Reading’s not just for book worms…

Looking for something to pick up but don’t know where to start? Scared you’ll pick a duff? Never judge a book by its cover. Get a recommendation.

Acting

The Year Of the King by Anthony Sher

“A really good guide to preparing for a role for any budding actor” Jenni Owen, community arts development officer, ARC

“Inspiring as an actor” Jo Hemmant, theatre officer, Arts Council England, London

Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone

“Hugely useful” David Farr, artistic director, Lyric Hammersmith

Design

Ralph Koltai: Designer for the Stage by Ralph Koltai

“Britain’s prolific stage designer brings together a selection of essays, interviews and sumptuous designs” Gary Hills, performing arts consultant

That’s the Way I See It by David Hockney

“Hockney discusses his designs for opera and how it relates to his other practices” Katherine Warman, theatre designer

Hockney on Art by David Hockney

“Also excellent. Both books are very broad in subject matter but have interesting ideas covering space” Katherine Warman, theatre designer

Scenery Drafting and Construction by John Blurton

“One of the most useful books I own. It has pretty much every type of scenic construction covered with detailed drawings, good labelling and excellent explanation of materials that are commonly used.” Katherine Warman, theatre designer

Also recommended by freelance theatre designer Emily Egleton.

Collaborators: UK Design for Peformance by Society of British Theatre Designers

“A brilliant guide to current UK design for performance with over 100 designers featured and five essays by designers that are really interesting” Katherine Warman, theatre designer

Basics Technical Drawing (Basics) by Bert Bielefeld and Isabella Skiba

“One of the best books for learning to do technical drawing on paper” Emily Egleton, freelance theatre designer

Directing

Peter Brook: A Biography by Michael Kustow

“A fascinating insight into Brook’s life and theatrical philosophy” Gary Hills, performing arts consultant

The Empty Space by Peter Brook

“Very thought provoking on the nature of theatre and why people create it” Jonathan Man, freelance theatre director

“I read it quite early in my career (during my A-levels) and it completely shaped how I think about theatre and how I have developed my own practice” Amy Wale, education officer, The Y

“You’ve just got to read it!” Jo Hemmant, theatre officer, Arts Council England, London

Thinking Like a Director by Michael Bloom

“A very useful, practical book” Jonathan Man, freelance director

General theatre

The ABC of Theatre Jargon by Francis Reid

“A lexicon of the weird and wonderful language of theatre” Gary Hills, performing arts consultant

The Production Notebooks (volumes 1 and 2), by Mark Bly

“Each chapter looks at a specific production and how it came together” Gary Hills, performing arts consultant

British Performing Arts Year Book

“A who’s who of theatre and performing arts – invaluable” Laura Drane, arts consultant

Contacts (published by Spotlight)

“Not only essential for stage managers and administrators, but performers too” Jill Robertshaw, theatre administrator (former stage manager), Nottingham Playhouse

Certain Fragments: Contemporary Performance and Forced Entertainment by Tim Etchells

”A good insight into a professional performance-making practice”
Emma Purvis, ticket office assistant, Lyric Hammersmith

Towards a Poor Theatre by Jerzy Grotowski

“A monastic commitment to the art of theatre for anyone very serious about its creation” Jonathan Cochrane, theatre and arts development manager, Arts in Redditch

NT Connections (formerly Shell Connections)

“These plays are written by professional playwrights especially for youth theatres. They have really accessible themes and language for young people and a new collection is produced every year” Sarah Stephenson, education officer, Nottingham Playhouse

The Crafty Art of Playmaking by Alan Ayckbourn

“Demystifies the process” Jo Hemmant, theatre officer, Arts Council England, London

The Full Room by Dominic Dromgoole

“It’s about different forms of playwriting–you don’t have to do it just one way” Jo Hemmant, theatre officer, Arts Council England, London

The Theatre List (published by Society of London Theatre)

“I find the Theatre List invaluable. There’s hardly a week when I don’t need to check details of present and coming events at what has become a remarkably complete list of London theatres, and The List always comes up with the answer, along with helpful news of coming productions.” Benedict Nightingale, Theatre critic for The Times

Management/ administration

Stage Management and Theatre Administration by Pauline Menear and Terry Hawkins

“A clear and concise beginners’ guide” Jill Robertshaw, theatre administrator (former stage manager), Nottingham Playhouse

Essential Theatre by Crispin Raymond (published by Arts Council England, currently out of print)

“Invaluable for administrators and managers” Jill Robertshaw, theatre administrator (former stage manager), Nottingham Playhouse

Marketing

The Marketing Manual by Heather Maitland

“Part cook-book, part prayer-book–essential for arts marketers” Julia Bird, promoter

This Way Up: A flat-pack guide to marketing the arts by Caroline Griffin

“A very practical and simple hands-on guide to writing a marketing plan, aimed at those who aren’t marketing specialists” Lesa Dryburgh, director, Stop The Pigeon communications consultancy

Miscellaneous

Seven habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey

“This book was there in the right place and at the right time when I was just leaving further education. It challenges you in a constructive and hugely optimistic way. Also very easy to read.” Jonathan Cochrane, theatre and arts development manager, Arts in Redditch

Stage management

Stage Management: The Essential Handbook by Alan Ayckbourn

“A clear and accessible, chronological guide to stage management from first rehearsal to first night” Gary Hills, performing arts consultant

Stage Management and Theatre Administration by Pauline Menear and Terry Hawkins

“A clear and concise beginners’ guide” Jill Robertshaw, theatre administrator (former stage manager), Nottingham Playhouse

Street arts

Four Magical Days in May: how an elephant captured the heart of a city edited by Nicky Webb

“Essays, interviews and stunning photographs of the biggest piece of free theatre ever seen in London: The Sultan’s Elephant” Katy Fuller, associate producer, Artichoke

The Next Steps Forward: a snapshot of large scale street arts in the UK edited by Katy Fuller

“Essays on large scale outdoor performance” Katy Fuller, associate producer, Artichoke

“And it’s available for free from the Independent Street Arts Network!” Get Into Theatre

Eyes on Stalks by John Fox

“A fascinating autobiography from a ground breaking–and eloquent – artist” Katy Fuller, associate producer, Artichoke

Engineers of the Imagination by Baz Kershaw and Tony Coult

“Welfare State International’s practical and anecdotal book” Katy Fuller, associate producer, Artichoke