Books published by publisher NICK HERN BOOKS

Ella Hickson's version of J.M. Barrie's much-loved story puts the character of Wendy firmly centre stage, in an adaptation that is refreshingly modern but never loses the charm of the original.Winter, 1909. Snow is falling across London. Wendy Darling and her brothers sleep peacefully in their bedroom, as their parents bicker downstairs. In a sudden flurry of snow their window blows open, and into their lives tumbles a mischievous boy called Peter, followed by a fractious fairy called Tink. With the aid of a little fairy dust, Wendy agrees to fly with Peter to Neverland, seeing not only the promise of an awfully big adventure, but also the chance to rediscover the key to her parents' lost happiness. Once there, she will give the Lost Boys a run for their money, defeat Captain Hook and his pirate crew, and ultimately, learn what it means to grow up.Commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Ella Hickson's Wendy & Peter Pan premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, in December 2013. The play will suit any theatre company or youth group looking to stage a classic tale, full of magic, adventure and strong female roles."[A] sensitive, funny and intelligent reworking... I laughed, I gasped, I cried - it is wonderful to be transported so completely by a piece of theatre." - WhatsOnStage"Delightful... a warm, sensitive and humorous reboot." - Evening Standard"Resoundingly successful... witty, pointed, adventuresome... Hickson isn't just subverting this story, she is strengthening it." - The Times (London)"Wittily inventive... a constant joy to behold." - GuardianElla Hickson is an award-winning and critically acclaimed playwright. Her debut play Eight won a Fringe First and played in London and New York. Other work includes Precious Little Talent (Trafalgar Studios), Boys (HighTide Festival, then Soho Theatre), Hot Mess (Latitude Festival, then The Arcola) and The Authorised Kate Bane (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh).

Four young friends leave the city behind and head into the wilderness, but a burning secret threatens to tear their lives apart. A bittersweet comedy about life, love and friendship once school is long gone. Written in an ensemble storytelling style that will suit younger performance groups around the country, especially those looking for predominantly female roles.

Mike Kenny's imaginative stage adaptation of E. Nesbit's much-loved children's classic. Famously filmed, this story of a prosperous Edwardian family - mother and three children - forced into near-penury in the rural north of England captures the anxieties and exhilarations of childhood with great tenderness and insight. As Mike Kenny says of his remarkably faithful adaptation, 'You don't need a real train to perform this play' the most powerful prop is the imagination of the audience, the most effective tool the skill of the actors.' So this version of The Railway Children, which offers three plum roles for young performers, is eminently suitable for schools, youth theatres and drama groups - anywhere, in fact, where the cry of 'Daddy! My Daddy!' is likely to provoke a tear. 'Lavish, warm-hearted... one of the very finest children's stories of the 20th century, and it is served superbly by Mike Kenny's adaptation'- Whatsonstage.com 'This glorious adaptation... profoundly moving... it never for a moment runs out of steam'- Guardian 'Mike Kenny's script provides everything needed for a cracking evening at the theatre.'- Amateur Stage 'Mike Kenny's adaptation shows his mastery of playwriting for children and families... adults and children alike are enthralled by the clever mix of imagination and reality'- Financial Times

A hard-hitting, claustrophic drama about trying to escape your past. Pink loves Rolly. Rolly loves Pink. And Pink loves getting bombed off her face. Sisters from the same nest. Both trapped in a tiny rotting world. Both cuffed to a past that refuses to release them. One wants out. The other needs her in. Trouble is that when you complete each other, you're nothing on your own. Pests was commissioned by Clean Break in a co-production with the Royal Court Theatre, London, and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. It premiered at the Royal Exchange in March 2014, before transferring to the Royal Court and touring the UK.