Mamet began his career with the St Nicholas Theatre company, Chicago and has subsequently staged num erous plays, winning an Obie Award with "American Buffalo" and achieving successes including 1983's "Glengarry Glen Ross" and 1993's "Oleanna".

"The finest American playwright of his generation" (Sunday Times) Speed-the-Plow sees two old-time movie collaborators manipulate the aspirations of a young woman who will do anything to attain her dream of success in "a brilliant black comedy, a dazzling dissection of Hollywood cupidity." (Newsweek)