The crafty art of playmaking

With over 60 plays written and premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough before going on to play in the West End, London's Royal National Theatre, or Broadway, Alan Ayckbourn's expertise in writing and directing plays is unsurpassed. He is, literally, the world's most widely performed contemporary playwright. For the first time, here in The Crafty Art of Playmaking, he shares all his tricks of the trade. From helpful hints on writing (Where do you start? How do you continue? What is comedy and how do you write it? What is tragedy and how does it work?) to tips on directing (How do you work with actors and technicians? When should one sit back and listen to the other experts? How does one cope with rehearsals?), the book provides a complete primer for the aspiring playwright and a refresher for those more experienced. Written in Ayckbourn's elegant and entertaining style, The Crafty Art of Playmaking is crafty, indeed, and has as many wry and sophisticated moments as his Round and Round the Garden or Woman in Mind.