BookOdyssey

Sarah Silverman\'s father taught her to curse-at the age of three. She was a chronic bedwetter-until she was old enough to drive. She lost her virginity at age 19-but didn\'t really know it. These are just a few of the outrageous true tales that Silverman shares in her alternately hilarious and moving collection of autobiographical essays. With her signature taboo-breaking humour, Silverman writes on everything from her epic struggle with hairy arms (there wasn\'t enough wax in the world) to the death of her infant brother (It was Nana\'s fault) and always leaves the reader with a smile. Mixed in among the essays are scores of embarrassing photos, mortifying childhood diary entries, and truly humiliating e-mails to and from her comedian friends. Σελίδες: 288, Διαστάσεις: 12.5x12.5cm

As part of the ever-growing, increasingly popular Drama Games series, Jessica Swale returns with another dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book, packed with dozens of drama games that can be used in the process of devising theatre. The games will be invaluable to directors and theatre companies at all levels who are creating new pieces of theatre from scratch and need lively, dynamic games to fire the imagination. They will particularly appeal to school, youth theatre and community groups where devising is a growing trend – and a core element of the drama curriculum. Written with clear instructions on How to Play, notes on the Aim of the Game, and illuminating examples from professional productions, the games cover every aspect of the devising process and develop all the skills required: generating ideas, creating characters and scenarios, using stimuli, structuring the piece, and creating an ensemble. Mike Leigh, the most dedicated and celebrated creator of devised work, hails the book in his foreword as \'highly original and massively useful\'. \'A remarkable compendium of games and exercises… a lively starting point for rich invention\' Mike Leigh, from his Foreword Σελίδες: 160, Διαστάσεις: 11x11cm

101 great drama games for use in any classroom or workshop setting. Part of the Nick Hern Books Drama Games series. A dip-in, flick-through, quick-fire resource book, packed with 101 lively drama games suitable for players of all ages, with many appropriate for children from age 6 upwards. Whilst aimed primarily at school, youth theatre and community groups, they are equally fun - and instructional - for adults to play in workshop or rehearsal settings. \'An extraordinarily helpful compendium... a valuable help to directors, teachers and workshop leaders\' Max Stafford-Clark, from his Foreword Σελίδες: 208, Διαστάσεις: 11.3x11.3cm

\'There is nothing stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself.\' Hannah Gadsby, NanetteMulti-awardwinning Hannah Gadsby transformed comedy with their show Nanette, even as they declared that they were quitting stand-up. Now, they take us through the defining moments in their life that led to the creation of Nanette and their powerful decision to tell the truth - no matter the cost.Gadsby\'s unique stand-up special Nanette was a viral success that left audiences captivated by their blistering honesty and their ability to create both tension and laughter in a single moment. But while their worldwide fame might have looked like an overnight sensation, their path from open mic to the global stage was hard-fought and anything but linear.Ten Steps to Nanette traces Gadsby\'s growth as a queer person from Tasmania - where homosexuality was illegal until 1997 - to their ever-evolving relationship with comedy, to their struggle with adult diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and finally to the backbone of Nanette - the renouncement of self-deprecation, the rejection of misogyny, and the moral significance of truth-telling.Equal parts harrowing and hilarious, Ten Steps to Nanette continues Gadsby\'s tradition of confounding expectations and norms, properly introducing us to one of the most explosive, formative voices of our time. Σελίδες: 400, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

ACTRESS. ICON. ACTIVIST. Her story, in her voice, for the first time. In this honest, layered and unforgettable book that alternates between storytelling and her own poetry, Pamela Anderson breaks the mould of the celebrity memoir while taking back the tale that has been crafted about her.Her blond bombshell image was ubiquitous in the 1990s. Discovered in the stands of a football game, she was immediately rocket launched into fame, becoming Playboy\'s favourite cover girl and an emblem of Hollywood glamour and sexuality. But what happens when you lose grip on your own life - and the image the notoriety machine creates for you is not who you really are?Growing up on Vancouver Island, the daughter of young, wild, and unprepared parents, Pamela Anderson\'s childhood was not easy, but it allowed her to create her own world-surrounded by nature and imaginary friends. When she overcame her deep shyness and grew into herself, she fell into a life on the cover of magazines, the beaches of Malibu, the sets of movies and talk shows, the arms of rockstars, the coveted scene at the Playboy Mansion. And as her star rose, she found herself tabloid fodder, at the height of an era when paparazzi tactics were bent on capturing a celebrity\'s most intimate, and sometimes weakest moments. This is when Pamela Anderson lost control of her own narrative, hurt by the media and fearful of the public\'s perception of who she was . . . and who she wasn\'t.Fighting back with a sense of grace, fuelled by a love of art and literature, and driven by a devotion to her children and the causes she cares about most, Pamela Anderson has now gone back to the island where she grew up, after a memorable run starring as Roxie in Chicago on Broadway, reclaiming her free spirit but also standing firm as a strong, creative, confident woman. \'The iconic Anderson uses a mixture of poetry and prose to present an impressionistic view of a fascinating life\' Booklist Σελίδες: 256, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0213, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

