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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 121-150 of 568 items.
Killer Joe

Killer Joe

By Tracy Letts

A tense thriller that asks where the moral line is drawn in the fight for survival.

Little Baby Jesus & Estate Walls

Little Baby Jesus & Estate Walls

Two plays

By Arinzé Kene

Two plays, both set in contemporary inner-city London, showcasing the remarkable poetic and theatrical imagination of writer/performer Arinzé Kene.

Making Noise Quietly: three short plays

Making Noise Quietly: three short plays

By Robert Holman

An acclaimed trilogy of plays exploring the impact of war on ordinary lives.

Mustafa

Mustafa

By Naylah Ahmed

A vivid and compelling thriller about belief and retribution.

Natives

Natives

By Glenn Waldron

A play about a generation of unlikely heroes that celebrates coming of age online in a chaotic world.

  • Paperback£12.99 £10.39
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
  • Ebook£12.99 £10.39
    Add to basket
One For Sorrow

One For Sorrow

By Cordelia Lynn

Following an attack on London, a family let a stranger into their house. Cordelia Lynn's play explores community and the limits of tolerance.

Our New Girl

Our New Girl

By Nancy Harris

A startling psychological drama about the darker side of modern parenthood.

Parliament Square

Parliament Square

By James Fritz

A searingly powerful play about what one individual can do to effect change. Winner of the Judges’ Award in the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

Passion Play

Passion Play

By Peter Nichols

Peter Nichols's modern classic - a provocative comedy about sex, love and infidelity.

Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales

Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales (stage version)

Adapted by Philip Wilson Original author Philip Pullman

A deliciously dark version of the Grimm Tales, from master storyteller Philip Pullman.

  • Paperback£12.99 £10.39
    There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
  • Ebook£12.99 £10.39
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Playing the Mask

Playing the Mask

Acting Without Bullshit

By John Wright

A wonderfully accessible introduction to a fresh and innovative acting technique, from the co-founder of Trestle and Told by an Idiot.

Precious Little Talent & Hot Mess

Precious Little Talent & Hot Mess

By Ella Hickson

Two plays by award-winning playwright Ella Hickson.

Queen Margaret

Queen Margaret

By William Shakespeare Adapted by Jeanie O'Hare

Using Shakespeare’s orginal lines, alongside new text, Jeanie O’Hare retells The Wars of the Roses through the eyes of the extraordinary Margaret of Anjou.

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole

By David Lindsay-Abaire

The Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about a happy suburban couple whose lives are changed forever when their young son is killed in an accident.

Ramona Tells Jim

Ramona Tells Jim

By Sophie Wu

A darkly comic debut play about confession and the gravity of young love.

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.

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.

So You Want To Act On Screen?

So You Want To Act On Screen?

By Michael Bray

An accessible and authoritative guide to developing a successful career as a screen actor.

So You Want To Be In Musicals?

So You Want To Be In Musicals?

By Ruthie Henshall With Daniel Bowling

An insider's guide to achieving that dream career – by one of the brightest stars in musical theatre.

Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd

By Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler

The gruesomely fascinating musical about the 'Demon Barber of Fleet Street', one of Sondheim's greatest hits.

Sweet William: A User's Guide to Shakespeare

Sweet William: A User's Guide to Shakespeare

By Michael Pennington

An exploration of Shakespeare's life and work by a leading actor who has spent twenty thousand hours working on the plays.

Teaching Voice: Workshops for Young Performers

Teaching Voice: Workshops for Young Performers

By Max Hafler

An inspiring, practical guide to working with young people on their voices, by a highly experienced teacher, actor and director.

Run Sister Run

Run Sister Run

By Chloë Moss

A witty and heartfelt play about two sisters, exploring family, class and dependence.

So You Want To Be A Theatre Designer?

So You Want To Be A Theatre Designer?

By Michael Pavelka

The definitive guide to designing for theatre – by an award-winning designer with over 160 productions to his name.

There Are No Beginnings

There Are No Beginnings

By Charley Miles

A play about the women whose lives and livelihoods were affected by the murderous attacks of the Yorkshire Ripper.

Thérèse Raquin

Thérèse Raquin (Theatre Royal Bath stage version)

By Émile Zola Adapted by Helen Edmundson

A story of lust, madness and destruction set in the backstreets of Paris. Based on Emile Zola's classic novel.