Nick Hern Books
@nickhernbooks
Theatre publishers and performing rights agents - bringing you top drama by today’s most exciting writers, plus books to support your own work and career.
'Thrillingly smart... Remember, remember the name Emma Howlett. She is going places' ★★★★ The Stage The Plot by NHB author Emma Howlett is now playing at Summerhall as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Get your playscript copy at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/the-plot
'Fresh, original, and urgently told... a genuine standout of the Fringe' ★★★★★ WhatsOnStage Badgers by NHB author Malaika Kegode is now playing at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Get your playscript copy at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/badgers
'Taut, focused, elegantly constructed... packs a mighty emotional punch' ★★★★ Arts Desk Water Colour by NHB author Milly Sweeney is now playing at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Get your playscript copy at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/water-colour
As July draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back at the five brilliant plays we’ve published this month, as well as an exciting new anthology! 🎭 Learn more about them – along with the rest of our recent publications – on our website: nickhernbooks.co.uk/new-titles
'Gutwrenching' ★★★★ Broadway World 'Shocking and painfully relevant' ★★★★ Theatre Weekly Firebird by NHB author Phil Davies is now playing at Southwark Playhouse, London. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/firebird-2026
'Incredibly witty... Ivory’s writing is just genius... exceptional' ★★★★★ Theatre & Tonic The Market Deeping Model Railway Club by NHB author William Ivory is now playing @nottmplayhouse.bsky.social. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/market-deepi...
'Masterful, destabilising... gripped by fierce rage' ★★★★ Time Out 'Potently compelling' ★★★★ The Stage Sting by NHB author Sophie Swithinbank is now playing at the Young Vic Theatre, London. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/sting
Over forty plays and counting… Say hello to the NHB play stack for the first half of 2026! We're already so proud of this year's selection of exceptional, pertinent, enthralling plays. And, we are of course delighted as always to have welcomed many new playwrights to our list.
'Vibrant... a script that sings' @theguardian.com 'Energetic, engaging and entertaining' @londontheatre1.bsky.social A to B by NHB author Tia-Renee Mullings is now playing @sohotheatre.bsky.social. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/a-to-b
As June draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back at the seven fantastic plays we’ve published this month! 🎭 Learn more about them – along with the rest of our recent publications – on our website: nickhernbooks.co.uk/new-titles
This Pride Month, enjoy 40% off on dozens of fantastic pieces of LGBTQ+ writing by our authors including @nathanieljhall.bsky.social, @louisemmitt.bsky.social and many more. Save 40% using NHBPRIDE on our website until 30 June! Browse this year's selection here: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/nhbpride
'Captivating and taut' ★★★★ WhatsOnStage 'Beautiful, delicate... quietly moving' ★★★★ Financial Times 45 Years adapted by NHB author Hannah Patterson is now playing @chichesterft.bsky.social. Get your playscript copy at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/45-years
'Darkly compelling' ★★★★ Guardian 'The tension is palpable... genuinely spectacular' ★★★★★ Reviews Hub The Long Drop adapted by Linda McLean is now playing at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/the-long-drop
'Nerve-shredding' ★★★★ Guardian 'Terrifying and timely... eerily pertinent' ★★★★ Telegraph Under the Shadow adapted by NHB author Carmen Nasr is now playing at the Almeida Theatre, London. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/under-the-sh...
We're delighted to publish 16 of the plays on this year's (Incomplete) Lit in Colour Play List, supporting schools to create more representative and inclusive drama experiences within the English and Drama curricula. Find all three play lists online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/lit-in-colou...
'Tender, humane and often very funny' ★★★★ The Stage 'Theatrical genius... devastatingly effective' ★★★★★ A Youngish Perspective The P Word by NHB author Waleed Akhtar is now playing @bushtheatre.bsky.social. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/the-p-word-2...
We're looking for five passionate, up-and-coming playwrights to join our exciting new Mentoring scheme. If you’re aged 18 or over and based in the UK, and think you could benefit from an experienced guide, apply by 12 noon BST on Wednesday 1 July! www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/mentoring
Out now – the West End edition of 1536 by multi-award-winning writer Ava Pickett. This 'fresh, funny and devastating' (★★★★★ Telegraph) play is now playing the Ambassadors Theatre, London. Get your playscript copy at the venue, or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/1536
'Luminous and heart-exploding' ★★★★★ Guardian 'A powerful portrait of human connection' ★★★★ WhatsOnStage Scenes from a Friendship by NHB author Jane Upton is now playing @nottmplayhouse.bsky.social. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/scenes-from-...
'Raw and affecting' ★★★★ Everything Theatre 'A delicious concoction of humour, wit, heart' ★★★★ Theatre Weekly I'm Not Being Funny by NHB author Piers Black is now playing @bushtheatre.bsky.social. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/im-not-being...
As May draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back at the eleven brilliant plays we’ve published this month! 🎭 Learn more about them – along with the rest of our recent publications – on our website: nickhernbooks.co.uk/new-titles
'A superb stage thriller... hugely enjoyable' ★★★★ Time Out 'Magnificent' ★★★★★ Theatre & Tonic Sherlock Holmes by NHB author Joel Horwood is now playing at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/sherlock-holmes
'Touching and truthful... Affectingly elegiac yet full of warm humour... both intimate and poignant' ★★★★★ The Stage Eclipse by NHB author John Morton is now playing at Chichester Festival Theatre. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/eclipse
'Remarkable... the West End hit of the year' ★★★★★ Telegraph 'Astonishing… Pickett’s play is a tour de force ★★★★★ Time Out 1536 by NHB author Ava Pickett is now playing at the Ambassadors Theatre. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/1536-west-end
'Darkly surreal' @telegraph.co.uk 'Thoughtful and reflective... Simpe-Asante’s script is a joy' A Youngish Perspective Godot's To-Do List is now playing as a curtain-raiser before performances of Krapp's Last Tape @royalcourt.bsky.social. See more: nickhernbooks.co.uk/godots-to-do...
'A rallying call of courage for us all' @theguardian.com 'Rich' @thestage.co.uk Albatross by NHB author Martha Loader is now touring the UK, produced by Menagerie Theatre. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/albatross
'Striking... ripples with doubt, tenderness and brittle rage' ★★★★ Guardian 'Dramatic and heartbreaking' ★★★★★ All That Dazzles Foal by NHB author Titas Halder is now playing @finboroughtheatre.bsky.social. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: nickhernbooks.co.uk/foal
'Provocative, powerful theatre... bold' ★★★★ Guardian The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher adapted by NHB author Alexandra Wood is now playing @liveveryplay.bsky.social. Get your playscript copies at the venue or online: www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/assassination-of-margaret-thatcher