{"product_id":"inventing-the-truth-devising-and-directing-for-the","title":"Inventing the Truth: Devising and Directing for the Theatre","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Pioneering Director's Approach to Devised Theatre\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMike Bradwell on creating theatre from scratch\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn invaluable guide to the difficult arts of devising plays and directing texts, by one of the UK's leading theatre directors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThroughout a lifetime of experience – as an actor for Mike Leigh, founder of Hull Truck, Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre, and subsequently as a freelance director – Mike Bradwell has forged a reputation as a theatrical innovator and risk-taker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book begins by exploring the process of devising a play by working intensively through character and improvisation with a group of actors. Using \u003cem\u003eA Bed of Roses\u003c\/em\u003e as an example, a play that he himself devised, Bradwell shows how the actors set about inventing their characters, whether within a pre-determined framework or with no strictures whatsoever. He explores how actors can then 'grow' their character, both through solo work and through interaction with the other characters. He also examines the role of the director in moulding and shaping the individual scenes, the overall action of the play, and the development of the characters within it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe second half of the book describes in detail how the nuanced work involved in devising characters from scratch can be applied to a pre-existing text. Bradwell explains the techniques by which he encourages the actor to take possession of his or her character by investigating or inventing their whole history up to the moment the action begins. Taking as his template Jack Thorne's play \u003cem\u003eWhen You Cure Me\u003c\/em\u003e, which Bradwell directed at the Bush, he demonstrates the meticulous work on the text that is needed to keep the characters alive and truthful in every moment of the action.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll together, \u003cem\u003eInventing the Truth\u003c\/em\u003e offers practitioners a unique account of the techniques involved in devising or directing plays to the highest standard. Mike Bradwell's previous book \u003cem\u003eThe Reluctant Escapologist\u003c\/em\u003e won the Theatre Book Prize in 2011.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'There is a special sense of care about a Mike Bradwell production, in dramas that penetrate deeply into the secret corners of the human heart'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cem\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso included in the book, to aid the reader's understanding of the process, are the full texts of both \u003cem\u003eA Bed of Roses\u003c\/em\u003e ('Hilariously funny, extremely moving and physically frightening... a small masterpiece' \u003cem\u003eTime Out\u003c\/em\u003e) and Jack Thorne's \u003cem\u003eWhen You Cure Me\u003c\/em\u003e ('Painstakingly honest... acutely observant of the petty rivalries and jealousies that sickness provokes' Guardian).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLearn devising methods from a founder of Hull Truck and the Bush Theatre\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaster the practical techniques of creating original theatre work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eApply Bradwell's honest, experiential approach to your own creative work\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStudy from Nick Hern Books' acclaimed devising and direction collection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReviews\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'This book is undoubtedly both informative and educational... fascinating' \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBritish Theatre Guide\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Refreshing, straightforward... a precise, unpretentious how-to' \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTeaching Drama Magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMike Bradwell (1948-2025) was a leading theatre director. He founded Hull Truck Theatre Company in 1971, was Artistic Director of the Bush Theatre from 1996 until 2007, and subsequently worked widely as a freelance director. His book on alternative theatre, \u003cem\u003eThe Reluctant Escapologist\u003c\/em\u003e, won the Society for Theatre Research's Theatre Book Prize for 2010.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (EPUB):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781780014876\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24 October 2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook (EPUB)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nick Hern Books\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eI can't see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick Hern Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57104960192885,"sku":"9781780014876","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781780014876.jpg?v=1777219660","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/inventing-the-truth-devising-and-directing-for-the","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}