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

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Softcops by Caryl Churchill (Methuen, 1984) is identified by: First published by Methuen, London, 1984, as a Methuen New Theatrescript, issued in wrappers. UK Methuen first, issued in wrappers as a New Theatrescript.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First published by Methuen, London, 1984, as a Methuen New Theatrescript, issued in wrappers
- First produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1984 at the Barbican Pit, London
- Publisher imprint reads Methuen
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Caryl Churchill |
| Publisher | Methuen |
| Year | 1984 |
| True first | UK edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First published by Methuen, London, 1984, as a Methuen New Theatrescript, issued in… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
First published by Methuen, London, 1984, as a Methuen New Theatrescript, issued in wrappers. First produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1984 at the Barbican Pit, London.

## Is this the true first?
UK Methuen first, issued in wrappers as a New Theatrescript. The play was later collected in Churchill: Plays Two (1990), but the 1984 theatrescript is the true first.

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

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Softcops* by Caryl Churchill a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/softcops
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.