David Edgar es un dramaturgo inglés cuya obra está profundamente arraigada en una tradición familiar teatral. Desde joven, demostró un profundo interés en la escritura de obras de teatro y el mundo teatral. Sus obras a menudo abordan temas sociales y políticos contemporáneos, explorándolos con una aguda comprensión de la naturaleza humana. El estilo dramático de Edgar es reconocido por su profundidad intelectual y su capacidad para atraer al público a las complejas cuestiones de nuestro tiempo.
How Plays Work is both a masterclass for playwrights and playmakers and a fascinating guide to the anatomy of drama. In this revised edition, Edgar brings the book right up to date with analyses of many recent plays, as well as explorations of emerging genres and new innovations in playwriting practice.
NEW! from Longman School DramaThis compelling play makes Stevenson's classic pre-1914 novella accessible to pupils, whilst remaining faithful to the original prose, allowing them to fully engage with the plot and themes.
This volume contains the best of David Edgar's work from the seventies
1989. An Eastern Bloc government on the brink of collapse. As the old regime retreats, former political prisoners join banned writers around the negotiating table... The Shape of the Table is part of David Edgar's post-Cold War trilogy of plays, which also includes Pentecost and The Prisoner's Dilemma. Witty and informative, this play is both an intensely topical account of what actually went on in the corridors of power and a timeless analysis of revolution in action. In particular the play explores not only the challenge of seizing power, but also the difficulty of relinquishing it. The Shape of the Table was first performed at the National Theatre, London, in 1990.
The narrative explores the intense clash between renowned figures Elia Kazan and Arthur Miller, delving into their contrasting artistic visions and personal beliefs. Set against the backdrop of the theater world, this drama promises to reveal the complexities of their relationship and the broader implications for the arts. Premiering at the Orange Tree Theatre in September 2024, it offers a fresh perspective on these iconic personalities and their impact on stage and screen.
Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic horror story.
"The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," published in 1886, became a bestseller with 40,000 copies sold in six months. The story is inspired by the true tale of Deacon Brodie, an Edinburgh carpenter who led a secret double life and ultimately faced execution. Stevenson had previously written a play about this case as a teenager, titled "Deacon Brodie, or The Double Life." The impetus for the novella came from a vivid dream in late September or early October 1885, after which Stevenson quickly drafted a version. While recovering in Bournemouth, he experienced a health crisis just before the dream and wrote feverishly. His wife criticized the initial draft, prompting Stevenson to burn it and produce an allegorical second version within a week. The narrative combines various stylistic levels, with a distinct tone in the narrator's voice compared to the inserted documents, showcasing Stevenson's stylistic virtuosity, which needed to be faithfully preserved in translation.
Set against a backdrop of shifting political landscapes, this epic play explores the redefined fault-lines in society. With a sweeping narrative, it delves into the complexities of contemporary politics and its impact on individuals and communities. Premiering in October 2024, the production is a collaboration between the Royal Shakespeare Company and Headlong, promising a thought-provoking examination of modern governance and its repercussions.
