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.
Surviving Actors Manual
The essential, one-stop handbook for actors, with everything you need to survive and thrive, from the team behind the internationally successful Surviving Actors conventions.
- Paperback
£8.99£7.19Add to basketEbook£8.99£7.19Superhoe
By Nicôle LeckyThe hit stage play behind the BAFTA-winning BBC TV drama series Mood, about a twenty-something who spends all her time on social media while dreaming of becoming a success.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99Sunset at the Villa Thalia
A funny and passionate play from the author of The Pride and The Faith Machine.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99Sunrise
By Jessie CaveAn honest, tender-hearted and uproariously funny story from actress, comedian, writer and doodler Jessie Cave – with colour illustrations throughout.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99
Sugar Baby
By Alan HarrisA one-man comedy-drama about a small-time drug dealer in Cardiff, from critically acclaimed writer Alan Harris.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99Strangers in Between
By Tommy MurphyTommy Murphy's unflinching and constantly surprising drama about how we make sense of who we are through our often fraught relations with others.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99The Strange Death of John Doe
By Fiona DoyleA powerful and poignant drama about the search for the identity of a young man whose body is found face down in a suburban street.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99Stories
By Nina RaineA funny and touching new play about the fertilisation of an idea.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99Steel
By Chris BushA play exploring the last three decades of women in politics, asking what's changed and what still must.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99Staying Alive
By Kat RobertsA darkly funny and achingly tender play about the death of a child.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99The Starry Messenger
A bittersweet exploration of love, hope and the mysteries of the cosmos.
- Paperback
£11.99£9.59Add to basketEbook£11.99£9.59Stanley
By Pam GemsA brilliant and painfully truthful portrait of Stanley Spencer, the wayward genius of modern British painting.
- Paperback
£10.99£8.79There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.
Stage Management
The Essential Handbook
By Gail PallinThe highly successful "Bible for any stage manager", now in a revised and updated edition.
- Paperback
£16.99£13.59There is limited availability of this title. Please enquire before placing your order.Ebook£16.99£13.59Stage Lighting Design
The Art, The Craft, The Life
The definitive text for today's and tomorrow's lighting designers, covering the complete history, theory and practice of lighting design.
- Paperback
£26.99£21.59
Stage Combat: Unarmed (with Online Video Content)
Everything you need to know in order to create and perform unarmed stage fights that are compelling, realistic and, above all, safe.
- Spiral-bound
£14.99£11.99Add to basketEbook£14.99£11.99Stacy & Fanny and Faggot: two plays
By Jack ThorneTwo troubled, disturbing but bleakly funny plays from a leading writer of Channel 4's Shameless and Skins.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99
Spiderfly
By John WebberA taut, thrilling debut play for two actors, premiered at Theatre503, London.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99Speech & Debate
A fiercely funny play by the Tony Award-winning author of The Humans.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99
Speaking the Speech
An Actor's Guide to Shakespeare
By Giles Block Foreword by Mark RylanceAn invaluable book for actors and directors who want to improve their understanding of Shakespeare’s language in order to speak it better.
- Paperback
£14.99£11.99Add to basketEbook£14.99£11.99soft animals
A tender and unflinching story about motherhood, self-destruction and the way women help each other heal.
- Paperback
£11.99£9.59Add to basketEbook£11.99£9.59So You Want To Work In Theatre?
By Susan ElkinAn essential guide for young people who want to work in the theatre - but aren't sure exactly what they want to do, or how to get to do it. By the Education and Training Editor of The Stage.
- Paperback
£9.99£7.99Add to basketEbook£9.99£7.99So You Want To Go To Drama School?
The essential guide to getting into drama school.
- Paperback
£14.99£11.99Add to basketEbook£14.99£11.99So You Want To Be In Musicals?
By Ruthie Henshall With Daniel BowlingAn insider's guide to achieving that dream career – by one of the brightest stars in musical theatre.
- Paperback
£12.99£10.39Add to basketEbook£12.99£10.39So You Want To Be A TV Presenter?
A practical, vocational guide to starting a career on TV as a presenter, packed with accessible advice and top tips to ensure success.
- Paperback
£16.99£13.59Add to basketEbook£16.99£13.59So You Want To Be A Theatre Producer?
A comprehensive guide to every aspect of producing a show, from raising the money to creating a hit. Revised and updated.
- Paperback
£16.99£13.59Add to basketEbook£16.99£13.59So You Want To Be A Theatre Designer?
The definitive guide to designing for theatre – by an award-winning designer with over 160 productions to his name.
- Paperback
£12.99£10.39Add to basketEbook£12.99£10.39So You Want To Be A Corporate Actor?
By Paul ClaytonA practical guide for actors who want to work in the corporate sector, by a veteran with over 1400 corporate events to his credit.
- Paperback
£10.99£8.79
So You Want To Act On Screen?
By Michael BrayAn accessible and authoritative guide to developing a successful career as a screen actor.
- Paperback
£12.99£10.39Add to basketEbook£12.99£10.39Snowflake
An epic story about generational conflict, fathers and daughters, and whether we're living in the best or worst of times.
- Paperback
£10.99£8.79Add to basketEbook£10.99£8.79
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