Drama

For Kate, romance is all about the dramatic entrance and the brooding gaze. But when she meets Steve, her expectations are turned upside down. As a feminist, Steve challenges everything Kate thought she knew about love and relationships.This witty and...

Heathers the Musical is a darkly delicious story about Veronica Sawyer, a brainy and beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful clique at high school. She falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D., but things take a...

Saved by Edward Bond First published in 1979, Saved is a powerful play that explores the cultural poverty and frustration of a generation of young people living on council estates in London's sixties. Its unflinching portrayal of violence and social...

Amy Gillespie's memoir "Six Years in Mozambique" is a powerful and unflinching account of her journey to Africa. With $150 and a determination to make a difference, she embarked on a quest that would take her to the heart of Sub-Saharan Africa. As she...

Arden of Faversham is a tragic play that dramatises a shocking murder in 16th-century England. At its centre is Thomas Arden, a wealthy landlord whose death was orchestrated by his own wife, Alice, and her lover, Mosby. The play explores themes of greed,...

Far AwayA powerful exploration of humanity's capacity for cruelty and compassion in a world torn apart by conflict. Caryl Churchill, one of the most acclaimed playwrights of her generation, delivers a searing indictment of our collective failures.This...

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare is a captivating play that weaves together aristocrats, workers, and fairies in a magical world. On the surface, it appears simple yet engaging, but beneath lies a richly original and sophisticated work of...

A middle-aged English couple's idyllic life is disrupted when a detective from Scotland Yard requests to use their home as an observation station to uncover a Soviet spy ring in the area. As the demands on the Jacksons increase, they are faced with a...

The Plays and Fragments by Menander is a collection of works by the Greek New Comedy's founding father, Menander. Until the 20th century, his plays were known only through brief quotes in ancient authors, but recent discoveries of papyri in Egypt have...

The Approach is a psychological puzzle and quietly devastating tragedy that explores the inner lives of three women as they try to make sense of their world. As the details of their conversations begin to diverge, a subtle game of survival emerges.Mark...

Linda, a play by Penelope Skinner, premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in November 2015. The story follows Linda Wilde, a woman who seems to have it all - a successful career, a loving family, and a sense of purpose. However, beneath the...

The Cherry Orchard: A Comedy in Four Acts (Student Editions) In this poignant and thought-provoking play, Chekhov explores the complexities of family, history, and social change. The Gayev family is faced with a difficult decision: sell their beloved...

A Doll's House by Tanika Gupta is a bold re-imagining of Ibsen's classic play, exploring themes of ownership and race through the lens of British colonialism. The story follows a young Bengali woman, whose life is turned upside down by a long-kept secret...

The Dumb Waiter is a play in one act by Harold Pinter, published by Samuel French. In this tense and enigmatic drama, two men wait and listen, their silence punctuated by the extraordinary demands of a dumb waiter. As they wait, they begin to suspect...

Samuel Beckett's Complete Dramatic Works brings together the playwright's most significant and lesser-known texts for the stage and radio, spanning from 1955 to 1984. This comprehensive collection showcases Beckett's unique preoccupations with the nature...

This comprehensive guide provides a concise and readable introduction to all 36 plays of William Shakespeare. Covering the history of the plays, their sources, and a detailed analysis of each work, it is an ideal resource for students and theatre-goers...

Facial Hair and the Performance of Early Modern Masculinity is a critical study that explores the significance of beards in the theatrical performance of masculinity during the early modern era in England. In this context, beards were seen as a marker of...

Once Before I Go by Phillip McMahon is a powerful and poignant play that explores the lives of three friends navigating the complexities of identity, community, and activism in Dublin, London, and Paris. Against the backdrop of the burgeoning gay rights...

The Tempest An Authoritative Text, Sources and Contexts, Criticism, reinterpretations and Appropriations by William Shakespeare is a comprehensive collection of resources for understanding this iconic play. This Norton Critical Edition includes the...

Antigone, a powerful tale of defiance and loyalty, tells the story of a young woman who refuses to accept a punishment that goes against her values. When her brother is declared a traitor and left unburied, she takes a stand, choosing to honor his memory...

