Playwriting

Playwriting Curse

The course explores the craft of playwriting, through examining plays and getting to grips with the mechanics of how they are made, and then putting this into practice. Please note that the focus will be almost exclusively on writing for the theatre, rather than film or TV.

Week 1: Introduction

Why write for theatre? Why go to the theatre? Is it still a relevant art form? Discussion of experiences of theatre; examining clichés about theatre; expectations of theatre; and theatre as opposed to other forms of story telling (especially film and TV).

Week 2: Inspiration / Starting points

A practical session, exploring different ways of getting inspired, and getting started. By the end of the session students will have written a short scene, inspired by one of the exercises in the session.

Week 3: Dramatic Structure

A look at traditional and experimental structures. How can form, the shape of the play, help to tell the story? What are the advantages for playwrights when they challenge form? What are the potential pitfalls to playing with structure?

Week 4: Dialogue, Characterisation and the actor

The craft of dialogue, and through that, characterisation. Potential pitfalls such as exposition, and lack of dramatic action; what makes a part interesting for an actor; techniques for unpacking dialogue that an actor and director might use; and use of stage directions.

Week 5: What’s it about?

Be inspired and excited by looking at work that sparked controversy when it was first produced. Discussion of political theatre more generally, how a domestic story can speak about huge themes, and how a playwright's use of language, form, history and genre can be used to challenge the status quo.

Week 6: Theatricality

Writing a play for theatre, and how to engage with the specific demands and advantages of writing for the stage. What makes something theatrical? Set design, and different forms of staging plays (Proscenium Arch, promenade, in the round etc.) and how lighting designers, sound designers, musicians, choreographers can help you tell your story.

Week 7: Genre and expectation

The main genres - examples from both theatre and film. How writers can use genre to their advantage - to surprise the audience. Verbatim and documentary plays and what role those forms can have in social change.

Week 8: Workshop

This is a chance to hear the students’ writing brought to life by professional actors. Using a small ensemble of actors, we will work on short extracts from students' work.

Week 9: Dramaturgy and re-writing

A feedback session. Constructive criticism on the work from the previous session. The writer’s choices and why they might have been made. The role of the dramaturg – its growing importance in theatre. Re-writing, and the techniques available to the writer.

*Commencing Tuesday 2 February 2010
Nine Tuesday evenings from 6.30pm-9.00pm