Audiences are spoilt for choice right now with the availability of stories - on stage, screen, radio and in other forms of fiction. How do you strengthen your play idea - and make it stand out from all the rest?
In 2019, Associate Playwright Oliver Emanuel (Flight,The 306 Trilogy) ran a series of workshops across Scotland that aimed to:
- assist in improving your ideas
- guide your writing and redrafting
- increase your confidence when talking to directors, programmers or potential supporters about the story you want to tell
- assert why you are the only person who can tell it
In this short series of videos, Oliver talks you through the points covered in the workshop. A BSL version of the workshop by Bea Webster is available.
We encourage you to B-Scene and take part in creative activities.
The Blue Elephant runs a Writers Group.
Everyone interested in playwriting is welcome to join, whether you aspire to have work you're creating put on professionally or not. We also love to have people come who are interested in acting/critiquing as that's a massive part of the group too.
There's no charge to take part. Our Writers Group is currently on a break for the summer and will have its next meeting on Tuesday 28th September, meeting every fortnight after that. To join please email Niamh at niamh@blueelephanttheatre.co.uk. Sessions are a mixture of writing activities and readings from each other's work.
Beyond Online, is Graeae's digital library where you'll find all our in house resources to support artists, students, directors, practitioners and curious minds.
TheatreCraft takes an inside look at ‘Careers in Writing and Directing Theatre’ live at the Royal Opera House. Join playwrights Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, Abi Zakarian and director Poonam Brah and hear their advice on creating work for the stage. Hosted by Mousetrap Youth Forum.
TheatreCraft is the UK’s largest free careers event for anyone aged 16-30 seeking off-stage roles in theatre. From direction to stage management, producing to marketing and lighting to design, TheatreCraft offers attendees the chance to attend a wide variety of workshops, inspiring talks and Q&A sessions. The marketplace exhibits the best arts organisations and education providers from the industry.
Our creative hub in Holloway is open.
As well as being home to Theatre’s Writers Room, we also have beautifully renovated work spaces which are available to use for local writers and theatre makers. We offer free tea, coffee and wifi, as well as a chance to work in a relaxed and dynamic environment.
We are currently offering hotdesking in our Atrium free of charge, open 10.30am – 5.30pm. We also have podcast recording space and equipment available.
TheatreCraft takes an inside look at ‘Careers in Stagecraft’ live at the Royal Opera House. Join Emma Troubridge, Sarah Hamza and Sara Tyndall in conversation to learn about working in costume, scenic art and hair and make up. Hosted by Mousetrap Youth Forum.
TheatreCraft is the UK’s largest free careers event for anyone aged 16-30 seeking off-stage roles in theatre. From direction to stage management, producing to marketing and lighting to design, TheatreCraft offers attendees the chance to attend a wide variety of workshops, inspiring talks and Q&A sessions. The marketplace exhibits the best arts organisations and education providers from the industry.
The Finborough Theatre welcomes unsolicited scripts at any time of the year. They encourage script submissions on all subjects and themes, but are particularly interested in:
- New writing by writers of all ages.
- Plays that are politically and socially engaged.
- Works for music theatre.
- Plays about the Kensington and Chelsea area, local history and personalities.
- Adaptations of obscure books written after 1800.
- Plays that are artistically ambitious and thematically expansive.
- Plays with large casts.
- Scripts from international writers, but can only accept plays written in English, Scots or Scots Gaelic.
If you love writing but never seem to find the time to actually do it then this course is for you. Led by experienced writer Jo Middleton, you’ll look at a variety of techniques for developing your writing practice and making writing a habit that sticks.
Each session will include guided exercises, writing time and the opportunity to read your work to the group for feedback if you’d like to, with the aim of giving you the freedom and the space to reconnect with your inner writer. No longer will you have to feel guilty every time you walk past that stack of blank notebooks – by the end of this course you’ll feel inspired and motivated to make writing an easy and enjoyable part of your everyday life whether you’re completely new to writing or simply looking to reignite the spark.
Calling all women aged 25+!
The Women’s writing group is back in 2023! This term will be online, looking at performance poetry and spoken word with no experience required, led by Danielle McLauren and Paperwork Theatre
The final session will be an in-person event where people can share their work on March 29th. If interested, contact the email address below...
Our Performance Poetry course will introduce you to the techniques of performing the spoken word that is derived from your own creative writing. The course will look at how the written and spoken word differs, conventions of the spoken word, how to break the rules and how to find your own style. The sessions will be fun, inclusive and cater for those with experience as well as beginners. The course will also offer the opportunity to perform your creative work in front of an audience.
This course is suitable for all levels, from beginners to those with some experience who want to refresh their knowledge and hone their performance skills. Previous experience of performing or creative writing would help get the most from the course but these skills are not required. However, attending this class in conjunction with one of WMCs creative writing courses may be helpful. You will also will need to complete an Individual Learning Plan.
