Leading actor Antony Sher's new book Year of the Mad King: The Lear Diaries provides an intimate, first-hand account of his process researching, rehearsing and performing arguably Shakespeare's most challenging role, Lear, in the acclaimed 2016 Royal Shakespeare Company production. This extract, written during rehearsals only a few weeks before the production opened, takes us behind … Continue reading Understanding the Mad King: Antony Sher on rehearsing King Lear
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‘A writer of protean gifts’: Lucy Kirkwood on Caryl Churchill
This year's recipient of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for Outstanding Contribution to Writing is the playwright Caryl Churchill – one of the leading figures in contemporary world theatre, and an NHB author for over thirty years – 'in honour of her illustrious body of work and a career which has spanned over … Continue reading ‘A writer of protean gifts’: Lucy Kirkwood on Caryl Churchill
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Everything That Went Into Writing My New Book (But Were Too Polite to Ask, Dear)
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the West End... The masked man of Theatreland has returned. West End Producer's new book is the ultimate guide to theatregoing, full of the hilarious advice and insight he's become known for. Here, WEP reveals the blood, sweat and Dom Pérignon that went into writing … Continue reading Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Everything That Went Into Writing My New Book (But Were Too Polite to Ask, Dear)
Facing the Fear: Bella Merlin on overcoming stage fright
Stage fright afflicts many actors, and has the power to drive you away from the stage for months, years, or even a lifetime. In her new book, Facing the Fear: An Actor's Guide to Overcoming Stage Fright, performer, author and teacher Bella Merlin shows you how to meet the challenge – or simply how to … Continue reading Facing the Fear: Bella Merlin on overcoming stage fright
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
Nick Hern on his conversations with Arthur Miller
Today, 17 October 2015, marks one hundred years since the birth of one of the twentieth-century's greatest playwrights: Arthur Miller. In this extract from Mel Gussow's book Conversations with Miller, which is published in a new Centenary Edition to celebrate the occasion, publisher and NHB founder Nick Hern shares his own memories of Miller - … Continue reading Nick Hern on his conversations with Arthur Miller
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
‘It’s not so much about the gift, but the graft’ – Lyndsey Winship on Being a Dancer
In her new book Being a Dancer, dance critic and arts journalist Lyndsey Winship shares invaluable advice and insight taken from exclusive interviews with twenty-five leading dancers and choreographers, including Carlos Acosta, Matthew Bourne, Darcey Bussell and Tamara Rojo. Here she reflects on her own personal love affair with dance, and what compiling the book … Continue reading ‘It’s not so much about the gift, but the graft’ – Lyndsey Winship on Being a Dancer
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
The Prompt Book 