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Playwriting

A Backstage Guide

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Playwriting

By: Dan Rebellato
Narrated by: John Telfer
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Bloomsbury presents Playwriting by Dan Rebellato, read by John Telfer

This book is ideal for anyone keen to understand how contemporary plays and playwrights work, particularly those wanting to write for the stage themselves. Drawing heavily on contemporary practice, it considers moments from a range of plays, with a focus on those from the National Theatre's repertoire. The book embraces a range of different dramaturgical structures and styles popular today; plays by a diverse selection of writers; and the current openness of dramatic form. A book of tools, rather than rules, this guide provides suggestions and provocations, exercises and tricks, examples and discussions. An ideal text for playwrights to hone their craft.©2023 Dan Rebellato (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Drama & Plays Entertainment & Performing Arts Literary History & Criticism
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Critic reviews

It's hard to think of a scholar and theatre maker more knowledgeable about new work and how it’s made or a more perspicacious critic of the contemporary UK theatre scene than Dan Rebellato.
Written in an informal style, it’s an inspiring and entertaining resource, providing tools, suggestions, exercises and tricks.
Rebellato offers up concrete examples to demystify the process of writing … He shares examples of his own playwriting practice, quotidian events that could be turned into drama, and the practices of great playwrights from history. The book is packed full of references to other contemporary and classic plays, which is helpful to see and note down real-world examples of the process in action.
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A clear and highly accessible introduction to playwriting, the challenges, pitfalls and rewards. Particularly helpful in demonstrating ways to think about how to translate words in your head/on the page into a theatrical experience. Last chapter particularly encouraging for new playwrights.

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