If you're thinking of putting a play forward this page can help if you:

• Need some inspiration
• Know what you'd like to direct but need to know who publishes it

Inspiration

Plays Read During Lockdown

Plays Read 2020-1 PDF.pdf

From April 2020 to around the same time in 2021 we read plays online via Zoom: the above link provides a list of all those read - something may tickle your fancy to put forward perhaps?

Popular plays with publishers

Check out this 'Top Ten' list from publisher Nick Hern Books; it's the ten most performed plays during 2024 of those they publish - we've performed three of them in the relatively recent past! If you'd like a longer list - here's their 'Top 40' from 2024.

(The below links open in external websites)

Play publishers

Vist the websites of these publishers to see who handles your chosen play or for inspiration - some allow 'borrowing' or resticted downloads of scripts for perusal.

Samuel French - huge publisher responsible for the majority of the scripts we perform; watch out for their occasional special offers on scripts 

Joseph Weinberger Ltd - another major publisher responsible for many popular playwrights' work; offer free digital downloads of scripts for reading and assessing 

Nick Hern Books - progressive helpful publisher very committed to the amateur drama scene 

Oberon Books - especially notable for publishing many plays that recently finished their professional performances and newly available for amateur production    

Cressrelles Publishing - a diverse range of scripts including one act plays and sketches along with full length plays; their catalogue searchable by criteria such as 'all female casts' etc

Bloomsbury - probably the first port of call for those considering classic texts such as Shakespeare under the Arden and Methuen imprint

Spotlight Publications - particularly broad range of pantomime scripts along with full length and shorter plays

There are many more publishers as a quick online search will show; some others focus on new work, shorter plays, screenplay adaptations and sketches.

 

Any suggestions to add to this resource or need more info about play selection? Contact our play coordiantor here: plays@sudburydramatic.com