July 2017 sees the fiftieth anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, which partially decriminalised sex between men over twenty-one in the privacy of their own homes in England and Wales. When the BBC approached writer, actor and director Mark Gatiss to curate Queers, a series of monologues to mark the anniversary, he got to work … Continue reading ‘Let’s not forget how far we have come’: Mark Gatiss on remembering gay history in Queers
Playwriting
‘One of the great artistic privileges of my life’: Conor McPherson on writing and directing Girl from the North Country
Fresh from his acclaimed TV debut Paula on BBC Two, award-winning Irish playwright Conor McPherson’s latest project sees him weave the masterful songs of Nobel Prize laureate Bob Dylan into a poetic, haunting tale of love, loss and obligation set in Minnesota during the Great Depression. As Girl from the North Country premieres at the … Continue reading ‘One of the great artistic privileges of my life’: Conor McPherson on writing and directing Girl from the North Country
‘One of the greatest ever collaborators’: Enda Walsh on working with David Bowie
Now playing in London following its premiere in New York last year, new musical Lazarus marks a unique collaboration between the playwright Enda Walsh and legendary singer and songwriter David Bowie – featuring many of the latter's most famous songs. Though nobody realised at the time, the production turned out to be one of Bowie's … Continue reading ‘One of the greatest ever collaborators’: Enda Walsh on working with David Bowie
Out of the vault: highlights from VAULT Festival 2016
VAULT Festival is fast becoming one of the most exciting events on London's cultural calendar. Taking place each year in the vaults beneath Waterloo, this year's festival (running until 6 March) is host to over 100 events, from hard-hitting drama to comedy, dance, cabaret, installation, and of course late-night parties. This year Nick Hern Books … Continue reading Out of the vault: highlights from VAULT Festival 2016
Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting: the first ten years
The Bruntwood Prize is the biggest national competition for playwriting. With prize money totalling £40,000, plus the chance of a production on a major stage, as well as publication by Nick Hern Books, it's a fabulous opportunity for writers. Since its inception in 2005, over 11,000 scripts have been entered, more than £200,000 has been … Continue reading Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting: the first ten years
Drama Online: the Netflix of Theatre
This week saw the launch of the Nick Hern Books Collection on Drama Online, a groundbreaking new educational resource for reading and studying drama. Here, NHB's Digital Editor Tim Digby-Bell explains how it works, and how it sheds new light on familiar plays. Finally, it's launch week. We've been working hard preparing a selection of … Continue reading Drama Online: the Netflix of Theatre
Girls centre stage: Lucy Kerbel on building a new canon of writing for young actors
Good roles for young female actors are in short supply, so Tonic Theatre set out to change that by commissioning a series of new plays with mainly or entirely female casts for schools and youth theatre groups to perform. As the first three plays in the Platform series are published by Nick Hern Books and … Continue reading Girls centre stage: Lucy Kerbel on building a new canon of writing for young actors
With a little help from my friends: Amelia Bullmore on her play Di and Viv and Rose
Actress and playwright Amelia Bullmore had a West End hit earlier this year with Di and Viv and Rose, a warm and funny play about three women and their enduring friendship. As the play is made available for amateur performance, she recalls the moment that inspired her to write it, and explains why, for her, … Continue reading With a little help from my friends: Amelia Bullmore on her play Di and Viv and Rose
John Hollingworth on writing – and rewriting – his first play, Multitudes
When actor John Hollingworth started writing his first full-length play, he had little idea it would take so long to reach the stage. No bad thing, though, when the result is Multitudes, currently at the Tricycle Theatre – and 'as urgent and immediate as the morning headlines' (Guardian). How did he do it? In this interview, … Continue reading John Hollingworth on writing – and rewriting – his first play, Multitudes
Ayub Khan Din: my family in East is East – and other stories
Actor-turned-playwright Ayub Khan Din is currently playing the role inspired by his own father in a West End revival of his play East is East. Here he reveals how all the plays in a new collection of his work have drawn on his own experience and his turbulent relationship with his family... I began writing … Continue reading Ayub Khan Din: my family in East is East – and other stories
The Prompt Book 