How is a script constructed? What is the best way of telling your story? What is satisfying for an audience?

The tutor will take you through the journey to write a ten-minute complete play or the first ten pages of a longer script. Through a combination of exercises, workshop collaboration, individual writing time, peer learning and professional guidance from the tutor, you will learn how to:

– Generate ideas for plays or to develop your existing idea. – Create strong believable characters that have a life within the play. – Create challenging ‘journeys’ for your characters. – Make your idea intrinsically dramatic; learn how best to tell your story. – Develop an understanding of the scenography of a play, i.e. how it is put ‘on its feet’ and the collaborative nature of rehearsals. – Develop your understanding of the interaction between play and audience.

The tutor will create a supportive and creative environment, and will ensure you receive the maximum benefit, especially tailored for emerging writers.

Through practical workshops and guided scripting sessions, along with important ‘time to write’, the tutor will nurture your understanding of the writer’s craft in order to produce your own new work.

By the end of the course, you will have a strong short script or extract ready to be shared in a script-in-hand reading. You will have gained confidence in developing ideas for a play, and an understanding of character, journey, dramaturgy and scenography.

What students need to bring

• See a play, piece of theatre or a film shortly before coming on the course, which you can discuss. What did you like about it and why? What didn’t you like and why? What happened in the end?

• Bring an idea! This can be at a very early stage, or you may have a stronger sense of what the story is. And can you think of a premise for it in the form of a question? E.g. Will Romeo find happiness ever after with the forbidden Juliet?

• Notebook and pen/pencil – or your laptop

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Daily Timetable

Course teaching: 11am–5.15pm
Students arrive: 10.30am-11am (coffee optional)  
Morning teaching: 11am-1pm
Lunch break: 1pm-2pm (lunch is not included)
Afternoon teaching: 2pm-5.15pm (15 minute break, 3.30pm–3.45pm)
Teaching finishes: 5.15pm  
 

Short courses are open to anyone aged 18 and over. The course fee covers tuition and materials where stated. You will need to bring all other items listed under the ‘Materials to bring’ section.

Refreshments Coffee and tea are included in the course fee, but you will need to bring lunch with you to eat in the refreshments room. There are also plenty of other local venues to purchase food.

Access If you have any specific access needs, we will need to know about your access requirements in advance. Please tell us about your needs in confidence by emailing: [email protected]

This venue has steps to the front reception, with limited access via a side gate to the ground floor. There is a small lift to higher floors or stairs.

Safety Short course students are required to sign a safety compliance form as part of West Dean Health and Safety regulations.

Refunds and cancellations Please refer to our terms & conditions below

Disclaimer The information given is accurate at the time of publication. However, West Dean College reserves the right to cancel or amend courses if circumstances require.

Terms & Conditions