The Crafty Art of Playmaking - by Alan Ayckbourn (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In The Crafty Art of Playmaking, this seminal guide from renowned playwright Alan Ayckbourn shares his tricks of the trade.

From helpful hints on writing to tips on directing, this book provides a complete primer for the newcomer and a refresher for those with more experience. Written in Ayckbourn's signature style that combines humor, seriousness, and a heady air of sophistication, The Crafty Art of Playmaking is a must-have for aspiring playwrights, students of drama, and anyone who has ever laughed their way through one of Ayckbourn's plays.

Review Quotes

"...a practical and disciplined look...After 44 years at his profession, Ayckbourn knows what he's talking about." --Lloyd Rose, Washington Post Book World

"...amusing, thought-provoking, and helpful in turn...his experiences are well worth the price of the book." --Susan L. Peters, Library Journal

"...an entrancing read-no matter what part you play in playmaking." --Dany Margolies, Back Stage

"...a polished gem of theater lore..." --Publishers Weekly Annex

"The New York Times on Alan Ayckbourn's recent House and Garden: As ingeniously constructed a work as the contemporary theater has to offer... House and Garden does justice not only to Mr. Ayckbourn's miraculous engineering but to his lightly astringent, not quite farcical humor as well. " --The New York Times

About the Author

Alan Ayckbourn is one of England's most prolific and widely performed living playwrights with over sixty plays in his catalogue. In 1997, he received a knighthood for his services to the theater. He was represented in New York this year with simultaneous productions of his plays "House" and "Garden" at the Manhattan Theater Club's two stages. He lives in England.