Kirjahaku

A collection of plays from the acclaimed author of My Night With Reg, spanning twenty years of work from a playwright who brilliantly captured the comedy of pain. Included in this volume are: Coming Clean (Bush Theatre, London, 1982), Elyot's first play, winner of the Samuel Beckett Award, an examination of infidelity within a gay relationship. 'A very funny and acute comedy about the gay life' Sunday Times. 'In time, it will be recognised as the first mature play about homosexuality' Mail on Sunday My Night With Reg (Royal Court Theatre, London, 1994) His breakthrough play, winner of the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards for Best Comedy, a heartbreaking play about the fragility of friendship, happiness and life itself. 'Sharply witty and humanely wise drama about gay manners and morals in the age of AIDS' Independent The Day I Stood Still (National Theatre, London, 1998) A poignantly funny drama about the heartbreak of unrequited love and the power of memories. 'What begins apparently as a very English comedy about avoiding the issue... ends as something both tragic and heartening' Sunday Times Mouth to Mouth (Royal Court Theatre, 2001) A brilliantly acerbic tragicomedy that transferred to the West End, starring Lindsay Duncan. 'An ingenious, brilliantly intricate work of art' Financial Times Also included is a foreword by the author. 'There is an unsentimental compassion about Elyot's writing that is deeply affecting, and a sharp observation of contemporary life that is often richly comic' Daily Telegraph 'Guilt, loss, unrequited love – these are the themes we've come to expect from Kevin Elyot' The Times

Kevin Elyot’s Olivier and Evening Standard Award-winning comedy, My Night with Reg, defined a moment in the lives of gay men and became an instant classic on its premiere at the Royal Court and in the West End. At Guy’s London flat, friends old and new gather to party through the night. This is the summer of 1985, and for Guy and his circle the world is about to change forever. Deliciously funny and bittersweet, Kevin Elyot’s play captures the fragility of friendship, happiness and life itself. My Night With Reg first premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 1994, and went on to win the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards for Best Comedy. This new edition was published alongside the first major revival of the play at the Donmar Warehouse, London, in 2014, directed by Robert Hastie. It includes introductions by Hastie, Roger Michell, who directed the premiere, and the Booker Prize-winning novelist Alan Hollinghurst.

A new play from the writer of the classic comedy My Night with Reg. In their sitting room in leafy north London, Isabella and Basil are getting ready to take Uncle Charles out to dinner. It's summer 1967 and their secrets are starting to crack as the world around them undergoes a revolution. Tracing one family's hidden liaisons over half a century to the present day, Kevin Elyot's evocative final play conjures a heartbreakingly funny tale of fathers and sons, desire and regret, and lives half lived.

Funny, fresh and packed with razor-sharp wit, Kevin Elyot’s landmark drama questions the nature of fidelity and the limits of love. Winner of the Samuel Beckett Award. Tony and Greg have love all figured out. They’re in a committed relationship, with room for a little sex-on-the-side whenever it takes their fancy. Their only rule? Never sleep with the same man twice. Then drop-dead gorgeous Robert walks into their lives, and nobody plays by the rules. Coming Clean was first seen at the Bush Theatre, London, in 1982. This edition was published alongside the thirty-fifth-anniversary production, headlining the King’s Head Theatre’s 2017 Queer Season, and directed by Artistic Director Adam Spreadbury-Maher.

A poignantly funny drama from the author of My Night With Reg, about the heartbreak of unrequited love and the power of memories. In the 60s, Horace, Jerry and Judy were teenagers. They were into drink, drugs, Hendrix, The Hobbit and, of course, each other. Thirty years later, Jerry is dead, Judy is in love and the gay-but-hesitant Horace is unable to get on with his life - until he receives a surprise visitor. Kevin Elyot's play The Day I Stood Still was first performed in the Cottesloe auditorium of the National Theatre, London, in January 1998.

A brilliantly acerbic tragi-comedy from the author of My Night With Reg. At a homecoming party for Dennis and Laura's teenage son, the reappearance of an old family friend throws up secrets from the past and paves the way for fresh disaster. Kevin Elyot's play Mouth to Mouth pins down the pretension and self-centredness of his characters with unerring and hilarious accuracy. It was first staged at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 2001.

A heart-wrenching drama of anguish and missed opportunities, from the author of My Night With Reg. Don is still carrying a torch for Diana, his childhood sweetheart stolen away by Howard. Don unexpectedly drops in on Howard and Diana, having not seen them for 15 years. They now have a daughter, Hermia, who is the spit of Diana when Don first fell for her, so all his old longings bubble dangerously to the surface. Kevin Elyot's play Forty Winks was first staged at the Royal Court Theatre, London, in 2004.