How do you find your starting point? Playwrights discuss the start of the creative process from developing simple ideas to narratives.
Developing a play
07/07/2009 | 9 mins.
What are the best practices to apply when developing a dramatic idea? This discussion ranges from wider issues such as genre to more technical aspects of the art.
The importance of character
07/07/2009 | 5 mins.
Crafting characters is an integral aspect of playwriting - the rhythm and patterns of their speech, their narrative development and even whether they’re on-stage.
How to write dialogue
07/07/2009 | 9 mins.
Dialogue is all about listening and the interpretation of speech. Here, it is highlighted how dialogue can alter the pace economy of a play.
In this album, some of our current and most well-respected playwrights offer an insight into the mechanics and beauty of writing for the stage. Contributors include Alan Ayckbourn, David Edgar, Bryony Lavery and Willy Russell, who discuss their own work and the pleasures and pitfalls of crafting a script. All of the fundamental topics, from character and structure to dialogue and editing, are covered in detail in a series of entertaining and insightful interviews. This material forms part of The Open University course A176 Start writing plays.
Ireland