As the plays of Terence Rattigan once again take centre stage during his centenary year, Dan Rebellato, academic, playwright and editor of the NHB Rattigan collection, argues that Rattigan has been unfairly cast as the writer of stuffy, conservative drama, and that his plays are consummate in their emotional power and sensitivity. How did I … Continue reading TERENCE RATTIGAN special
Nick Hern Books
Ken Campbell: The True Spirit of a Prankster
Published today – April Fools' Day – is Ken Campbell: The Great Caper, Michael Coveney's biography of the one-man comic whirlwind who tore through the British theatre establishment using well-rehearsed anarchy and a genius for surreal comedy. Here, Coveney recalls Campbell's fondness for a good wheeze - including his notorious Royal Dickens Company hoax... If there’s … Continue reading Ken Campbell: The True Spirit of a Prankster
Spotlight: CHARGED at Soho Theatre
For over thirty years, Clean Break have used theatre for personal and political change, working with women whose lives have been affected by the criminal justice system. Last year, the company commissioned six of the most exciting female voices in British theatre to write about these women, and presented the plays at Soho Theatre under … Continue reading Spotlight: CHARGED at Soho Theatre
Spotlight: MOMENT
Deirdre Kinahan, Irish playwright and Artistic Director of Tall Tales Theatre company, reveals the inspiration behind her latest acclaimed play currently playing at the Bush Theatre, MOMENT. I feel I pick up plays from off the street, from the top seat of a bus or from a fragment of newspaper. Plays often present themselves in … Continue reading Spotlight: MOMENT
THEATRE AWARDS ROUND-UP: with James Seabright
The annual awards season is drawing to a close, and we're thrilled that so many NHB plays and theatrebooks have picked up gongs along the way. The King's Speech won both the Bafta and Academy Award for Best Screenplay; Simon Callow beat off stiff competition to take the Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography with … Continue reading THEATRE AWARDS ROUND-UP: with James Seabright
THE KING’S SPEECH Special
The King's Speech dominated this year's Oscars, winning awards for Best Film, Director, Actor and Original Screenplay. Here, its author, David Seidler, explains the inspiration behind the film – and why it is such a personal story to him. The crackle of the radio always got me excited. I loved that radio. The case was … Continue reading THE KING’S SPEECH Special
Spotlight: A SCREEN ACTING WORKSHOP
NHB has just published A Screen Acting Workshop, an invaluable new resource book by internationally renowned acting coach Mel Churcher, with a Foreword by Oscar-winner Jeremy Irons. Mel has worked with actors of all backgrounds and experience – from drama school students at the start of their careers to Hollywood stars including Daniel Craig, Angelina … Continue reading Spotlight: A SCREEN ACTING WORKSHOP
A double-dose of fun: revisiting VERNON GOD LITTLE
Playwright Tanya Ronder sheds light on the experience of reworking her 2007 adaptation of Vernon God Little, the Booker Prize-winning novel by DBC Pierre, for the Young Vic’s fortieth anniversary season. When the idea was proposed of redoing Vernon God Little at the Young Vic, it took precisely one second to be 150% behind the … Continue reading A double-dose of fun: revisiting VERNON GOD LITTLE
Five minutes with Bruce Norris – author of CLYBOURNE PARK
Bruce Norris’s raucously funny and fearlessly shocking racial satire Clybourne Park opened in the West End this week. Since its UK debut at the Royal Court Theatre in 2010, the play has received widespread critical acclaim – hailed as ‘the funniest play of the year’ (Evening Standard), ‘genius’ (Times) and ‘out of this world’ (Independent) … Continue reading Five minutes with Bruce Norris – author of CLYBOURNE PARK
PART 5: Bruntwood Playwriting Competition 2011
Andrew Sheridan is a joint-winner of the 2008 Bruntwood Playwriting Competition for his play Winterlong – 'a dazzling debut' Guardian. Set in Manchester, the play explores what happens when a baby is discarded a few nights before Christmas. Sheridan is also an actor, and has appeared in award-winning TV, film and theatre. How would you … Continue reading PART 5: Bruntwood Playwriting Competition 2011
The Prompt Book 