This is the story of the Golden Age of magic and of the world\'s most legendary magicians: the eccentric personalities who patented the first ghost and competed fiendishly in the race to make things materialize, levitate and disappear.We meet Harry Kellar, the ruthless thief of secrets who was the model for the Wizard of Oz, and PT Selbit, the first man to saw a woman in half on stage.We meet John Nevil Maskelyne, whose Egyptian Theatre was a London institution for sixty years. Hiding the Elephant is the masterwork of a man who has dedicated his life to magic, who knows the tricks inside out, and still believes. Σελίδες: 400, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

\"The Pocket Book of Burlesque\" is the no-holds-barred, totally feisty, pocket-sized manual for the aspiring, the practicing, and the admiring burlesque fan, written by Professor Jo Boobs, founder of the New York School of Burlesque. With a foreword by feminist comedian (and bona fide burlesque enthusiast) Margaret Cho, this paperback guidebook runs through the basic philosophies of burlesque performance, provides step-by-step instruction on basic moves, and gives hand-me-down wisdom from one of the most established voices on the burlesque scene. The book also includes hands-on exercises for developing stage-worthy confidence, sexiness, and presence, as well as advice on how to bring together the fabulous makeup, costumes, pasties, moves, grooves, and attitudes of burlesque. \"The Pocket Book of Burlesque\" is the one-stop, must-have guide for everyone interested in this newly-and wildly-popular performance art and provides inspiration and advice that readers can take straight from the page to the stage! Σελίδες: 272, Διαστάσεις: 12.7x12.7cm

West End Producer is the anonymous Twitter sensation whose hilarious and unfailingly accurate barbs satirising and celebrating the theatre industry have won him a devoted following. His identity is the subject of feverish speculation in the media, fuelled by his regular appearances at West End opening nights in costume, wig and latex mask. He has become a genuine theatre impresario, launching talent competitions Search for a Twitter Star and its successor, Search for a Twitter Composer. And now West End Producer is ready to share all he\'s learnt about how to get ahead in showbusiness, in the form of a handy paperback book. Full of the wit and mischievous indiscretion that has gained him such a cult following, packed with gossip and insider knowledge of the theatre business, and containing enough savvy advice on acting to kickstart a career, West End Producer\'s book offers tips (both practical and deliciously impractical) on: Getting into drama school (learning how to sit in a circle)Auditioning (perfecting the \'staring vacantly out front\' pose)Rehearsals techniques (including how to act in a serious play)The different kinds of actor (from sex pest to company idiot)Combating boredom (and avoiding backstage naughtiness)How to behave at first-night parties (obeying the traffic-light colour code)And, most importantly, the correct way to bow at the curtain call Also included in the book are many of West End Producer’s most memorable tweets, miniature comic salvos despatched with all the shrewdness of a man who truly knows his Barrowmans from his Balls. \'Prepare to be shocked, rocked and mocked in this genuinely laugh-out-loud-funny, lovingly crafted, meticulously researched, spookily insightful and accurately spelled guide to all things thespian.\' Michael Ball \'Don’t even consider putting your daughter on the stage, Mrs Worthington, until you’ve first consulted this wonderful book.\' Paul O’Grady Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 13.8x13.8cm

In his first full-length autobiography, comedy legend and national treasure Billy Connolly reveals the truth behind his windswept and interesting life.Born in a tenement flat in Glasgow in 1942, orphaned by the age of 4, and a survivor of appalling abuse at the hands of his own family, Billy\'s life is a remarkable story of success against all the odds.Billy found his escape first as an apprentice welder in the shipyards of the River Clyde. Later he became a folk musician - a \'rambling man\' - with a genuine talent for playing the banjo. But it was his ability to spin stories, tell jokes and hold an audience in the palm of his hand that truly set him apart.As a young comedian Billy broke all the rules. He was fearless and outspoken - willing to call out hypocrisy wherever he saw it. But his stand-up was full of warmth, humility and silliness too. His startling, hairy \'glam-rock\' stage appearance - wearing leotards, scissor suits and banana boots - only added to his appeal.It was an appearance on Michael Parkinson\'s chat show in 1975 - and one outrageous story in particular - that catapulted Billy from cult hero to national star. TV shows, documentaries, international fame and award-winning Hollywood movies followed. Billy\'s pitch-perfect stand-up comedy kept coming too - for over 50 years, in fact - until a double diagnosis of cancer and Parkinson\'s Disease brought his remarkable live performances to an end. Since then he has continued making TV shows, creating extraordinary drawings... and writing.Windswept and Interesting is Billy\'s story in his own words. It is joyfully funny - stuffed full of hard-earned wisdom as well as countless digressions on fishing, farting and the joys of dancing naked. It is an unforgettable, life-affirming story of a true comedy legend.\'I didn\'t know I was Windswept and Interesting until somebody told me. It was a friend who was startlingly exotic himself. He\'d just come back from Kashmir and was all billowy shirt and Indian beads. I had long hair and a beard and was swishing around in electric blue flairs.He said: \"Look at you - all windswept and interesting!\"I just said: \"Exactly!\"After that, I simply had to maintain my reputation...\' Σελίδες: 400, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

