VAULT Festival, London's biggest arts and entertainment festival, is now underway in the Vaults in Waterloo, where it runs until 17 March. With over 400 shows from more than 2,000 artists, featuring the best new writing in theatre and comedy, cabaret, immersive experiences, late night parties and more, there's something for everyone. And to celebrate … Continue reading Vaulting ambition: the best new plays from VAULT Festival 2019
Top 10 Most-Performed Plays of 2018
2018 saw the thirtieth anniversary of Nick Hern Books – and it was certainly a year to remember, with more plays published than in any previous year in the company's history, a shelf-load of awards, and the inaugural Amateur Theatre Fest in September. Plus, we licensed many brilliant productions of Nick Hern Books' plays to … Continue reading Top 10 Most-Performed Plays of 2018
Nick Hern Books at 30
This year, Nick Hern Books celebrated thirty years of theatre publishing. As the year draws to a close, we take a look at some of the things that have made it a year to remember... We published 100 new plays over the year, two-thirds of them by female writers. They included the exhilarating debut play … Continue reading Nick Hern Books at 30
Nick Hern and Matt Applewhite (The Nick Hern Books Anniversary Interviews)
Rounding off our Anniversary Interviews series, theatre journalist Al Senter talks to Publisher Nick Hern and Managing Director Matt Applewhite about thirty years of Nick Hern Books, and what lies ahead for the company... In the thirty years since it came into being, Nick Hern Books has grown into a considerable force, not just in … Continue reading Nick Hern and Matt Applewhite (The Nick Hern Books Anniversary Interviews)
‘We all live within shouting distance of someone in crisis’: Lynn Nottage on her play Sweat
As her latest play Sweat opens at the Donmar Warehouse in London, the double-Pulitzer-winning playwright Lynn Nottage reveals the painful personal encounter that led her to write it, and how her intensive research uncovered truths overlooked by mainstream media... Several years ago I received a commission from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival to write a play … Continue reading ‘We all live within shouting distance of someone in crisis’: Lynn Nottage on her play Sweat
Wrestling with Brecht: author David Zoob on why Brecht still matters
Why are Brecht's theories often so baffling? And are they any use to theatre makers today? David Zoob, author of the newly published Brecht: A Practical Handbook, explains how he was converted to Brecht, and why he still matters. Sometime in the late 80s, when I was in my mid-twenties, my theatre company was touring … Continue reading Wrestling with Brecht: author David Zoob on why Brecht still matters
Howard Brenton (The Nick Hern Books Anniversary Interviews)
Howard Brenton's career as a playwright encompasses an extraordinary variety of subjects and many glittering successes, from Pravda and The Romans in Britain to Paul and Never So Good. But, as he tells theatre journalist Al Senter, there have been tricky times too, and he owes the revival of his career to a stint on … Continue reading Howard Brenton (The Nick Hern Books Anniversary Interviews)
Remembering Stephen Jeffreys
This week saw the tragic passing of playwright and NHB author Stephen Jeffreys. Known for works including hit historical romp The Libertine, he was also a caring and supportive mentor to an entire generation of writers. In this edited introduction from a recently published collection of Stephen's plays, his wife, Annabel Arden, pays tribute to the … Continue reading Remembering Stephen Jeffreys
Jack Thorne (The Nick Hern Books Anniversary Interviews)
Jack Thorne is the playwright behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and a five-times BAFTA-winning screenwriter. He talked to theatre journalist Al Senter about his abiding love for theatre, while, below, we publish his speech at the Nick Hern Books thirtieth anniversary party at the Royal Court Theatre in July... Jack Thorne is a … Continue reading Jack Thorne (The Nick Hern Books Anniversary Interviews)
Edinburgh Fringe Report 2018: Tackling the Fringe
Whether you're taking a show to the Fringe this year, planning on doing so in the future, or just going along for the ride, check out these four talented and intrepid amateur companies as they prepare to take on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Each of them has chosen to perform a play licensed by Nick … Continue reading Edinburgh Fringe Report 2018: Tackling the Fringe
The Prompt Book 