Each year, talented and passionate amateur-theatre groups around the British Isles and beyond pit their productions against each other in competitive one-act play festivals – all in pursuit of unforgettable memories, a high mark from the adjudicator, and maybe even a trophy... But how do these festivals work, and how can your group get involved? … Continue reading How amateur-theatre festivals work – and why your group should enter one!
Plays
Discover the Most Performed Plays of 2024
Every year, we license thousands of amateur performances of NHB-published plays, helping amateur groups, schools, youth theatres and others create their own brilliant productions. With over 1,500 titles on our list, there's no shortage of exciting options! We know that proven, popular hits can serve as important inspiration when planning a season – so to … Continue reading Discover the Most Performed Plays of 2024
‘These stories need to be heard’ – why Leave Taking’s arrival at GCSE matters
Last month, for the very first time, students sitting their exams in GCSE English Literature had the opportunity to answer questions on Winsome Pinnock’s landmark play Leave Taking. The addition of Leave Taking marks an important step forward for the GCSE English Literature specification. This powerful, moving play, about a British-Caribbean family in 1980s London, … Continue reading ‘These stories need to be heard’ – why Leave Taking’s arrival at GCSE matters
Discover the Most-Performed Plays of 2023
Every year, we license thousands of amateur performances of NHB-published plays, helping amateur groups, schools, youth theatres and others create their own brilliant productions. With over 1,500 titles on our list, there's no shortage of exciting options! However, there are certain shows we see companies are drawn to time and time again – so we're … Continue reading Discover the Most-Performed Plays of 2023
Celebrating five brilliant Black women playwrights
October marks Black History Month in the UK. This year’s theme, ‘Saluting our Sisters’, pays homage to the exceptional achievements of pioneering Black women, and their remarkable contributions to every part of British life. Here, we’re celebrating five fantastic Black women playwrights – four from the UK, plus one from the USA – who rank … Continue reading Celebrating five brilliant Black women playwrights
Ten Years of Fleabag: inside the Edinburgh Fringe hit that went global
Ten years ago, in August 2013, the eyes of the theatre world turned – as they do at this time every year – to Edinburgh for the Festival Fringe. In amongst that year's programme of almost 2,900 different shows was a new, one-woman play by actor and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, called Fleabag. That premiere run … Continue reading Ten Years of Fleabag: inside the Edinburgh Fringe hit that went global
10 top tips to make your solo show memorable
Solo shows are increasingly prevalent as a theatrical form – but what makes them tick, and why and how do some have a particularly lasting impact on audiences? Here, in an extract from their book Making Your Solo Show: The Compact Guide, Lisa Carroll and Milly Thomas – who are both experienced writers of solo … Continue reading 10 top tips to make your solo show memorable
Discover the Most-Performed Plays of 2022
Every year, we license thousands of amateur performances of NHB-published plays, helping amateur groups, schools, youth theatres and others create their own brilliant productions. With over 1,500 titles on our list, there's no shortage of options to choose from. However, there are certain shows we see companies are drawn to time and time again. We've … Continue reading Discover the Most-Performed Plays of 2022
VAULT 2023: the best new work at London’s VAULT festival
VAULT Festival, London's biggest arts and entertainment festival, is now underway in Waterloo, where it runs until 19 March. With hundreds of events taking place throughout the eight weeks of the festival, including theatre, comedy, cabaret, immersive and VR experiences, family shows, late-night parties and more, there's something for everyone. And to celebrate the publication … Continue reading VAULT 2023: the best new work at London’s VAULT festival
In dark times: Two Ukrainian playwrights on life in the midst of the conflict
It has been six months now since Russia invaded Ukraine, but as a double-bill of Ukrainian plays – published this week and currently showing at the Finborough Theatre in London – makes clear, the conflict really began much earlier than that, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea in 2014. For the two leading Ukrainian playwrights … Continue reading In dark times: Two Ukrainian playwrights on life in the midst of the conflict
The Prompt Book 