‘For however long we must keep our distance, we will continue to create, to reinvent, to strive and to feed our creativity. At a time where performers are needed more than ever, training the next generation of performers must go on!’ Glyn Trefor-Jones, from his Introduction  Drama Menu is the revolutionary, hugely popular concept that has transformed the planning and delivery of drama classes for teachers and workshop leaders around the world. Choose an Appetiser or two, a Starter, a Main Course and a Dessert – and voilà! – you’ll have a delicious, dramatic banquet for your students. This new collection, Drama Menu at a Distance – created specifically to help anyone teaching drama during the COVID-19 pandemic – brings you 80 games and exercises, all of which are safe and secure to play in this new era of socially distanced teaching and online learning. It offers dynamic, brand-new exercises to energise, excite and inspire your group, alongside some firm favourites, redesigned to be played within the necessary constraints. Also included is an introduction by the author, with advice and suggestions to support you in delivering your session. Drama Menu at a Distance is the essential recipe book you need to eliminate the challenges of planning lessons and workshops in the ‘new normal’, and leave you with more time for playing. Stay safe – and bon appétit!   Praise for Drama Menu: ‘An essential resource for anyone teaching drama to children of all ages… with catchy titles, clear numbering and individual exercise summaries, Drama Menu is an easily accessible, flexible and creative resource useful for any dramatic platform. A must-have for all teachers wanting to give their students the very best!’ Word Matters ‘Easy to navigate… definitely something for everyone… a really useful collection’ Teaching Drama ‘Ideal… [the author’s] knowledge and experience are apparent in his writing and this book will provide a great deal of varied and inspiring material for sessions with secondary-aged or older students, although many activities could be used with or adapted for younger age-groups’ Drama Resource ‘Unbelievably useful… every reader will find something new and of absolute hands-on usefulness… Drama Menu will become your companion’ ReviewsGate.com ‘Well organised and easy to use… a useful and relevant tool for anyone involved with facilitating drama sessions’ Drama Magazine Σελίδες: 112, Διαστάσεις: 14.8x14.8cm

*A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR*\'A hilarious breath of fresh air\' AMY SCHUMER\'A razor-sharp dissection of cultural differences. And yes, it\'s side-splittingly funny\' ADAM KAY\'I\'ve laughed out loud at least once on every page\' VICTORIA COREN MITCHELLPhil Wang was born in Stoke-on-Trent, raised in Malaysia, and then came of age in Bath - \'a spa town for people who find Cheltenham too ethnic\'. In this brilliantly funny and incisive comic memoir he looks at what it means to be torn between two continents, bringing his trademark cynicism and wit to topics ranging from family, food and comedy to race, empire and colonialism. Σελίδες: 272, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0623, Διαστάσεις: 12.6x12.6cm

* AS SEEN ON BBC TWO\'S BETWEEN THE COVERS * \'Excellent - I inhaled it, I absolutely loved it!\' CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN, BBC Radio 2 \'Wonderfully funny, utterly charming and sharp as all Hell\' SARAH MILLICAN \'Tom Allen is one of the funniest comedians in the UK, the best-dressed man I know and now it turns out he is a superb writer\' JOSH WIDDICOMBE ------ When I was 16 I dressed in Victorian clothing in a bid to distract people from the fact that I was gay. It was a flawed plan... No Shame is a very funny, candid and emotional ride of a memoir by one of our most beloved comedians. The working-class son of a coach driver, and the youngest member of the Noel Coward Society, Tom Allen grew up in nineties suburbia as the eternal outsider. In these hilarious, honest and heart-breaking stories Tom recalls observations on childhood, his adolescence, the family he still lives with, and his attempts to come out and negotiate the gay dating scene. They are written with his trademark caustic wit and warmth, and will entertain, surprise and move you in equal measure. Σελίδες: 240, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0708, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

\'[A] fascinating voyage round McKellen\' Simon Callow, Guardian\'Surely the definitive McKellen biography\' Alexander Larman, Observer\'A well-researched, eminently readable book\' Benedict Nightingale, The TimesFew actors achieve in their lifetime what Sir Ian McKellen has. A repertoire of vast commercial success coupled with critically acclaimed and authoritative Shakespearian roles. A man whose achievements inspire both admiration and affection. McKellen has been feted and admired in every country across the globe, and has been knighted by, and received the Companionship of Honour from Queen Elizabeth II. He is an icon of, and ardent campaigner in the cause for LGBT rights.Many of us know of McKellen through his depiction of Gandalf in Lord of the Rings. Garry O\'Connor\'s definitive biography reveals the man behind McKellen the actor. The inside story of the person himself: a constantly developing drama and a work in progress. Yet O\'Connor pulls no punches: some of his revelations may be controversial to his fans, even explosive, given McKellen\'s constant ability to shock and surprise. The author directed McKellen in some of his very first roles. This is an unflinching yet deeply intimate and affectionate biography that, like McKellen himself, will stand the test of time as a rounded and complete portrait of one of the most unusual geniuses of our times. Σελίδες: 368, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1110, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