Philip Pullman's Grimm Tales for Young and Old brings the magic of the original stories to life in a dark and glittering way. Retold by Philip Wilson, this stage version features the familiar characters of Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Hansel and...

Amy Liptrot's memoir, The Outrun, is a powerful exploration of the human spirit's capacity for resilience in the face of adversity. After a decade of addiction, she finds herself washed up back home on the Scottish archipelago of Orkney, where she must...

Coward Plays: 6 Semi-Monde; Point Valaine; South Sea Bubble; Nude With Violin Noël Coward's Coward Plays is a collection of four plays that showcase the wit and sophistication of a master of the stage. The plays are Semi-Monde, Point Valaine, South Sea...

The trial of Agostino Tassi for the rape of Artemisia Gentileschi is dramatised in this new play, blending myth, history and contemporary commentary. Based on surviving court transcripts, the story explores how a woman took revenge through her art to...

Brian Friel's play explores the complexities of life and identity through the story of Gareth O'Donnell, who feels trapped in his mundane existence. On the eve of his departure for Philadelphia, Gareth is filled with a mix of emotions as he prepares to...

Ballerinas, boxes, and the dangers of beauty come together in this gripping drama about the complexities of human relationships.After a devastating loss, Allegra finds herself drawn into a world of unexpected friendships and unexpected dangers. With the...

This satirical comedy in three acts follows three down-and-out troupers as they attempt to make it big in Hollywood's newly invented talkies. Despite a series of consistent blunders, one of the trio is catapulted to the pinnacle of fame and fortune,...

Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth A powerful and poignant play that explores the complexities of contemporary English life, Jerusalem premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2009 and went on to transfer to the West End and Broadway. The play's central...

Doll is on the mic, Ted is on backing vocals. Set to the greatest love songs of all time, this play explores the complexities of love, friendship and growing up. Doll and Ted's relationship is put to the test as they confront the truth about their past...

Plays One is a collection of four full-length plays and two previously unpublished short pieces from Jez Butterworth, the acclaimed author of Jerusalem.This first volume of his Collected Plays includes the award-winning play Mojo, as well as the three...

Aristophanes' comedies are a testament to the power of satire and social commentary in ancient Greek theatre. This collection brings together three of his most renowned works: Birds, Lysistrata, and Wealth. In these plays, Aristophanes uses fantasy and...

A Mirror is a provocative play that challenges the boundaries of censorship, authorship, and free speech. It premiered at the Almeida Theatre in London in 2023, where it was directed by Jeremy Herrin and performed by a cast that includes Jonny Lee...

Nassim Soleimanpour's Two Plays is a collection of two internationally acclaimed works by the Iranian writer and playwright. The first, White Rabbit Red Rabbit, has been translated into over 30 languages and performed over 1000 times, featuring a diverse...

The Township Plays: A Collection of Five Powerful Dramas This collection of five plays by Athol Fugard offers a powerful portrayal of the black urban experience in South Africa. Edited with an introduction, notes, and a glossary, the plays provide a...

Trial by Laughter is a play by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, inspired by the true story of William Hone, a bookseller, publisher and satirist who stood trial for 'impious blasphemy and seditious libel' in 1817. Hone's crime was to be funny, particularly in...

The Taming of the Shrew is a beautifully bound edition of Shakespeare's first play, presented in the Macmillan Collector's Library series. Illustrated throughout by Sir John Gilbert, this edition features a high-quality print on premium paper and a real...

Chewing Gum Dreams is a poignant and introspective one-woman play that explores the complexities of female friendship and the struggles of growing up.Written and performed by Michaela Coel, the play recalls the last days of innocence before adulthood, a...

First performed in 1956, Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night is a deeply personal and emotionally charged play that explores the complexities of family relationships and the struggles of the human spirit.Written in 1940, this unflinching drama...

A razor-sharp play about the complex dynamics of office politics and workplace relationships, Bull explores the fine line between professional rivalry and personal aggression. Three employees engage in a fierce battle for their jobs, exposing the darker...

Death and the King's Horseman: Methuen Student Edition by Wole Soyinka In this powerful play, a British colonial officer intervenes in the ancient ritual of the King's Horseman, disrupting the delicate balance between tradition and modernity. The result...

