50 Best Plays for Young Audiences ― Theatre-making for Children and Young People in England 1965-2015

Compiled by two leading practitioners, this is a personal reflection on the wonderful work created all over the UK, based on Ireland and Harman’s careers and working knowledge of playwriting and production in England.

Includes a detailed listing of fifty plays by English playwrights chosen by their contemporaries, which have most influenced those working professionally to make theatre for young audiences.

Vicky Ireland MBE has worked as an actress and as a presenter on BBC TV’s Words and Pictures. She was Artistic Director of Polka Theatre, (1988-2002) and has since adapted and directed six books by Jacqueline Wilson. Television includes two adaptations of Allan Ahlberg’s Happy Families for BBC TV receiving a Writers’ Guild nomination. Vicky is co-artistic director of A Thousand Cranes Theatre and Vice-Chair of Action for Children’s Arts.

Paul Harman started work as an actor in repertory theatres in 1963 and soon found his way to professional theatre for young audiences via the Coventry Belgrade Theatre in Education team. He was founder and Artistic Director of Merseyside Young People’s Theatre in Liverpool 1978 ? 89 and Artistic Director of Cleveland Theatre Company in Darlington 1994 ? 2008. His productions for young audiences have toured to many countries and he has translated plays for young audiences from French and German. Currently Chair of TYA-UK Centre of ASSITEJ, (the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People) and a member of the Executive Committee of ASSITEJ International from 2008 ? 2011.