Secondhand Theatre Scripts Bargain Book Box DSH1108

Secondhand Theatre Scripts Bargain Book Box

Immerse yourself in the world of dramatic literature with this diverse collection spanning centuries of theatrical genius, featuring everything from Shakespearean tragedies and classic Irish masterpieces to unsettling modern thrillers and sharp contemporary comedies. This box provides a fantastic resource for actors, students, or devoted playgoers eager to study the structure and language of foundational and cutting-edge works, offering a deep exploration of human conflict and emotion as staged across different eras. Covering key themes from domestic turmoil and political intrigue to existential angst, these scripts—many of which are specialized scholarly or prompt editions—are essential reading for anyone captivated by the stage. Each book is secondhand and may show signs of wear.

1. A Month of Sundays by Bob Larbey
   This poignant yet humorous play explores the life of an elderly man named Cooper who decides to move into an old people's home and confront his impending mortality with wit. Set entirely in the retirement residence, the drama finds comedy in routine and reflection, examining themes of aging, loneliness, and dignity through sharp dialogue. Larbey masterfully balances lighthearted exchanges with deep emotional honesty regarding the final stages of life.

2. Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore
   Based on a true story, this tense spy drama centers on the cosy lives of a suburban Canadian couple who agree to allow the intelligence service to use their home for surveillance. As the surveillance operation drags on, the couple is forced to question their loyalties, their government, and the nature of their seemingly trustworthy neighbors. The play masterfully builds suspense and moral ambiguity, exploring the devastating personal cost of national secrets.

3. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
   The archetypal tale of star-crossed lovers, this tragedy follows the rapid, passionate romance and subsequent destruction of two teenagers from rival families in Verona. Against a backdrop of violent civic strife, the young protagonists attempt to defy fate, resulting in some of the most celebrated and moving poetic language in English literature. This play remains the definitive exploration of impulsive love, feuding, and fatal consequence.

4. Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton
   A Victorian-era psychological thriller focused on a marriage where the husband, Jack, systematically attempts to drive his wife, Bella, insane by subtly manipulating her environment. He convinces her that she is losing her mind by hiding objects and then denying any changes, coining the term "gaslighting" in the process. The play is a masterful study of control, manipulation, and the power dynamic within an abusive relationship.

5. Five One-Act Plays by Sean O'Casey
   This collection showcases O'Casey's talent for capturing the grit, humor, and tragedy of early 20th-century Dublin life in compact, powerful dramatic forms. The one-act plays often focus on the effects of poverty and political turmoil on ordinary working-class characters. These short works display O'Casey's unique blend of lyrical dialogue and fierce social commentary, solidifying his reputation as a master of modern Irish theatre.

6. Classic Irish Drama by W.B. Yeats, J.M. Synge, Sean O'Casey (Anthology)
   This essential anthology collects foundational works that defined the 20th-century renaissance of Irish literature and theatre, showcasing the unique voices and political concerns of the period. Featuring texts from key figures like Yeats, Synge, and O'Casey, the volume explores themes of nationalism, folklore, and rural life versus urban struggle. It provides crucial insight into the dramatic forces that shaped modern Irish identity.

7. The Saxon Shore by David Rudkin
   A powerful and often unsettling dramatic work that delves into themes of isolation, myth, and the deep, dark history embedded in the British landscape. Rudkin’s complex drama often blends historical detail with ritualistic and dreamlike sequences. The play explores ancient tensions and emotional trauma, utilizing rich, poetic language that demands close attention from the reader or audience.

8. King Henry IV Part II by William Shakespeare
   This historical play continues the saga of Prince Hal's transformation from dissolute youth into a responsible monarch, focusing on the twilight years of King Henry IV’s reign. The drama contrasts the low-life comedy of Falstaff and his companions with the grim realities of political rebellion and royal succession. It is a nuanced study of governance, friendship, and the heavy price of maturity and power.

9. Routines by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
   This collection presents experimental short plays and theatre pieces by the Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti, pushing the boundaries of traditional dramatic form. The scripts are often highly fragmented, surreal, and infused with the countercultural spirit of mid-20th century American art. Routines serves as a fascinating example of how poetry and jazz rhythms informed avant-garde theatre.

10. The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
    An early romantic comedy by Shakespeare, this play centers on the friendship between Valentine and Proteus, and the romantic entanglements that arise when both fall for the same woman, Silvia. The narrative explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, disguise, and redemption, featuring both witty banter and the earliest appearance of Shakespeare’s iconic motif of a disguised heroine. It remains a spirited, if sometimes complex, exploration of young love.