Titus Andronicus, one of Shakespeare's earliest and bloodiest tragedies, continues to provoke and challenge audiences with its bold confrontation of violence. First published in 1995, this revised edition of Jonathan Bate's Arden edition offers a fresh...

Four young men face the challenges of transitioning to adulthood in this energetic and thought-provoking play. As they prepare to leave their flat, they must navigate a world that doesn't always want to accept them. The Class of 2011 is on the cusp of a...

Cold War is a powerful love story set against the backdrop of Communist-controlled Poland in the late 1940s. The epic tale of Zula and Wiktor, two individuals drawn to each other despite the danger of their desire for freedom, spans decades and the...

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a powerful satire that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. Written in 1945, this story has become a parable for our times, warning us about the corrupting influence of power and the importance of individual freedom...

Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story set in a city torn apart by feuding families. The hatred between the two families runs deep, and their frequent street fights create a volatile atmosphere. Against this backdrop, Romeo and Juliet's love blossoms,...

When a mild-mannered accountant accidentally picks up the wrong briefcase, his life takes a chaotic turn. Henry A. Perkins assumes it's illicit cash and decides to keep it, leading to a series of absurd and hilarious situations.As he tries to extricate...

A flood in the fen country has trapped two prison officials and their prisoner, who is on her way to the gallows for the murder of her brother. However, Sister Mary Bonaventure is convinced of her innocence. Just before the police arrive, a confession is...

Thornton Wilder's Our Town and Other Plays is a collection of three plays that explore the human experience through the lens of everyday life. Written in the 1920s, these works were designed to bring back realism and celebrate the simple, innocent, and...

Byron's most personal and profound work, Sardanapalus, is a deeply introspective exploration of the human condition. Written by the renowned English poet Lord Byron, this 116-page volume is a testament to his unwavering commitment to artistic expression...

Family Tree by Mojisola Adebayo is a poetic drama about the intersection of race, health, and the environment. The play tells the story of four women, each denied their place in history, and their incredible legacy. Henrietta Lacks, the subject of a...

Women Beware Women by Thomas Middleton is a darkly witty and psychologically complex play that explores the intricate web of relationships and motivations between its characters. In this gripping drama, a woman's desire for power and revenge is expertly...

A heart-wrenching tale of an unlikely friendship between two innocent boys, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas tells the story of Bruno and Shmuel, two nine-year-old boys who share a birthday and a poignant connection. Despite living on opposite sides of a...

Attempts on Her Life is a provocative and humorous exploration of the human condition, presented in 17 scenarios for the theatre. Martin Crimp's work delves into the complexities of violence, identity, and storytelling, weaving together a diverse range...

Troilus and Cressida Third Series, Revised Edition by William Shakespeare This revised edition of Troilus and Cressida offers a nuanced exploration of human nature in the midst of war. Set against the backdrop of the Trojan Wars, the play presents a...

The Domino Effect and Other Plays for Teenagers by Fin Kennedy This collection of three ensemble plays is the result of a collaborative process between award-winning playwright Fin Kennedy and a group of young people. The plays are designed to be...

Rope A Play by Patrick Hamilton is a gripping drama that explores the darker side of human nature. When two friends, driven by a desire for adventure and the thrill of the unknown, convince a third to join them in a heinous crime, the consequences are...

The Oresteia: A Trilogy of Tragedy and Transformation Aeschylus' groundbreaking trilogy explores the dark and troubled world of ancient Greece, where the cycle of violence and revenge threatens to consume the royal family of Argos. In Agamemnon, the...

Jude's decision to kick a pram in a café full of 'yummy mummies' sets off a chain of events that takes her to anger management and forces her sister Susie to confess a secret. This humorous and touching play explores what it means to be a modern woman...

This edition of Macbeth has been fully updated to meet the needs of the 2010 GCSE English specifications, providing exclusive support to help students achieve their full potential. The book includes accessible texts, supportive notes, activities, and...

The Odyssey (It's a Really Really Really Long Journey) by Nina Segal is a fun, musical re-telling of Homer's classic story. The story begins with Telemachus, a young man on a quest to find his father, who left to fight in the Trojan War. With the help of...