\'A CINEMATIC RECORD OF HOW AN ACTOR SHAPES A CAREER\' Tom Hanks\'FUNNY, SAD AND HEARTFELT\' Vince Gilligan\'GRITTY, FUNNY AND SAD\' Entertainment Weekly\'A SUPERB ANECDOTALIST\' Sunday Times Culture\'RIVETING... ENGROSSING\' Huffington PostBRYAN CRANSTON maps his journey from abandoned son to beloved star, recalling the many odd parts he\'s played in real life, and chronicles his evolution on camera. For the first time he shares the story of his early years, from his time as a soap opera regular to his recurring spots on Seinfeld and his role as bumbling father Hal on Malcolm in the Middle, along with an inspiring account of how he prepared for the award-winning role of President Lyndon Johnson.Of course, Cranston dives deep into the grittiest details of his greatest role, explaining how he searched inward for the personal darkness that would help him create one of the most memorable performances ever captured on screen: Breaking Bad\'s Walter White.A LIFE IN PARTS is a story about the joy, the necessity, and the transformative power of simple hard work. Σελίδες: 288, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1031, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A Daily Mail Book of the Year. A Mail on Sunday Book of the Year. Famed American actress Demi Moore at last tells her own story in a surprisingly intimate and emotionally charged memoir. For decades, Demi Moore has been synonymous with celebrity. From iconic film roles to high-profile relationships, Moore has never been far from the spotlight – or the headlines. Even as Demi was becoming the highest paid actress in Hollywood, however, she was always outrunning her past, just one step ahead of the doubts and insecurities that defined her childhood. Throughout her rise to fame and during some of the most pivotal moments of her life, Demi battled addiction, body image issues, and childhood trauma that would follow her for years – all while juggling a skyrocketing career and at times negative public perception. As her success grew, Demi found herself questioning if she belonged in Hollywood, if she was a good mother, a good actress – and, always, if she was simply good enough. As much as her story is about adversity, it is also about tremendous resilience. In this deeply candid and reflective memoir, Demi pulls back the curtain and opens up about her career and personal life – laying bare her tumultuous relationship with her mother, her marriages, her struggles balancing stardom with raising a family, and her journey toward open heartedness. Inside Out is a story of survival, success, and surrender – a wrenchingly honest portrayal of one woman’s at once ordinary and iconic life. Σελίδες: 272, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Effortless humour and bucketloads of charm. It\'s impossible not to be bowled over by the ending. Most definitely my favourite celebrity memoir in a long time. Brilliant. - The SunThe **Sunday Times bestselling** memoir from the star of I\'m a Celebrity and Extra Camp As a 17-year-old virgin working . . . for Virgin, Joel Dommett has grand ambitions. Firstly, he is going to swap suburbia for the bright lights of Showbiz. Secondly, he is going to find \'the one\' - and sets himself the very achievable target of finding her in the first fifty people he\'s definitely going to sleep with. What follows is a series of disastrous romantic encounters, including carpets mistaken for toilets, futile grand gestures and the catfishing to end all catfishing. Featuring genuine teenage diary entries and told in Joel\'s trademark self-deprecating style, this is the brilliant first book from the UK\'s most exciting comedian. Σελίδες: 352, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1018, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

Omid Djalili\'s childhood was unconventional, to say the least. He was raised in a beautiful, chaotic, cramped, colourful and legally dubious guesthouse where his parents fed and watered Iranian nationals flocking to the UK. Over twenty years almost 2000 \'cousins\' passed through the Djalili\'s doors and the young Omid played translator to each. Although these years taught him a lot about the rich tapestry of life, this parenting by committee led to a slightly chequered school career which saw Omid taking his A levels a record six times and eventually fake his own university entrance papers. Desperate to be free of his cramped living quarters he escapes to the University of Ulster where he lives a life of wonderful solitude.Full of the warmth and intelligence that makes Omid such a successful comedian and sought-after actor, this memoir takes us on an incredible and laugh-out-loud funny journey through an unusually British life. Σελίδες: 320, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0714, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

Urbane. Brilliant. Brave. Funny. Famous. Handsome. Nigel Havers is the real-life charmer you might expect.In a career that has taken him from a schoolboy production of A Midsummer Night\'s Dream to the red carpet on Oscar Night with Chariots of Fire, via starring roles in the West End stage, classic television series like Don\'t Wait Up and a cameo in Little Britain, the Hollywood blockbusters that made him a household name are only the beginning.With characteristic modesty and a captivating eye for the absurd, he treats us to the highlights and lowlights of a life like no other; a life in which chilling reality (watching his father Michael - later the Attorney General - begin his prosecution of the Yorkshire Ripper) and beguiling fantasy (sleeping with \'Elizabeth Taylor\') continuously and arrestingly collide. Σελίδες: 320, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0906, Διαστάσεις: 13.1x13.1cm

