On Friday 17 January, renowned theatre director and founder of Out of Joint Max Stafford-Clark appeared at the Royal Court Theatre, London, for a talk and Q&A to launch his new book, Journal of the Plague Year, a personal exploration of the state of arts funding in the UK today. Appearing on the main stage … Continue reading Max Stafford-Clark in Conversation at the Royal Court
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West End Producer: ‘The secret to first-night presents’
In this second extract from his new book Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Acting, theatre impresario and Twitter phenomenon West End Producer lifts the lid on the thing that can make or break any actor's career: the first-night present. Many people in the industry get their priorities all wrong. As soon as they get offered a … Continue reading West End Producer: ‘The secret to first-night presents’
West End Producer: ‘Auditioning from my side of the table’
With his striking good looks, sharp wit and genuine love of the industry, theatrical impresario and anonymous Twitter phenomenon West End Producer has taken the theatre world by storm, amassing a devoted following. As his book Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Acting is published, here's an extract to whet your appetite, dears. The … Continue reading West End Producer: ‘Auditioning from my side of the table’
Jez Butterworth: ‘who knows where plays come from?’
As his debut play Mojo receives its first major revival at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End, we've delved into our archives to bring you this interview with writer Jez Butterworth. Originally published in the anthology Jez Butterworth Plays: One, this extract of a conversation between Jez and NHB founder Nick Hern, dating … Continue reading Jez Butterworth: ‘who knows where plays come from?’
Jessica Swale: why the Blue Stockings were ‘the movers and shakers of their age’
Now premiering at Shakespeare's Globe, Jessica Swale's debut play Blue Stockings depicts the fight of female students at 1890s Cambridge University to be treated equally with their male counterparts. Here, the playwright gives an insight into the historical context of the piece, and the astonishing prejudices the 'Girton girls' had to endure. In the mid-1800s, girls in England … Continue reading Jessica Swale: why the Blue Stockings were ‘the movers and shakers of their age’
Mike Alfreds: ‘The play is not the thing’ – actors and storytelling in theatre
A legendary theatre director with over 200 productions to his name, over his long career Mike Alfreds has garnered a reputation as a true performance pioneer. As his new book Then What Happens? is published, the revered Shared Experience founder reflects on how stories are told on stage, and how actors, not plays, lie at the … Continue reading Mike Alfreds: ‘The play is not the thing’ – actors and storytelling in theatre
‘Having A Play: playwrights on playwriting in the last 25 years’ – our writers speak
As part of Nick Hern Books' 25th anniversary celebrations, on Thursday, 4 June four NHB playwrights - Alecky Blythe, Lucy Kirkwood, Conor McPherson and Nicholas Wright - gathered at the Almeida Theatre, Islington for a free panel event on playwriting, hosted by Michael Attenborough, former Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre. Here are some of the highlights … Continue reading ‘Having A Play: playwrights on playwriting in the last 25 years’ – our writers speak
Giles Block: ‘I see a voice’ – the clues in Shakespeare’s words
In his role as 'Master of the Words' at Shakespeare's Globe, it is Giles Block's job to help both actors and audiences fully understand and enjoy Shakespeare's words. As his new book Speaking the Speech is published, Giles reflects on how he came to work with the language, and how 'trusting the detail' can enable … Continue reading Giles Block: ‘I see a voice’ – the clues in Shakespeare’s words
Thomasina Unsworth: ‘peeling off the labels’ – why I wrote Becoming an Actor
Thomasina Unsworth teaches at Rose Bruford College, one of the UK's leading drama schools. In this blog piece, she explains her frustrations at the labelling of students, and how that inspired her to write her enlightening new book. My youngest daughter came home from school the other day in a miserable state. During swimming lessons … Continue reading Thomasina Unsworth: ‘peeling off the labels’ – why I wrote Becoming an Actor
Steve Waters: Stepping back from the end-game – the story of Ignorance/Jahiliyyah
As the Middle East seemingly teeters once more on the precipice of war and the excitement of the Arab Spring gives way to a new, uncertain reality, playwright Steve Waters explains the process behind Ignorance/Jahiliyyah, his timely new drama for Hampstead Theatre which delves into the life and legacy of the influential author, thinker and … Continue reading Steve Waters: Stepping back from the end-game – the story of Ignorance/Jahiliyyah
The Prompt Book 