Bulletproof Soul is a powerful and thought-provoking play about the complexities of doing the right thing. In a challenging situation, characters must navigate their own morals and motivations.A young woman, Alice, forms an unlikely bond with two...

Abi Morgan's plays explore the complexities of modern love and friendship. In "Abi Morgan: Plays One Tiny Dynamite; Splendour; Tender; Lovesong; 27", she examines the fragility of relationships and the choices we face. The collection includes four plays...

Those Who Trespass by Matthew Dunster is a thought-provoking exploration of two worlds colliding. In a futuristic, secure development, the old way of living has been cleared away, leaving some people feeling like everything is being taken away. The novel...

A modern retelling of Shakespeare's Cymbeline, reimagined for a contemporary audience. This adaptation brings a fresh voice to the story, exploring themes of family, power and identity in a raw and unflinching way. Employing modern costumes and staging,...

Twelfth Night is a popular text for study by secondary students the world over, and this edition is designed to make it accessible to all.With its clear background information, rigorous scholarly credentials, and helpful on-page notes and illustrations,...

Blue/Orange is a thought-provoking play that explores the complexities of race, madness, and power in a decaying National Health Service. Written by Joe Penhall, the author of the acclaimed play Some Voices, this accessible and vibrant work delves into...

Thomas Middleton's A Mad World, My Masters and Other Plays brings together four witty and engaging comedies of city life, showcasing the versatility and innovative spirit of one of England's most celebrated dramatists. Written between 1604 and 1612,...

Written in Middle English during the Tudor period, "Everyman" is a renowned example of the medieval morality play. This allegorical drama tells the story of a protagonist who must choose between a good and godly life and evil, with the ultimate goal of...

Romeo and Juliet Third Series by William Shakespeare This major new edition of Shakespeare's greatest tragedy of love presents a fresh perspective on the play, with a focus on the central figure of Juliet. Richly illustrated, it explores the play's...

In the heart of Oxford, a group of privileged students gather in an oak-panelled room, united by a desire to reclaim their status. The Riot Club, an elite student dining society, is planning a night of excess and rebellion. But beneath the surface of...

A profound and hilarious comedy about the value of truth and friendship, 'Art' is a story about a painting that sparks a heated debate among its owner and his friends. The question is, who are you, and who do others think you are?Translated from the...

Peter and Wendy is a story of a young girl's journey to Neverland, where she and her brother encounter a magical world of wonder and adventure.Written by James Matthew Barrie, this beloved story has captivated readers for generations with its themes of...

The Arrival by Bijan Sheibani When Tom and Samad first meet, they are struck by the similarities that bind them together. Despite being adopted and separated for years, an undeniable biological connection unites the two brothers. As they grow closer,...

Mary Shelley is a play that tells the story of a pivotal moment in Mary Shelley's life - her meeting and elopement with Percy Bysshe Shelley at the age of 16, and its impact on her family, particularly her father, William Godwin. The play explores the...

Aladdin A Pantomime is a traditional pantomime adaptation of the story, featuring all the beloved characters and a dash of slapstick humour. The story is told in a lively and entertaining way, with plenty of opportunities for audience participation and...

Four Revenge Tragedies is a collection of four plays that explore the complexities of revenge and its consequences. The works of Thomas Kyd, Cyril Tourneur, Thomas Middleton, and George Chapman are presented here in a newly edited version, featuring...

A tragic tale of loyalty and duty, Antigone is a powerful story of a young woman's unwavering commitment to her principles.Written by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, this poignant play explores the complexities of human relationships and the...

Shakespeare's Macbeth is a tragic drama of unparalleled power, exploring the devastating consequences of ambition and the supernatural forces that drive us.The story follows a brave warrior, whose proud wife and own ambition propel him towards a course...

Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton is a gripping Victorian thriller that explores the darker side of human nature. A masterful tale of psychological manipulation and revenge, it follows the story of a man who will stop at nothing to destroy the life of his...

Three Birds by Janice Okoh is a darkly comic drama about childhood, family, and fantasy. When the three siblings are left home alone, they must navigate the challenges of growing up and keeping their secrets safe from the adults who come to visit. As the...