‘Prepare to laugh’ – Reese Witherspoon 253 steps to becoming an anti-it girl. Funny woman, Instagram star and international comedy sensation, Celeste Barber’s Challenge Accepted! is a raucous, hilarious and outspoken guide to life, unwanted gas and how to rock a sexy scar. Part-memoir, part-comedy routine, part-advice manual, Challenge Accepted! is Celeste at her best, revealing her secrets to love, friendship, family and marriage (oh hai, #hothusband), and how to deal with life’s many challenges – why she checks the bath for sharks, how Nutella quite literally shaped who she is as a woman, and why being famous on Instagram is like being rich in Monopoly. It’s real, like totally, really real. Σελίδες: 320, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

A silent comedy star whose legendary slapstick routines are recognisable to this day, Charles \'Charlie\' Chaplin\'s My Autobiography is an incomparably vivid account of the life of one of the greatest filmmakers and comedians, with an introduction by David RobinsonAs a child, Charlie Chaplin was awed and inspired by the sight of glamorous vaudeville stars passing his home, and from then on he never lost his ambition to become an actor. Chaplin\'s film career as the Little Tramp adored by the whole world is the stuff of legend, but this frank autobiography shows another side. Born into a theatrical family, Chaplin\'s father died of drink while his mother, unable to bear the poverty, suffered from bouts of insanity. From a childhood of grinding poverty in the south London slums, Chaplin found an escape in his early debut on the music hall stage, followed by his lucky break in America, the founding of United Artists with D.W. Griffith and Douglas Fairbanks, the struggle to maintain artistic control over his work, the string of failed marriages, and his eventual exile from Hollywood after personal scandals and persecution for his left-wing politics during the McCarthy Era.Sir Charles \'Charlie\' Chaplin (1895-1976) was born in Walworth, London. Best known for his work in silent film, his most famous role was The Little Tramp, a universally recognisable and iconic character who appeared in films such as The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1925) and City Lights (1931). His other films include Modern Times (1936), a commentary on the Great Depression, and The Great Dictator (1940), a satirical attack on Hitler and the Nazis.If you enjoyed My Autobiography, you might like Andy Warhol\'s The Philosophy of Andy Warhol, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.\'Tells so much about this curious, difficult man ... a wonderfully vivid imagination\'The New York Times\'The only genius to come out of the movie industry\'George Bernard Shaw Σελίδες: 512, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

When Dave Allen passed away in March 2005, we lost a true comedy great. Sitting cross-legged on a high stool, whiskey in one hand, cigarette in the other, Dave Allen\'s exasperated commentaries on the absurdities of modern life struck a chord with millions of fans in Britain, Ireland and Australia for over four decades. He was a compelling storyteller - able to spin shaggy dog stories out of the almost any subject, including the missing tip of his fourth finger of his left hand, for which he provided various unlikely explanations. But his gentle, laconic wit could also give way to ferocious attacks on the media, the state and, most famously, the Catholic Church. He was a unique talent - a comic who could make his audiences laugh, cry, and be shocked, all in one.This official celebration of Dave Allen\'s comedy has been drawn together by Graham McCann - Britain\'s best-loved entertainment writer. It is a treasure trove of stories, stand-up routines, sketches, interviews and photos, which takes us on a journey from the cradle to the grave. It will delight Dave Allen\'s million of fans, old and new alike.\'Dave Allen was our greatest storyteller and nobody ever came close to his ability to spin a yarn. He was unique, right up there with the greats.\' Jack Dee Σελίδες: 320, Έτος Έκδοσης: 1201, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

The Sunday Times BestsellerThis is the inside story of twelve years at the helm of Britain’s greatest theatre.It is a story of lunatic failures and spectacular successes such as The History Boys, War Horse and One Man, Two Guvnors; of opening the doors of the National Theatre to a broader audience than ever before, and changing the public’s perception of what theatre is for. It is about probing Shakespeare from every angle and reinventing the classics. About fostering new talent and directing some of the most celebrated actors of our times. Its cast includes the likes of Alan Bennett, Maggie Smith, Mike Leigh, Daniel Day-Lewis, Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren. Intimate, candid and insightful, Balancing Acts is a passionate exploration of the art and alchemy of making theatre. Σελίδες: 320, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

He\'s one of America\'s most recognisable and acclaimed actors-a star on Broadway, an Oscar nominee for The Aviator, and the only person to ever win Emmys for acting, writing, and directing during his eleven years on M*A*S*H. Now Alan Alda has written a memoir as elegant, funny, and affecting as his greatest performances. \'My mother didn\'t try to stab my father until I was six,\' begins Alan Alda\'s irresistible story. The son of a popular actor and a loving, but mentally ill mother, he spent his early childhood backstage in the erotic and comic world of burlesque and went on after early struggles to achieve extraordinary success in his profession.Yet Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is not a memoir of show business ups and downs. It is a moving and funny story of a boy growing into a man who then realizes he has only begun to grow. It is the story of turning points in his life, events that would make him what he is - if only he could survive them.From the moment as a boy when his dead dog is returned from the taxidermist\'s shop with a hideous expression on his face, and he learns that death can\'t be undone, to the decades-long effort to find compassion for the mother he lived with but never knew, to his acceptance of his father in him, personally and professionally, he learns the hard way that change, uncertainty and transformation are what life is made of, and the good life is made of welcoming them.Never Have Your Dog Stuffed, filled with curiosity about Nature, good humour and honesty, is the crowning achievement of an actor, author, and director, but surprisingly, it is the story of a life more filled with turbulence and laughter than any he\'s ever played on the stage or screen. Σελίδες: 336, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

