Each year, talented and passionate amateur-theatre groups around the British Isles and beyond pit their productions against each other in competitive one-act play festivals – all in pursuit of unforgettable memories, a high mark from the adjudicator, and maybe even a trophy... But how do these festivals work, and how can your group get involved? … Continue reading How amateur-theatre festivals work – and why your group should enter one!
Theatre
Top tips on sight-reading for dyslexic actors
In her extensive work with dyslexic and neurodiverse actors, mentor and coach Deborah Groves has helped performers at all levels discover how they learn and work best, and identify strategies to help them achieve their goals. Here, in an extract from her book The Dyslexic Actor's Toolkit, Deborah shares her top tips for sight-reading in … Continue reading Top tips on sight-reading for dyslexic actors
‘We shall never see his like again’ – a tribute to Mike Bradwell
Mike Bradwell – who died earlier this month at the age of 77 – left an indelible mark on British theatre. During his long and illustrious career as a theatre director, he founded, worked with and ran a variety of leading companies and venues, and gave early chances to many young playwrights who have gone … Continue reading ‘We shall never see his like again’ – a tribute to Mike Bradwell
Discover the Most Performed Plays of 2024
Every year, we license thousands of amateur performances of NHB-published plays, helping amateur groups, schools, youth theatres and others create their own brilliant productions. With over 1,500 titles on our list, there's no shortage of exciting options! We know that proven, popular hits can serve as important inspiration when planning a season – so to … Continue reading Discover the Most Performed Plays of 2024
Seven top tips for choosing your drama school audition speeches
If you're thinking of applying to drama school, then selecting your audition speeches is a key part of the process. But with so many options to choose from, where do you start? And how do you make sure you're picking speeches that will maximise your chances of success? Here, John Abbott – a former teacher … Continue reading Seven top tips for choosing your drama school audition speeches
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
I Am Shakespeare: by Mark Rylance
As actor Mark Rylance returns to Shakespeare’s Globe to play the title part in Richard III and Olivia in Twelfth Night, he reveals how his interest in the controversial Shakespeare authorship debate – the subject of his first play I Am Shakespeare, published this month by Nick Hern Books – led to the charge that … Continue reading I Am Shakespeare: by Mark Rylance
The ‘X Factor’ Actor
John Abbott has enjoyed a varied career in theatre - as an actor, director, educator (namely, Head of Acting at ArtsEd) and author. He has written three books for NHB on theatre, and his latest - The Acting Book - is published this month. John identifies charisma as one of the most important attributes for … Continue reading The ‘X Factor’ Actor
‘So tyrannous and rough in proof!’: Shakespeare and typos. By Nick de Somogyi.
Why didn't Shakespeare concern himself with the many inaccuracies in the printed editions of his works? Nick de Somogyi, editor of the Shakespeare Folios Series, hunts for clues and looks at the lasting consequences, as his new book Shakespeare on Theatre, a unique collection of Shakespeare's every reflection on the theatre, is published. In the … Continue reading ‘So tyrannous and rough in proof!’: Shakespeare and typos. By Nick de Somogyi.
The Hound of the Baskervilles: the Peepolykus version
You don't need an actual hellhound or a bucket of phosphorus to stage the Peepolykus version of Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles - the rib-tickling spoof, full of the company's trademark verbal and visual ingenuity, seen on national tour and in the West End. But, as co-adapter, Steven Canny explains, there's plenty of scope … Continue reading The Hound of the Baskervilles: the Peepolykus version
The Prompt Book 