11. Valhalla by Paul Rudnick
    A hilarious and sharp comedy that intertwines the lives of two men separated by nearly a century, exploring their outrageous approaches to identity, sexuality, and self-reinvention. The play connects the story of Ludwig II of Bavaria—the "Mad King"—with the modern journey of a young, flamboyant Texan man. Rudnick uses over-the-top wit and theatrical excess to examine the human need for grandeur and self-mythologizing.

12. Sunny (A Musical Comedy) by Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II & Jerome Kern
    This script details the delightful, music-filled romantic misadventures of Sunny, an English circus dancer who stows away on an ocean liner to escape her past. It is a quintessential example of early 20th-century musical comedy, featuring the charming book and lyrics by Harbach and Hammerstein, and memorable tunes by the legendary Jerome Kern. The play is an evocative piece of Broadway history, capturing the lighthearted optimism of its era.

13. Macbeth by William Shakespeare
    A harrowing tragedy chronicling the rapid moral decay of a Scottish general consumed by vaulting ambition and manipulated by sinister supernatural forces and his equally ruthless wife. Driven by prophecy and desire, Macbeth commits regicide and plunges his kingdom into a cycle of paranoia, tyranny, and bloodshed. This short, intense play is a profound exploration of guilt, power, and the terrifying nature of evil.

14. Penguin Plays: New English Dramatists 6 (Anthology) by Robert Bolt, John Whiting, Henry Livings, N.F. Simpson
    This collection introduces significant plays from some of the most innovative and challenging voices of the mid-20th century British theatre scene. The anthology features works by Robert Bolt, John Whiting, Henry Livings, and N.F. Simpson, providing a snapshot of the diversity and intellectual ferment of post-war English drama. It serves as an essential introduction to the playwrights who redefined modern political and social theatre.

15. Crimes in Hot Countries / Fair Slaughter by Howard Barker
    This volume features two challenging and darkly poetic plays by Howard Barker, a leading figure in the Theatre of Catastrophe, known for his relentless questioning of political and sexual morality. The scripts refuse easy interpretation, exploring the extremities of human behavior and the complex relationship between power, language, and violence. Barker's work is celebrated for its dense, confronting lyricism and intellectual rigor.

16. A Bold Stroke for a Wife by Susanna Centlivre
    This classic Restoration comedy of manners follows the intricate schemes of Colonel Fainwell, who must adopt four distinct, ridiculous disguises to win the consent of his beloved's four eccentric, controlling guardians. Centlivre, one of the most successful female playwrights of her era, crafts a witty and fast-paced satire on greed, gender roles, and the absurdity of social pretension. It is a brilliant example of early 18th-century English theatre.

17. The London Merchant by George Lillo
    A landmark play in dramatic history, this 18th-century work is a quintessential example of "bourgeois tragedy," shifting the focus of serious drama from kings and nobles to the lives of common tradesmen. The story details the moral corruption and eventual ruin of an apprentice named George Barnwell, whose downfall serves as a cautionary tale for the burgeoning middle class. Lillo’s work profoundly influenced European drama for decades.

18. The Sponge Room and Squat Betty by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall
    This volume contains two humorous, character-driven one-act plays by the celebrated writing partnership of Waterhouse and Hall, known for their sharp, northern English wit and observational humor. The Sponge Room is a charming period piece about two unlikely friends attempting a comical heist. Squat Betty provides another slice of relatable, dialogue-driven comedy focusing on domestic dynamics.

19. Ashes by David Rudkin
    A profoundly moving and emotionally devastating play that tackles the raw, difficult subject of a couple struggling through multiple miscarriages and their ultimate inability to conceive a child. The script utilizes intense, fragmented prose and poetic imagery to explore the deep psychological and physical trauma of infertility. Ashes is celebrated as one of the most powerful and honest dramatic treatments of this personal crisis.

20. Made in Bangkok by Anthony Minghella
    This provocative modern drama explores the themes of sexual tourism, exploitation, and moral decay through the journey of two distinctly English couples visiting Thailand. Minghella dissects Western anxieties and hypocrisies against the backdrop of an unfamiliar culture. The play is known for its unflinching look at complex ethical questions and its sharp, challenging social commentary.

21. Apricots & Thermidor by Trevor Griffiths
    This volume features two politically charged and structurally innovative plays by the acclaimed socialist writer Trevor Griffiths, known for integrating radical Marxist analysis into his dramatic work. Apricots is a short, metaphorical piece about artistic compromise, while Thermidor deals with the harsh realities of revolutionary history and ideology. The pairing demonstrates Griffiths’s commitment to exploring the tension between political purity and practical reality.