______________________________The original bestselling autobiography by comedian, novelist and national treasure Stephen Fry.Few people serve time in prison before studying at Cambridge. You might be surprised to know that Stephen Fry is one of them.Moab is My Washpot, the remarkable story of Stephen Fry\'s tumultuous early life, is by turns funny, shocking, tender, delicious, sad, lyrical, bruisingly frank and addictively readable.It\'s the story of a boy sent to a boarding school 200 miles from home at the age of seven, who survives beatings, misery, love, ecstasy, carnal violation, expulsion, imprisonment, criminal conviction, probation and catastrophe to emerge, at eighteen, ready to try and face the world in which he had always felt a stranger. Fry writes with the wit and warmth which have become his hallmark, but with shocking candour too. For anyone seeking to understand one of Britain\'s greatest cultural treasures, this book is utterly essential reading. Σελίδες: 448, Διαστάσεις: 12.9x12.9cm

Everyone knows Jackie Chan. Whether it’s from Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, The Karate Kid, or Kung Fu Panda, Jackie is admired by generations of moviegoers for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and mind-bending stunts. In 2016—after fifty-six years in the industry, over 200 films, and many broken bones—he received an honorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievement in film. But at 64 years-old, Jackie is just getting started. Now, in Never Grow Up, the global superstar reflects on his early life, including his childhood years at the China Drama Academy (in which he was enrolled at the age of six), his big breaks (and setbacks) in Hong Kong and Hollywood, his numerous brushes with death (both on and off film sets), and his life as a husband and father (which has been, admittedly and regrettably, imperfect). Jackie has never shied away from his mistakes. Since The Young Master in 1980, Jackie’s films have ended with a bloopers reel in which he stumbles over his lines, misses his mark, or crashes to the ground in a stunt gone south. In Never Grow Up, Jackie applies the same spirit of openness to his life, proving time and time again why he’s beloved the world over: he’s honest, funny, kind, brave beyond reckoning and—after all this time—still young at heart. Σελίδες: 352, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0711, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER. ORDER THE HILARIOUS BOOK FROM TIKTOK AND INSTA SENSATION HAYLEY MORRIS, NOW!_____\'An insightful, intimate account of modern life that is a joy to read, with shades of Dolly Alderton\'s Everything I Know About Love.\' - Scarlett Sangster, iNewsBrain: We left the oven on!Me: No don\'t say that, I\'ve not got time for this!Brain: The house is probably on fire!Me: Stop it, I need to write this book description.Brain: But the blazing fire.Me: We didn\'t even use the oven today.Brain: But what if -Me: No. We\'re not doing this, I\'m finishing this description.Hello there! Hayley Morris here. Or you might know me as the Brain Girl, and don\'t be fooled...it\'s not because I\'m outrageously smart. Just an avid overthinker. I\'m on a mission to prove once and for all that You. Are. Normal. Running through imaginary arguments whilst showering, hiding your knickers in the nurse\'s office before they look directly into your vagina, or not knowing how to be a normal human when you have the plumber over. I\'ve spent the majority of my life saying and doing embarrassing things that wake me up in a cold sweat at 3am as my Brain reminds me of every minor detail.In this book, I\'ve overthought absolutely everything so you don\'t have to. I\'ll be talking about everything from dating to discharge, mental health to menstrual cups. I might not be able to banish your anxiety or make you feel 100% comfortable in your skin, but I hope I can at least give you a break from the constant brain chatter and we can rejoice and laugh at how similar we actually all are.DON\'T OVERTHINK IT. ORDER NOW.\'Hilarious...I absolutely loved this book! I almost wet myself from laughing!\' Dr Amir Khan Σελίδες: 304, Διαστάσεις: 13x13cm

A vital companion for actors in rehearsal - a thesaurus of action-words to revitalise performance, with a foreword by Terry Johnson. Finding the right action is an essential part of the process of preparation for the actor. Using this thesaurus of active verbs, the actor can refine the action-word until s/he hits exactly the right one to help make the action come alive. The method of \'actioning\' is widely used in rehearsal rooms, but has never before been set down in a systematic and comprehensive way. \'If you want to act, or act better, Actions will take you a long way on the journey to excellence\' Terry Johnson Σελίδες: 192, Διαστάσεις: 10.8x10.8cm

