Writing A Short Play

Discover how to turn your ideas into compelling theatre scripts in this introduction to playwriting course. Whether you’re starting with a short play or shaping a first act, you’ll learn the essential building blocks of dramatic storytelling through teaching, discussion and hands-on exercises.

Explore what makes a play spark an audience’s imagination, master the three-act structure, and learn how stories come alive on stage. You’ll develop rich, performable characters, craft dialogue that crackles with subtext, and understand how playwrights collaborate with actors.

As the course builds, you’ll begin drafting your own script, ironing out issues with practical guidance, and - if you choose - sharing your work in a supportive final showcase. By the end, you’ll have the confidence, tools and momentum to take your play from first idea to first draft. Ready to start writing for the stage? Let’s begin.

Any recommended reading will be advised by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run. You will require access to a computer or other device with internet connection.  

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts of playwriting (structure, character, dialogue, action and subtext)
• Complete a short script extract (or scene) that you can continue to develop beyond the course
• Translate a story idea into stage action, understanding what can be shown, heard and experienced in performance
• Apply transferable creative and communication skills, including collaboration, giving and receiving feedback, pitching ideas clearly, and shaping work with an audience in mind.

This course is suitable for any beginner writers interested in writing for the stage.

We welcome all and are committed to fostering a positive culture and sense of community among learners and staff. We expect learners to treat others with dignity and respect. Learners must be aged 16+.

If you have a disability, learning difficulty, health condition, or personal circumstances which may affect your learning, please let us know so that we can make appropriate adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

Wherever possible, we mainstream adjustments in line with the University’s Accessible and Inclusive Learning Policy.

Learners will have limited access to the University’s student support services who will signpost appropriate local sources of support.

There are no specific entry requirements for this course, and no prior knowledge is needed.

You will need to have reading, listening and communication skills, including the ability to understand detailed ideas and information presented verbally and in writing. You must be comfortable learning in English if it is not your first language. You will need basic digital skills, such as using a computer and navigating a website, to access the learning materials.

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course start date, unless the course is full or cancelled.