Arthur Rimbaud's Selected Poems and Letters brings together a unique and innovative body of work, showcasing the poet's extraordinary use of language and form. The collection includes over 100 letters, many written after Rimbaud abandoned literature,...

The Oxford Shakespeare: Hamlet Hamlet is a play that defies easy categorisation, combining elements of violence and introspection in a way that sets it apart from other Shakespearean tragedies. Its complex web of riddles and paradoxes has made it a...

Romeo and Juliet Text of the Play: Sources, Contexts, and Early reinterpretationsThis Norton Critical Edition provides a comprehensive exploration of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, featuring introductory materials, explanatory annotations, and numerous...

Boys Life and Search and Destroy by Howard Korder Two gripping plays by a prominent American playwright explore the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of our actions. In Boys Life, Korder examines the challenges of love,...

This Wide Night is a poignant portrayal of two women struggling to repair their lives. Written for Clean Break-a theatre company, the play offers a tender and honest exploration of the challenges faced by women affected by the criminal justice system.

This edition of Seneca's tragedies presents a secure reconstruction of the two hyparchetypes on which the text depends, based on a comprehensive investigation of all manuscripts and florilegia. Otto Zwierlein demonstrates that all former manuscripts of...

Chekhov's first great play, now in a pared-down version, reveals the full force of its comedy and cruelty. In this condensed form, the complexities of human desire are laid bare.Each character is denied the thing they most crave, whether it's love, sex,...

The Railway Children, a poignant and imaginative tale, brings to life the anxieties and exhilarations of childhood with great tenderness and insight. A story of a family forced into near-penury, it captures the struggles and joys of growing up.Adapted...

Brighton in the 1960s is the setting for a hilarious and chaotic comedy of errors. Francis Henshall, a minder to two very different clients, finds himself in a desperate situation. Roscoe Crabbe, a local gangster, is dead, and his sister Rachel is...

Oscar Wilde's plays are renowned for their witty dialogue and insightful commentary on the social conventions of his time. This collection of his essential works showcases his unique blend of humor and philosophical inquiry. With its masterful use of...

The Bacchae and Other Plays by Euripides is a collection of five plays that showcase the enduring power of ancient Greek drama. This Penguin Classics edition features a general introduction, individual prefaces to each play, chronology, notes,...

Shakespeare's dark romantic comedy explores the triumph of trickery over youthful arrogance, as a poor doctor's daughter outwits a proud young nobleman to claim her reward. With its powerful tribute to the strength of love, All's Well That Ends Well is a...

A View from the Bridge is a powerful play about the devastating consequences of unchecked emotions. Set against the backdrop of 1950s Brooklyn, the story follows the life of Eddie Carbone, a hardworking longshoreman whose routine is disrupted by the...

The Arden Shakespeare Third Series Complete Works brings together all of Shakespeare's plays, poems, and sonnets in a single, comprehensive volume. Edited by leading international scholars, this edition includes the 'apocryphal' plays, such as Double...

The Tragedy of Henry IV, Part Two is a poignant drama that explores the complexities of power, duty, and the human condition. As the old king struggles to maintain control, he must confront the challenges of his ailing health and the growing threat of...

William Shakespeare's Henry V presents a powerful exploration of patriotism and leadership. Edited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, this edition of the play offers a newly-edited sequence of Shakespeare's works, taking account of recent...

This revised version of Willy Russell's play features more songs and retains the humour and appeal of the original. It has been prepared by national Drama in Secondary English experts and meets the new requirements at KS3 and GCSE.Building on a decade of...

A dark and thrilling tale of male violence, guilt and privilege unfolds in Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella. A series of random nocturnal assaults in Victorian London spread fear and panic, while the friends of a respected doctor begin to wonder why...

Japanese No Dramas is a collection of 24 plays that showcase the intricate fusion of music, dance, mask, costume, and language that defined Japanese noh theatre. Written by the dramatist Zeami and others, these plays explore complex ideas such as the...

Federico García Lorca's Four Major Plays is a collection of four plays that showcase the author's unique vision and style. Written in the 1930s, these plays offer a glimpse into Lorca's personal and cultural world, exploring themes of love, morality, and...