In these passionate and witty essays on the theatre, J B Priestley distils his experience as a playwright, producer, director and - just once - actor. Relishing the past, analysing the present, and predicting the future, he tells his own 'story of the theatre'. Published as a companion to Oberon's two volumes of Priestley's best plays, this new collection is part defence of theatre, part incisive criticism, and, in the renowned Old Vic lecture 'The Art of the Dramatist', part instructive guide for would-be playwrights.