Formed in a rehearsal room at the Bristol Old Vic in 2011, The Wardrobe Ensemble are, in their own words, 'a group of theatre artists working together to make new plays that dissect the twenty-first century experience'. In the near-decade since their founding, they've earned success and critical acclaim – performing around the UK, winning awards and … Continue reading ‘The show we needed to make’ – The Wardrobe Ensemble on The Last of the Pelican Daughters
‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part Two
Graduating from a course or degree is always a momentous moment of change – but with the world in grips of a pandemic and the theatre industry almost entirely shut down, the Class of 2020 face additional challenges. Here, in Part Two of a special two-part blog post, we asked some celebrated theatre-makers (and NHB … Continue reading ‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part Two
‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part One
Graduating from a course or degree is always a momentous moment. Mortarboards are tossed in the air in an act of celebration, freedom, and release from years of education and training. Independence, new horizons and the prospect of employment beckon, and the search for a new, post-student identity begins. It's a huge change no matter … Continue reading ‘Dear Class of 2020…’: A message to new drama graduates – Part One
‘It remains necessary’: Lucy Kerbel on five years of Platform
Five years ago, in 2015, we joined forces with Tonic Theatre, a fantastic organisation working to address the gender imbalance and achieve gender equality in theatre, to create and publish Platform: our series of plays for all-female or mainly female casts, commissioned specifically to be performed by young actors. The initiative has been a huge … Continue reading ‘It remains necessary’: Lucy Kerbel on five years of Platform
Nicholas Wright on writing his plays
Today, 27 June 2020, marks the 80th birthday of playwright Nicholas Wright. Born in South Africa in 1940, over the course of his long and illustrious career he has established himself as one of the UK's most-respected dramatists. His plays have been staged at leading venues including at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal … Continue reading Nicholas Wright on writing his plays
‘A hero, a leader, a true warrior’ – a tribute to Larry Kramer
We're saddened to hear the news of writer and activist Larry Kramer, who sadly died on 27 May 2020 at the age of 84. Nick Hern Books is proud to publish his passionate, vital play The Normal Heart, set during the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York in the 1980s. Here, we … Continue reading ‘A hero, a leader, a true warrior’ – a tribute to Larry Kramer
Putting autism on the stage: Jody O’Neill on her innovative and myth-busting new play
Inspired by her own experiences with autism, actor and writer JODY O'NEILL set out to write a play that would celebrate autistic identity whilst engaging autistic and non-autistic audiences alike. The resulting play, What I (Don’t) Know About Autism, has just finished a sell-out run at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on the Peacock stage. Here, … Continue reading Putting autism on the stage: Jody O’Neill on her innovative and myth-busting new play
VAULT 2020: 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 22 March. With hundreds of events taking place throughout the eight weeks of the festival, including theatre, comedy, cabaret, immersive experiences, family shows, late-night parties, pop-up events and more, there's something for everyone. And to celebrate the publication … Continue reading VAULT 2020: the best new work at London’s VAULT festival
‘Starting sombre, ending wild’: John O’Donovan on a generation afflicted by austerity, in his new play Flights
JOHN O'DONOVAN is a London-based playwright from Co. Clare, Ireland. His new play Flights – which opens in Dublin this week after a short run in his home-town of Ennis, and transfers to the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham, in February – looks at a generation that has been shaped by austerity. Here, he discusses the inspiration … Continue reading ‘Starting sombre, ending wild’: John O’Donovan on a generation afflicted by austerity, in his new play Flights
Discover the Most-Performed Plays of 2019
What a fantastic year 2019 was for NHB! We were shortlisted for an award at the IPG Independent Publishing Awards; celebrated awards success for loads of our authors including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antony Sher, Frances Poet and Lynn Nottage; launched our new series Multiplay Drama (which is up for a prize at the Music and Drama … Continue reading Discover the Most-Performed Plays of 2019
The Prompt Book 