Drama Online
Skip to main content
Loading
Loading
Log In
Advanced Play Search

Learning Resources > Modern & Contemporary Plays > 20th and 21st Century British Drama Subject Guide

Subject Guide – 20th and 21st Century British Drama

This subject guide provides a springboard for exploring 20th and 21st Century British Drama and includes links to playtexts, books, video and audio content.

Playtexts

  • Beckett, Samuel. "Happy Days." Happy Days. London: Faber and Faber, 2010. 2–38. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Butterworth, Jez. "The Ferryman." The Ferryman. London: Nick Hern Books, 2017. 1–129. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Churchill, Caryl, Bill Naismith, and Nick Worrall. "Top Girls." Top Girls. London: Methuen Drama, 1991. lviii–110. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Daniels, Sarah. "The Gut Girls." Plays: 2. London: Methuen Drama, 1994. 2–94. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • green, debbie tucker. "hang." hang. London: Nick Hern Books, 2015. 2–69. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Greig, David. "The Events." The Events. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 2013. 6–65. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Harvey, Jonathan. "Beautiful Thing." Plays: 1. London: Methuen Drama, 1999. 2–90. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Ireland, David. "Cyprus Avenue." Cyprus Avenue. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2016. 5–83. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • James, Charlene. "Cuttin’ It." Cuttin’ It. London: Faber and Faber, 2016. 9–55. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Kirkwood, Lucy. "Chimerica." Chimerica. London: Nick Hern Books, 2013. 5–132. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Lavery, Bryony. "Frozen." Plays One. London: Faber and Faber, 2007. 96–197. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • McDonagh, Martin. "The Beauty Queen of Leenane." The Beauty Queen of Leenane. London: Methuen Drama, 1996. 2–66. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Pickett, Ava. "1536." 1536. London: Nick Hern Books Limited, 2025. 6–115. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Pinter, Harold. "Betrayal." Plays Four. London: Faber and Faber, 1993. 2–117. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Prebble, Lucy. "The Effect." The Effect. London: Bloomsbury, 2012. 2–101. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Russell, Willy. "Educating Rita." Educating Rita. London: Methuen Drama, 2001. 2–84. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Stephens, Simon. "Motortown." Stephens Plays: 2. London: Methuen Drama, 2009. 140–209. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Stoppard, Tom. "Travesties." Travesties. London: Faber and Faber, 2017. xvi–91. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Williams, Roy. "Advice for the Young at Heart." Advice for the Young at Heart. London: Bloomsbury, 2013. 2–58. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.

Books

  • Babbage, Frances. Adaptation in Contemporary Theatre: Performing Literature. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2018. Methuen Drama Engage. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Bell, Henry, and Sophie Bush. The Theatre of Laura Wade. London: Methuen Drama, 2026. Critical Companions. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Benzie, Rebecca. Feminism, Dramaturgy, and the Contemporary British History Play. London: Methuen Drama, 2024. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Billington, Michael. Affair of the Heart: British Theatre from 1992 to 2020. London: Methuen Drama, 2021. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Chiasson, Basil, and Catriona Fallow, ed. Harold Pinter: Stages, Networks, Collaborations. London: Methuen Drama, 2021. Methuen Drama Engage. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Croall, Jonathan. Buzz Buzz!: Playwrights, Actors and Directors at the National Theatre. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2008. Plays and Playwrights. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Drayton, Tom. Metamodernism in Contemporary British Theatre: A Politics of Hope/lessness. London: Methuen Drama, 2024. Methuen Drama Engage. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Geis, Deborah R., ed. Beat Drama: Playwrights and Performances of the ‘Howl’ Generation. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2016. Methuen Drama Engage. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Grochala, Sarah. The Contemporary Political Play: Rethinking Dramaturgical Structure. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2017. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Hedley, Philip. Joan’s Book: The Autobiography of Joan Littlewood. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2016. Theatre Makers. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Hunter, Jim. About Stoppard: The Playwright and the Work. London: Faber and Faber, 2005. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Malkin, Jeanette R., Eckart Voigts, and Sarah Jane Ablett, ed. A Companion to British-Jewish Theatre Since the 1950s. London: Methuen Drama, 2021. Methuen Drama Engage. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Megson, Chris. Modern British Playwriting: the 1970s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2012. Decades of Modern British Playwriting. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Milling, Jane. Modern British Playwriting: The 1980s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. London: Methuen Drama, 2012. Decades of Modern British Playwriting. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Nicholson, Steve. Modern British Playwriting: The 1960s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2012. Decades of Modern British Playwriting. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Pattie, David. Modern British Playwriting: The 1950s. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2012. Decades of Modern British Playwriting. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Perloff, Carey. Pinter and Stoppard: A Director’s View. London: Methuen Drama, 2022. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Rebellato, Dan, Richard Boon, and Philip Roberts, ed. Modern British Playwriting: 2000 – 2009: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2013. Decades of Modern British Playwriting. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Saunders, Graham, ed. British Theatre Companies 1980–1994: Joint Stock Theatre Company, Gay Sweatshop, Théâtre de Complicité, Forced Entertainment, Women’s Theatre Group, and Talawa. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2015. British Theatre Companies: From Fringe to Mainstream. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Sidi, Leah. Sarah Kane’s Theatre of Psychic Life: Theatre, Thought and Mental Suffering. London: Methuen Drama, 2023. Methuen Drama Engage. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Stephens, Simon. Simon Stephens: A Working Diary. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2016. Theatre Makers. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.

Video

  • Bruce, Deborah. Dixon and Daughters. 2023. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Childress, Alice. Trouble In Mind. 2021. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Frayn, Michael. Copenhagen, BBC Video, BBC Drama Films and Documentaries. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • McHugh, Catrina MBE. Rattle Snake. 2018. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • McHugh, Catrina MBE. Mycelial. 2024. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • McHugh, Catrina MBE. Sugar. 2021. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Penhall, Joe. Blue/Orange, BBC Video, BBC Drama Films and Documentaries. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Price, Tim. Nye. 2024. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Raine, Nina. Consent, National Theatre Collection. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Rattigan, Terence. The Deep Blue Sea, National Theatre Collection. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Thomas, Dylan. Under Milk Wood. 2021. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Tsang, Julie. Us Too: Alisha's Story. 2022. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Turnly, Francis. The Great Wave. 2018. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.

Audio

  • Coward, Noël. Blithe Spirit, L.A. Theatre Works. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Prebble, Lucy. Enron, L.A. Theatre Works. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Shaffer, Peter. Amadeus, L.A. Theatre Works. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.
  • Stoppard, Tom. Arcadia, L.A. Theatre Works. Drama Online. Web. 13 Oct. 2026.

Please note some titles may have territory restrictions. These can be checked on the Drama Online title list, downloadable from here.