# Is "Fen" by Caryl Churchill a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Fen by Caryl Churchill (Methuen, 1983) is identified by: First published by Methuen, London, 1983, as Methuen New Theatrescript (Second Series) No. UK Methuen first, issued in wrappers as New Theatrescript No.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published by Methuen, London, 1983, as Methuen New Theatrescript (Second Series) No
- 13, issued in pictorial/printed wrappers (ISBN 0413529908)
- Developed with the Joint Stock Theatre Group; premiered January 1983
- Publisher imprint reads Methuen
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Caryl Churchill |
| Publisher | Methuen |
| Year | 1983 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published by Methuen, London, 1983, as Methuen New Theatrescript (Second Series) No |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First published by Methuen, London, 1983, as Methuen New Theatrescript (Second Series) No. 13, issued in pictorial/printed wrappers (ISBN 0413529908). Developed with the Joint Stock Theatre Group; premiered January 1983.

## Is this the true first?
UK Methuen first, issued in wrappers as New Theatrescript No. 13.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book club edition.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Fen* by Caryl Churchill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/fen
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.