How Plays Work
Published on 25. June 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-85459-371-9 (ISBN)
Description
Distinguished playwright David Edgar examines the mechanisms and techniques which dramatists throughout the ages have employed to structure their plays and to express their meaning.
Written for playwrights and playgoers alike, Edgar's analysis starts with the building blocks of whole plays - plot, character creation, genre and structure - and moves on to scenes and devices. He shows how plays share a common architecture without which the uniqueness of their authors' vision would be invisible.
What does King Lear have in common with Cinderella? What does Jaws owe to Ibsen? From Aeschylus to Alan Ayckbourn, from Chekhov to Caryl Churchill, are there common principles by which all plays work?
David Edgar's How Plays Work is a masterclass for playwrights and playmakers and a fascinating guide to the anatomy of drama.
'Lucid, deeply intelligent... combines theoretical acumen with the assured know-how of a working dramatist' Terry Eagleton, TLS
'Fascinating... Read it. You will learn a lot' The Stage
Written for playwrights and playgoers alike, Edgar's analysis starts with the building blocks of whole plays - plot, character creation, genre and structure - and moves on to scenes and devices. He shows how plays share a common architecture without which the uniqueness of their authors' vision would be invisible.
What does King Lear have in common with Cinderella? What does Jaws owe to Ibsen? From Aeschylus to Alan Ayckbourn, from Chekhov to Caryl Churchill, are there common principles by which all plays work?
David Edgar's How Plays Work is a masterclass for playwrights and playmakers and a fascinating guide to the anatomy of drama.
'Lucid, deeply intelligent... combines theoretical acumen with the assured know-how of a working dramatist' Terry Eagleton, TLS
'Fascinating... Read it. You will learn a lot' The Stage
Reviews / Votes
'Fascinating... read it. You will learn a lot' * The Stage * 'Lucid, deeply intelligent... combines theoretical acumen with the assured know-how of a working dramatist' * Terry Eagleton, TLS *More details
Edition
original edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 139 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
316 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-85459-371-9 (9781854593719)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Person
David Edgar pioneered the teaching of playwriting in the UK, founding the Playwriting Studies course at Birmingham University in 1989. He is also a leading playwright, best known for his political plays and for his adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby for the RSC.