A compelling guide to the fundamental place of humour and comedy within Western culture—by one of its greatest exponents Written by an acknowledged master of comedy, this study reflects on the nature of humour and the functions it serves. Why do we laugh? What are we to make of the sheer variety of laughter, from braying and cackling to sniggering and chortling? Is humour subversive, or can it defuse dissent? Can we define wit?   Packed with illuminating ideas and a good many excellent jokes, the book critically examines various well-known theories of humour, including the idea that it springs from incongruity and the view that it reflects a mildly sadistic form of superiority to others. Drawing on a wide range of literary and philosophical sources, Terry Eagleton moves from Aristotle and Aquinas to Hobbes, Freud, and Bakhtin, looking in particular at the psychoanalytical mechanisms underlying humour and its social and political evolution over the centuries. Σελίδες: 192, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0510, Διαστάσεις: 12.7x12.7cm

\'It\'s no mystery or secret how much I enjoy Lawrence Chaney.\' - RuPaul\'Tackles everything from gender identity, the thrill of a wig and why Scottish talent is often overlooked.\' - i NewsLawrence Chaney has wowed audiences across the globe as the winner of RuPaul\'s Drag Race UK. In Lawrence (Drag) Queen of Scots, Lawrence shares heartfelt and candid moments from their past. From being bullied as a child to what it\'s like to date as a drag queen, they give us an insight to their journey towards acceptance and better mental health.The loch ness legend themself takes us through the struggles faced to get to where they are now. From their childhood, growing up as a queer kid in Glasgow, feeling self-conscious and turning to humour to avoid being bullied, Lawrence shares their painfully relatable coming out story, and how finding drag was a vehicle towards confidence and self-love.__________\'Gorgeous, hugely talented, funny, charismatic, adorable, Chaney is a goddess and brings us joy.\' - Lorraine\'Lawrence shares some of [their] most intricate and personal stories...such as concocting a drag name, mental health and dating.\' - Gay Times\'Lawrence Chaney is the funniest queen by a country mile. She has delivered the laughs a locked down nation needed in abundance. But there\'s much more to Chaney than her quick wit. Her vulnerability is also part of her natural gift.\' - Vogue Σελίδες: 256, Διαστάσεις: 12.7x12.7cm

**WINNER OF BEST SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK AT THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2022**\'Hard-hitting and hilarious\' - James Acaster\'Funny, moving and compelling\' - Mike CostelloA heart-warming, hilarious true story about fighting and family, based on the acclaimed stage show. For fans of books by Dave Gorman, James Acaster and Danny Wallace, along with boxing tales from the likes of Tyson Fury and Ricky Hatton.THE CHAMPTerry Downes - the charismatic cockney known as \'The Paddington Express\' - was a world champion boxer, US Marine, gangsters\' favourite and later a film star and businessman. THE CHUMPJames McNicholas\' PE teacher once told him he was so unfit he\'d be dead by the time he was 23. James has spent his life pursuing a career in acting and comedy. In reality, that has meant stints as a car park caretaker and river cruise salesperson. After Terry\'s death, James finds himself in reflective mood, comparing his story of underachievement against that of his world champ grandad. What follows is an increasingly colourful journey through post-war Paddington to the blood-soaked canvases of Baltimore and Shoreditch, via Mayfair parties with the Krays. Along the way, James begins to dig into his own story, confronting the dysfunctional elements of his childhood, describing his often hilarious efforts to make it in the world of showbiz, and attempting to recreate Terry\'s trials by enlisting in a brutal military boot camp and boxing gym. When James is diagnosed with a frightening and mysterious neurological condition, the two tales of the fighter and the writer suddenly collide, and what began as a nostalgic journey takes on a far more important significance altogether. \'A wonderfully funny and heartfelt story of what family and lineage means. Even made me like boxing\' - Josh Widdicombe\'An extraordinary family history, told with warmth and wit. Two remarkable underdog stories - come for the cockney scrapper who conquered the world, stay for the grandson and the fight of his life\' - Greg Jenner\'If you like comedy and boxing this is the perfect book. James McNicholas is a very funny man and a brilliant writer\' - Rob Beckett Σελίδες: 352, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0519, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

\'Mark Watson is a national treasure\' Richard OsmanWhatever I now know about life - or think I know - I found out through failure, disappointment, mortification. I\'m writing it all down as much to remind myself as for anyone else - but now you\'re here, I\'d love you to stick around . . .Mark Watson is generally accepted to be alive. And yet he\'s died many times. Not just on stage - though he\'ll tell you about that - but in other ways, too. There\'s been the death of a childhood dream. The death of his panel-show career. And then there was the time he died inside and nearly lost it all . . .Eye-opening, revealing and painfully funny, this is a book about mortification, failure and all the times life doesn\'t work out as planned. But it also wisely questions whether the things we strive for - recognition, success, the approval of others - are really the things that matter. It\'s a book about death that reminds us how to live.\'Mark Watson makes the base metal of failure into comedy gold\' Adam Kay Σελίδες: 352, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0408, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

Ryan Gosling is so much more than a Hollywood heartthrob… With unforgettable performances in critically acclaimed films such as Barbie, La La Land, Drive and The Notebook, Ryan’s versatility knows no bounds, but it’s his charisma, wisdom and joyful vulnerability that has rocketed him to superstardom. Delving into Ryan’s extraordinary journey to fame and the invaluable lessons we can glean from his career, artistry, and life philosophy, The Book of Ryan is an essential companion for all self-acclaimed members of the Gos Squad. If you need help finding your Drive, believing that you are Kenough, or simply want to flick through photos of your favourite feminist champion, this is the perfect book for you! Σελίδες: 144, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0715, Διαστάσεις: 13.9x13.9cm

