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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 31-60 of 568 items.
Playing by Ear

Playing by Ear

Reflections on Sound and Music

By Peter Brook

A collection of new essays from the world-renowned director, offering unique and personal insights into sound and music.

Vassa

Vassa

By Maxim Gorky Adapted by Mike Bartlett

A new adaptation by Mike Bartlett of Maxim Gorky's savagely funny play, premiered at the Almeida Theatre, London.

When the Crows Visit

When the Crows Visit

By Anupama Chandrasekhar

A dark and thrilling play inspired by true events in modern-day India, exploring the themes of Ibsen's Ghosts and the cyclical nature of oppression.

Fibres

Fibres

By Frances Poet

A big-hearted, hilarious drama about what it means to entwine our lives with another, told by four resilient, witty Glaswegian characters.

I Wanna Be Yours

I Wanna Be Yours

By Zia Ahmed

A tender, funny, lyrical debut play about finding love and holding onto it with everything you've got, premiered by Paines Plough and Tamasha.

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.

Out of Sorts

Out of Sorts

By Danusia Samal

A drama about clashing cultural values and the struggle to hold it all together. Winner of the 2018 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award.

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.

The Beacon

The Beacon

By Nancy Harris

A drama about a Dublin artist haunted by a mysterious accident in her past.

The Last King of Scotland

The Last King of Scotland (stage version)

By Giles Foden Adapted by Steve Waters

An electrifying thriller about corruption and complicity, adapted from Giles Foden's multi-award-winning novel.

More Golden Rules of Acting

More Golden Rules of Acting

that nobody ever tells you

By Andy Nyman

More priceless nuggets from the author of The Golden Rules of Acting, gleaned from more than thirty years in the acting business. This is every actor's new best friend – in handy paperback form. 

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.

We Anchor in Hope

We Anchor in Hope

By Anna Jordan

A play about the end of an era as a London boozer closes its doors one final time.

Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp.

Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp.

By Caryl Churchill

A girl made of glass. Gods and murders. A serial killer's friends. And a secret in a bottle. Four stories by Caryl Churchill.

Two Ladies

Two Ladies

By Nancy Harris

A powerful drama about the first ladies of France and America, as their husbands clash over an international crisis.

Wild Swimming

Wild Swimming

By Marek Horn

A kaleidoscopic exploration of cultural progress, an interrogation of gender and privilege, and a wilfully ignorant history of English Literature.

Hedda Tesman

Hedda Tesman

By Cordelia Lynn Original author Henrik Ibsen

A reworking of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, asking what we inherit, what we endure and how we carry our history.

Fleabag: The Special Edition

Fleabag: The Special Edition

By Phoebe Waller-Bridge

A special edition of the outrageously funny, blazingly forthright stage play, featuring exclusive bonus material.

Appropriate

Appropriate

By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

A gripping play about ghosts and the legacies we are left with.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin

Captain Corelli's Mandolin (stage version)

By Louis de Bernières Adapted by Rona Munro

Rona Munro's adaptation of Louis de Bernières' much-loved epic novel, set on an idyllic Greek island in 1941.

Collapsible

Collapsible

By Margaret Perry

A funny, furious monologue about holding on in this collapsing world.

Enough

Enough

By Stef Smith

A poetic, unpredictable and explosive play about female friendship, and what happens when you can no longer be the woman people want.

For All I Care

For All I Care

By Alan Harris

A fast-moving, touchingly funny play about two very different women, both having a very bad day.

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.

A Table Tennis Play

A Table Tennis Play

By Sam Steiner

A play about how everything and nothing changes as people bat a ball.

8 Hotels

8 Hotels

By Nicholas Wright

A play about passion, suspicion and revenge, based on true events involving some of the twentieth century's most influential American artists.

Robert Holman Plays: One

Robert Holman Plays: One

By Robert Holman

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

Daughterhood

Daughterhood

By Charley Miles

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

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.

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.