{"title":"Leo Butler","description":"\u003cp\u003eLeo Butler’s work offers a compelling insight into contemporary theatre, blending sharp social observation with vivid storytelling. His writings, including collections like \u003cem\u003eNational Theatre Connections 2023\u003c\/em\u003e, reveal a keen engagement with the modern stage and the voices shaping it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders will find in Butler’s books a thoughtful exploration of working-class themes and the creative process behind powerful drama. His perspective enriches the broader Arts \u0026amp; Culture dialogue, making his work essential for those interested in theatre and society.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"notes-from-a-working-class-playwright-by-leo-butler-9781350429468","title":"Notes from a Working-Class Playwright","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAward-winning British playwright Leo Butler looks back over 25 years of writing for the stage and his extensive experience teaching and mentoring emerging playwrights through the Royal Court Young Writers' Programme.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith honesty and humour, Leo Butler shares his experiences from his working-class upbringing in Sheffield, including his disastrous state education, his years on the dole, to his breakthrough into the professional theatre industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis personal account criss-crosses his life and career, exploring the influences and experiences that informed critically acclaimed plays such as \u003cem\u003eRedundant\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eI'll Be the Devil\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLucky Dog\u003c\/em\u003e and, more recently, \u003cem\u003eBoy\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout, Butler includes a wealth of tips and practical exercises, tried and tested on his students, to help the reader with their own playwriting development; discusses the challenges of how to actually make a living from this work; and considers how the landscape has changed today from 25 years ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough recollections of collaborations with professional peers and ex-students (including Polly Stenham, Anya Reiss, and Nick Payne), Leo Butler gives an insight into the intricacies of the early 21st century theatre scene in which playwriting skills were developed and shared. He also includes excerpts from personal rejection letters, rehearsal notes and his notebooks to bring his playwriting journey to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBrutally honest, often surreal, often funny, this book will entertain and inspire anyone who has ever thought of writing a play, or is interested in the life and practice of a playwright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47455663816940,"sku":"9781350429468","price":49.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/71QZ0n1Z3VL._SL1500.jpg?v=1774790553"},{"product_id":"national-theatre-connections-2023-by-simon-longman-9781350382695","title":"National Theatre Connections 2023","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNational Theatre Connections 2023\u003c\/em\u003e draws together ten new plays for young people to perform, from some of the UK's most exciting and popular playwrights. These are plays for a generation of theatre-makers who want to ask questions, challenge assertions and test the boundaries, and for those who love to invent and imagine a world of possibilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe plays offer young performers an engaging and diverse range of material to perform, read or study. Touching on themes like climate change, politics, toxic masculinity and gang culture, the collection provides topical, pressing subject matter for students to explore in their performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2023 anthology represents the full set of ten plays offered by the National Theatre 2023 Festival, as well as comprehensive workshop notes that give insights and inspiration for building characters, running rehearsals and staging a production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47597293699308,"sku":"9781350382695","price":49.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/decfab3addda76c47b90d38c9b0056a0.jpg?v=1778038509"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/leo-butler.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}