Introduction to Playwriting
Short Courses – 10 Week – Online
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Overview
This class will be taught online using a mixture of MS Teams – you can take part from the comfort of your own home from anywhere in the world!
This 10-week online evening class for people age 16+ will guide you through the crucial elements of how to write a play. You will explore the balance between dialogue and plot, character and action, resolution and ambiguity. Each session will give you the tools to be able to build an idea into a full length piece of work, including understanding how to write a scene and when to end them, the importance of opening scenes and satisfying endings, different story genres on stage, adaptations and what to do if you get stuck.
In the weekly classes, you will investigate the building blocks of a story and how to build narrative writing. Through an interactive and practical approach you will learn about the methods of developing three-dimensional characters, considering how to create depth and dimension to your work.
During the course you will receive feedback throughout and get the chance to workshop a character from your play with a professional actor.
By the end of the course, you will have:
- Developed skills in creative writing for visual story-telling
- Learned about script formatting and language
- Discovered methods of creating believable and realistic characters
- Explored the principles of creating thinking and critical thought
- Developed artistic confidence and an ability to communicate your ideas to others
This course would be suitable for anyone interested in stories on stage who wants to work on their first play or theatre-makers looking to expand their skills into playwriting.
Please see our FAQs for more information about all aspects of choosing, booking and attending your course. When booking the course you will be asked to agree that you have read and understood our Pre-HE Online Teaching Policy.
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Contact us
If you have any questions about this course before you book it, please get in touch with us at shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk.
FAQs
Please see our FAQs for more information about all aspects of choosing, booking and attending your course.
The important details
Age:
16+
Cost:
£195
Date:
17 April - 19 June 2025
Time:
Thursdays, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Venue:
Online
Course Information
The course is open access, and designed so that motivated students will benefit from the training. We expect you to undertake a certain amount of self-directed study and preparation out with class times.
Students should be open, honest, generous, respectful, hard-working and willing to work as part of a team.
This course is suitable for students aged 16+, with no or little experience. Students should be keen to learn and plan to attend all classes.
This is an open access course and not previous experience is required to participate.
We ask that participants are self-motivated and willing to undertake work at home throughout the course, as well as contribute to sharings of the work achieved and group discussions.
You will need access to a device such as a desktop computer, laptop or tablet which allows you to access the internet with a screen large enough to see the group members during online sessions. You will need internet connection which is fast enough to take part in video sessions on MS Teams and to watch film footage.
You may also want to consider whether you have a space you can use where you can work without interruption. Please keep in mind that the other students taking part in the course will be able to see what’s behind you when you are online.
This course will run online on Thursday evenings for 10-weeks from 17 April – 19 June 2025, 6:30pm – 8:30pm.
The course fee is £195 which is the equivalent to £19.50 per session, and can be paid in full or in instalments before the course end date.
Further Information
We want to ensure as many children, young people and adult learners as possible can access the performing and production arts education that is offered through Short Courses at RCS. Financial support options available for Short Courses include:
Agnes Allan Bursary
Agnes Allan was a teacher, passionate about inclusion, and this bursary scheme exists to offer support to students to participate in the performing or production arts.
The Agnes Allan Bursary provides some support to students who may require financial assistance to take part in a short course in dance, drama, music, production or screen.
Anyone who wishes to take part in our Short Courses and faces a financial barrier can apply for bursary support to help meet the cost of tuition fees.
James McAvoy Drama Scholarships
BAFTA-winning and Golden Globe nominated actor James McAvoy is committed to nurturing the creative potential of young Scots who experience barriers to access and participate in drama at RCS Short Courses.
James is a graduate of the BA Acting programme at RCS and Patron of the Junior Conservatoire of Drama. The Glasgow-born actor has funded the new James McAvoy Drama Scholarships to enable young people to experience the world-class drama training at RCS as he did.
The scholarship aims to support applicants who would otherwise find meeting the cost of tuition fees at RCS a barrier to accessing pre-Higher Education drama training at the Royal Conservatoire.
You can find more information about these funds on our Financial Support page.
We run various promotional offers for our Short Courses and Summer Schools. You can view our current offers on our Promotional Offers page.
You should contact us at shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk to request your discount code before booking a course.
Please note, only one promotional offer can be applied per course and should be used at the time of booking as we are unable to apply a discounts retrospectively.
Please see our Short Course FAQs for more information about all aspects of choosing, booking and attending your course.
Please see our Short Courses – Terms and Conditions for more information about your contract with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Cancellation and Refund policies.
Sign up to our mailing list to receive the latest updates of courses, offers and news from Short Courses. You can do this by completing this short online form found here.
Short Courses
shortcourses@rcs.ac.uk
Summer Schools
summerschools@rcs.ac.uk
Credit-Rated
credit-rated@rcs.ac.uk
Bursary and Scholarship
bursaryscholarship@rcs.ac.uk
