's Detective Agency

Dexter and Winter's Detective Agency

By Nathan Bryon

A madcap adventure story for young people (and older detectives) to watch, read and perform.

Diane Samuels' Kindertransport

Diane Samuels' Kindertransport

The author's guide to the play

By Diane Samuels

The author's guide to Kindertransport, an invaluable and uniquely authoritative resource for anyone studying, teaching or performing the play.

Ayub Khan Din Plays: One

Ayub Khan Din Plays: One

By Ayub Khan Din

A collection of plays written and introduced by actor-turned-writer Ayub Khan Din, including his first play, East is East, which became a smash-hit film.

Ding Dong the Wicked

Ding Dong the Wicked

By Caryl Churchill

A short play by one of the UK's leading dramatists.

A child is shut in her room, a dog is dead in the road, someone is kissing her brother in law. A family locked in hatred is sending a son to war.

Doctor Foster: The Scripts

Doctor Foster: The Scripts

By Mike Bartlett

Mike Bartlett's complete scripts for his superlative, award-winning television drama series.

Downstate

Downstate

By Bruce Norris

A provocative play about four men convicted of sex crimes, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Clybourne Park.

Dracula: The Bloody Truth

Dracula: The Bloody Truth

By John Nicholson and Le Navet Bete

A comic retelling of the story of Dracula, from John Nicholson and Exeter-based theatre company Le Navet Bete.

Drama Games for Actors

Drama Games for Actors

Exploring Self, Character and Text

By Thomasina Unsworth

From the bestselling Drama Games series, this dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book offers dozens of games to serve as a rich source of ideas and inspiration for all actors – and those teaching or directing them.

Drama Games for Classrooms and Workshops

Drama Games for Classrooms and Workshops

By Jessica Swale

101 great drama games for use in any classroom or workshop setting. Part of the Nick Hern Books Drama Games series.

Drama Games for Devising

Drama Games for Devising

By Jessica Swale

As part of the ever-growing, increasingly popular Drama Games series, Jessica Swale returns with another dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book, packed with dozens of drama games that can be used in the process of devising theatre.

Drama Games for Rehearsals

Drama Games for Rehearsals

By Jessica Swale

A dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book in the bestselling Drama Games series offering dozens of ideas and exercises to energise and inspire a bold, creative rehearsal process for any play, of any period or genre.

Drama Games for Those Who Like to Say No

Drama Games for Those Who Like to Say No

By Chris Johnston

A dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book for teachers and workshop leaders working with difficult or reluctant students, youth groups, young offenders, and all those who seem intent on saying 'no' to whatever is offered them.

Drama Games for Young Children

Drama Games for Young Children

By Katherine Zachest

From the bestselling Drama Games series, this dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book – packed with over 200 individual games – is perfect for teachers, playgroup leaders and drama facilitators who want to inspire and entertain children, aged 3 and up, with vibrant and engaging drama experiences.

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.

A Dream Play

A Dream Play

By August Strindberg Adapted by Caryl Churchill

Caryl Churchill's spare and resonant version of Strindberg's enigmatic masterpiece.