Actioning – and How to Do It is the indispensable companion to a vital component in every actor’s toolkit. Actioning is one of the most widely used rehearsal techniques for actors. It helps bring clarity to every moment or thought in the text, energising rehearsals and bringing performances to life. Actioning will enable you to discover and unlock newfound energy, range, variety and clarity of body and voice, by: Interrogating the text and making initial action verb choicesPlaying your chosen actions, both verbally and physicallyMaintaining an imaginative and emotional connection with each momentSignposting each thought to your scene partner From the publishers of the internationally successful Actions: The Actors\' Thesaurus, this is the first in-depth exploration of Actioning for student actors, those who train them, and professionals working in the industry, whether they\'re brand new to the technique or have been practising it for years. This step-by-step guide draws on concepts from Stanislavsky, using sample scenes from classic plays such as The Seagull and The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as contemporary pieces, and is filled with exercises to demonstrate the technique at work. Σελίδες: 160, Διαστάσεις: 13.8x13.8cm

*THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES & NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*\'A real gem of a book for comedy fans... honest, irreverent and fascinating\' Matt Lucas\'This book is a love letter to all his comedy heroes, full of warmth, heart and wit\' Georgia PritchettIn this hilarious, heartfelt memoir, the star of Mr. Show and Breaking Bad spin off Better Call Saul opens up about the highs and lows of showbiz, his cult status as a comedy writer, and what it\'s like to reinvent himself at age fifty as an action-film ass-kicker. Featuring humorous tangents, never-before-seen photos, wild characters, and Bob\'s trademark unflinching drive and humour, Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama is a classic showbiz tale told by a determined idiot.\'I can\'t think of another entertainer who has improbably morphed so many times and all through real genius and determination\' Conan O\'Brien Σελίδες: 304, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0413, Διαστάσεις: 12.8x12.8cm

“The answer is not to silence me. . . . The answer is for you to have better arguments.”Go the Joe Rogan way. Sh*t Joe Rogan Says is a book of motivation, inspiration, and reflections from the man who talks to everybody. Not one to back down from a conversation or an f-bomb, Joe Rogan tells it like it is and gives everyone a fair shake.From years of discipline and expertise in martial arts, to unabashed comedy and showing people how to face their fears, to his stratospheric ascent to podcast greatness, Joe Rogan knows a little something about life, discipline, hard work, and an unrelenting pursuit of personal freedoms and free thought. Get Joe Rogan’s take on philosophy, comedy, politics, free speech, mind-altering experiences, censorship, and happiness with this collection of his most influential quotes and ideas. Get your hands on 150 Joe Rogan-isms on life, free thought, and common senseFind motivation, momentum, and real talk in Joe Rogan’s no-nonsense reflectionsFollow the Joe Rogan route to achieve confidence, nonconformity, and an uncensored life Σελίδες: 176, Έτος Έκδοσης: 0119, Διαστάσεις: 12.7x12.7cm

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERNominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary WorkNamed a Best Book of the Year by The RootChosen by Emma Straub as a Best New Celebrity Memoir“A book of essays as raw and honest as anyone has ever produced.” — Lena Dunham, Lenny LetterIn the spirit of Amy Poehler’s Yes Please, Lena Dunham’s Not That Kind of Girl, and Roxane Gay\'s Bad Feminist, a powerful collection of essays about gender, sexuality, race, beauty, Hollywood, and what it means to be a modern woman.One month before the release of the highly anticipated film The Birth of a Nation, actress Gabrielle Union shook the world with a vulnerable and impassioned editorial in which she urged our society to have compassion for victims of sexual violence. In the wake of rape allegations made against director and actor Nate Parker, Union—a forty-four-year-old actress who launched her career with roles in iconic ’90s movies—instantly became the insightful, outspoken actress that Hollywood has been desperately awaiting. With honesty and heartbreaking wisdom, she revealed her own trauma as a victim of sexual assault: \"It is for you that I am speaking. This is real. We are real.\" In this moving collection of thought provoking essays infused with her unique wisdom and deep humor, Union uses that same fearlessness to tell astonishingly personal and true stories about power, color, gender, feminism, and fame. Union tackles a range of experiences, including bullying, beauty standards, and competition between women in Hollywood, growing up in white California suburbia and then spending summers with her black relatives in Nebraska, coping with crushes, puberty, and the divorce of her parents. Genuine and perceptive, Union bravely lays herself bare, uncovering a complex and courageous life of self-doubt and self-discovery with incredible poise and brutal honesty. Throughout, she compels us to be ethical and empathetic, and reminds us of the importance of confidence, self-awareness, and the power of sharing truth, laughter, and support. Σελίδες: 304, Διαστάσεις: 13.4x13.4cm