Hello All,

This is to let you know that a new publication will be available from September 15th that explores the last fifteen years of new writing with a special focus on the role of the writer, and as such carries a firm dramaturgical agenda. It’s called CONTEMPORARY BRITISH DRAMA and the details are as follows:

ABOUT THE BOOK
This book provides a critical assessment of dramatic literature since 1995, situating texts, companies and writers in a cultural, political and social context. It examines the shifting role of the playwright, the dominant genres and emerging styles of the past decade and how they are related.

Beginning with an examination of how dramatic literature and the writer are placed in the contemporary theatre, the book then provides detailed analyses of the texts, companies and writing processes involved in six different professional contexts: new writing, verbatim theatre, writing and devising, Black and Asian theatre, writing for young people and adaptation and transposition.

The chapters cover contemporary practitioners, including Simon Stephens, Gregory Burke, Robin Soans, Alecky Blythe, Kneehigh Theatre, Punchdrunk, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Edward Bond, Filter Theatre and Headlong, and offers detailed case-studies and examples of their work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Lane is a dramaturg, playwright and freelance lecturer. Formerly the Literary Assistant at Soho Theatre and Writers’ Centre, he now lives in the South West and works as a dramaturg with regional theatres including the Exeter Northcott, Bristol Old Vic, Theatre West and Theatre Royal Bath. He teaches at Goldsmiths College, Brunel, City University and Exeter University, and has received several commissions to write plays for young people. He is one of the Arts Council’s Artistic Assessors and is currently under commission to write two new plays for Forest Forge in Hampshire.

The book is available for pre-order on Amazon at the moment - please take a look!

Many thanks,

David