Normal Heart (NHB Modern Plays): National Theatre edition

The Normal Heart is a powerful drama about the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, written by Larry Kramer. It follows the story of a man who fights against silence, indifference, and hostility from public officials and the gay community to gain recognition for the virus that threatens to change everything. The play was first premiered in 1986 and revived on Broadway in 2011, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival. This new edition of the play is published alongside a major revival at the National Theatre, London, in 2021, directed by Dominic Cooke.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 23 September 2021
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

The Normal Heart is a powerful and controversial drama by Larry Kramer, set during the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. The play follows the story of one man, Ned Weeks, who, while his friends are dying around him, fights against a conspiracy of silence, indifference, and hostility from public officials and the gay community to gain recognition for the virus that threatens to change everything. The play received its British premiere at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1986 and has since become a landmark piece of theater.

Thirty-five years after its premiere, The Normal Heart remains as relevant and powerful as ever. Its searing emotional power and prescience have made it a timeless masterpiece. The play was revived on Broadway in 2011, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival, and was later adapted for television in 2014, receiving the Emmy Award for Outstanding Television Movie.

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the play's premiere, this new edition of The Normal Heart is published alongside a major revival at the National Theatre in London, directed by Dominic Cooke. The revival features the definitive text of the play, extensive supplementary material, including a new introduction by critic and broadcaster David Benedict, and tributes to Larry Kramer by Russell T Davies, Tony Kushner, and Matthew López, all of whom have contributed significantly to the canon of dramatic work about HIV/AIDS.

Russell T Davies, Tony Kushner, and Matthew López have all written plays about HIV/AIDS, including It's a Sin, Angels in America, and The Inheritance. These plays have had a profound impact on the understanding and awareness of the epidemic, and have helped to break down the barriers of silence and discrimination surrounding it.

In conclusion, The Normal Heart is a powerful and important play that continues to resonate with audiences today. Its searing emotional power, prescience, and contribution to the canon of dramatic work about HIV/AIDS make it a timeless masterpiece that will be remembered for generations to come.

Weight: 136g
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839040351