| COWARDICE | Spineless character, one originally called Ernest by dramatist |
| NEED | Crying out for one originally called to Land's End (4) |
| ENGINEER | Soldier, perhaps English one, originally called Rex (8) |
| NARCOTIC | Went back to bed, one originally called number (8) |
| TIMON | Athenian character penned by dramatist - I'm one (5) |
| COWARDLINESS | What actor must know is hidden by dramatist's major character flaw |
| PLAYWRIGHT | Word, likely coined by dramatist Ben Jonson, for one who builds, crafts or devises theatrical comedies, farces, tragedies and the like (10) |
| IONESCO | Ice soon broken by dramatist (7) |
| AMATI | Quality instrument used by dramatist (5) |
| GAIETY | Old London theatre that is, over short time, protected by dramatist (6) |
| AESCHYLUS | Has clues possibly about play's ending - as supplied by dramatist (9) |
| ORTOLAN | Bird discovered by dramatist outside Los Angeles (7) |
| COWARDLY | Faint-hearted line by dramatist before end of play (8) |
| CUMSHAW | Present, accompanied by dramatist |
| CHECKOFF | Record correct sound made by dramatist |
| SYRINGE | Religious instruction accepted by dramatist that supplies dope |
| TELAWRENCE | Rules accepted by dramatist, soldier and diplomat |
| BIRTHDAY | The - Party; 1957 play by dramatist Harold Pinter (8) |
| CRICHTON | Broadway comedy written by dramatist JM Barrie, The Admirable ... |
| END | Journey's -; 1928 play by dramatist R. C. Sherriff (3) |
