Theatre For Children

David Wood has been called by the London Times “the national children’s dramatist.” Presenting theatre for children as a separate art form, Mr. Wood here draws upon his experience as a magician, actor, director, producer, composer, and playwright, and analyzes the skills involved in entertaining and involving audiences of children everywhere. He reveals his special techniques for catching and holding a child’s attention, provides a practical handbook illustrated with excerpts from his plays, and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into them. He also examines the business side of children’s theatre, showing exactly how a good synopsis will help to sell an idea. “The challenge,” he writes, “is to give a unique theatrical experience to an audience, many of whom will be first-time theatergoers, to involve them emotionally, to sustain their interest in a story, to inspire and excite them using theatricality, to make them laugh, to make them think, to move them, to entertain and educate them by triggering their imaginations.” This comprehensive guide written with Janet Grant is essential reading for professionals and amateurs alike and for anyone wishing to be involved in the theatre for children.

One of the world's leading children's dramatists provides a practical handbook of the skills involved in entertaining and involving audiences of children. A marvelous contribution to the world of Youth Theater...a must. --Robyn Flatt, Dallas Children's Theater. He has often been called the National Playwright for Children and he deserves it. --Cameron Mackintosh

Library Journal

This is a practical how-to guide to the fundamentals of theatrical productions geared for children and performed by adults. Wood's experience is in the English theater--he writes and directs children's productions for his touring company, Whirligig Theatre, and has been dubbed the "National Playwright for Children"--but many of his insights are universal. He covers the gamut of what children in audiences react to, how to write suitable original plays, how to adapt existing children's literature, and production, acting, and business details. This book has no information for child actors or for adults working with child actors. For a specialized audience, but a good addition to the field.--J. Sara Paulk, Coastal Plain Regional Lib., Tifton, GA

David Wood has been writing, adapting, directing, and acting in plays for children for more than twenty-five years. His best-known work has enjoyed international success and has entered the repertory of amateur companies and school dramatic societies. “Wood’s great quality as a playwright is his confidence in his audience’s ability to make giant imaginative leaps, coupled with a refusal to shortchange them artistically.”—Financial Times.