In another thread Jan Brock recommended Richard Eyre's National Theatre diaries, which I bought and have found a right riveting read. I'm appallingly badly read when it comes to theatre-related books - can anyone suggest any others that are essential reading?
Thanking you all in advance for your wisdom.

"Joan's Book" by Joan Littlewood is amazing. It documents the life of Theatre Workshop and the Theatre Royal Stratford East in her own inimitable style. It's populated by the most extraordinary cast of characters: Lionel Bart, Victor Spinetti, Yootha Joyce, Richard Harris, Sean Kenny, John Bury, Sheelagh Delany, Avis Bunnage, Brendan Behan, Ewan McColl, Barbara Windsor to name just a few. Not sure if it's still in print but Alan Jay Lerner's "The Street where I live" is a superb record of the creation of "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot".

I’ve only ever read music theatre books

Meryle Secrest books on Bernstein and Sondheim I have found very hard work.

What would Barbara do next? is very lame, has a feel one big Guardian blog

Sondheim and Co (Craig Zadan) is really excellent for Sondheads. Although it does need updating.

Check out Humphrey Burton’s books on Bernstein and Britten as they are both excellent. Also Britten’s Children is very interesting. Can't remember the author though

Lionel Bart’s autobiography is very easy reading. It has a very funny story about Jerry Hall and a tube of KY jelly!

Believing in Opera is like porn to me! It’s delves into directors like Jones, Poutney, Alberry & Vick.

Wagner and philosophy by Bryan Magee is a good insight into both W&P

Shostakovich and Stalin is on my to read list

I don't know how old you are, but if you remember the productions of the time Peter Hall's NT Diaries are also good, along the same lines as Eyre's.

The greatest theatrical memoir of all time remains, of course, "I An Actor" by Nicholas Craig.

Worst I have read, by far, are the (mostly theatrical) memoirs of Peter Sallis "Fading Into The Limelight" - twee self-delusional drivel.

I would recommend Simon Callow's Being An Actor.

If you love musicals, try to get a copy of Moss Hart's "Act One" and Gypsy Rose Lee's "Gypsy".

I've just finished Marni Nixons autobiography "I could have sung all night" which was very interesting.
Also if youo're looking for a "how to" book, I'm reading Acting the song which is ver useful!

it's definitely not a weighty or learned one, but Seth Rudetsky's 'Broadway Nights' is a very funny (and incredibly camp) story of his struggle to be a Broadway musical director, via subbing on various musicals.

Year of the King by Antony Sher is one of the best books about creating a character I have ever read.

That said, Playing Lear by Oliver Ford Davis is another great book about preparing and playing a role - but has a very different feel.

I have read both on a number of occasions and always find something new in them

Peter Hall's Autobiography is also interesting - the Diaries are, as Jan says, good for those of us who actually saw the shows. [I learnt that he, too, thought the opening show of the National on the South Bank was truly awful! That Goldoni thing.]

Also Michael Pennington - Hamlet, a User's Guide.
There's a series of books by different actors on different roles , that the RSC sell in their bookshops, prob also at the National, which are v good if you want that kind of thing.
If you are interested in reading off piste as it were about Shakespeare, then look at The Lodger by Charles Nicholl which is fascinating.

As he is now man of the moment with his Ivanov, you might like to read Branagh's autobiography, Beginning, which he wrote in 1989. [ about time for Volume 2 ]

Browse in French's theatre bookshop on Warren Street if you are in London.

Not a place I'd heard of before - wonderful! Many thanks to all for the interesting suggestions, I suspect I might shortly be doing my bit for the economy in an extended shopping spree...

Abby, I forget to mention actor Michael Simkins hliarious book Whats My Motivation?, which had me constantly laughing out loud.