This volume serves as a comprehensive index to plays published or produced between 1953 and 1960. Compiled by Dorothy Margaret Peake and Estelle A. Fidell, it aims to provide researchers and theatre enthusiasts with a detailed guide to dramatic works of the era. The index likely covers a wide range of plays, from established classics to contemporary works, offering access to playwrights, titles, and potentially production details.

As a specialized reference work, the 'Play Index 1953-1960' is likely regarded as a useful, albeit niche, tool for academic and theatrical research. Its value would be determined by its thoroughness and accuracy in cataloging the dramatic output of its specified period. The authority perspective suggests it functions as a foundational bibliographic resource for understanding mid-20th-century theatre.