Finding your voice as a playwright from edX

This course is part of the University of Cambridge’s Micro Master’s program in Writing for Performance and Entertainment Industries.

We will be looking in depth at how to find your own distinctive dramatic voice as you develop as a playwright. How do we choose themes that will resonate with our audience? What qualities makes a powerful character? How should we structure a scene so that it moves the dramatic action forward? How do we find our creative flow when writing under time pressure? How can you connect with new writing theatres and get your work read? All these questions and more will be answered.

We will be thinking comparatively about play-texts and production and well as considering how audiences receive and contribute to the creative process within theatre-making. This is a comprehensive introduction to theatre writing that will give beginners a strong understanding of essential concepts, as well as reinvigorate anyone who has been working in this area for a while, and who wants to find fresh perspective.

Learning to write dialogue for theatre, and how to communicate most effectively with our audience, gives us a good toolbox for expert communication in any professional sphere.

Skill transferability, flexible thinking, and expert language abilities are now essential in a diversifying global job market - come and learn essential new skills, and have fun doing it!

You will be set writing exercises over the course of the module, and you will asked to keep a brief creativity journal to note how your ideas progress and how your intuition leads you into productivity. By the end of this module, you will have completed several new scenes of a play - this can be the development of something you are working on already, or this might be completely new material derived from working on this module - and you will have created a lead character for a piece of stage writing.

What you'll learn

Specialised knowledge of histories, forms, and traditions of writing for performance as well as the cultural contexts of innovative practitioners and practices within performance; of contemporary critical, analytical, and narrative theories of performance;
advanced awareness of the relevant market and distribution demands of entertainment industries;
enhanced understanding of the applications of performance in educational, community, and social contexts;
detailed understanding of key performance components within the discipline, to include: ideational sources, body, space, image, sound, text, movement, environment.
dramaturgical and script-editing skills within playwriting
developed advanced self-management skills to include working in planned and improvisatory ways, as well as the ability to anticipate and accommodate change, ambiguity, creative risk-taking, uncertainty and unfamiliarity;
an understanding of group dynamics and project management skills in order to collaborate within collective, creative, and professional contexts as well as generating performance texts and presentations;
how to create effective structure within a scene; how to edit your scene and think like a dramaturg; how to create effective characters. __

What's inside

Learning objectives

Advanced awareness of the relevant market and distribution demands of entertainment industries;
Enhanced understanding of the applications of performance in educational, community, and social contexts;
Detailed understanding of key performance components within the discipline, to include: ideational sources, body, space, image, sound, text, movement, environment.
Dramaturgical and script-editing skills within playwriting

Developed advanced self-management skills to include working in planned and improvisatory ways, as well as the ability to anticipate and accommodate change, ambiguity, creative risk-taking, uncertainty and unfamiliarity;
An understanding of group dynamics and project management skills in order to collaborate within collective, creative, and professional contexts as well as generating performance texts and presentations;
How to create effective structure within a scene; how to edit your scene and think like a dramaturg; how to create effective characters. __

Advanced awareness of the relevant market and distribution demands of entertainment industries;
Enhanced understanding of the applications of performance in educational, community, and social contexts;
Detailed understanding of key performance components within the discipline, to include: ideational sources, body, space, image, sound, text, movement, environment.
Dramaturgical and script-editing skills within playwriting
Developed advanced self-management skills to include working in planned and improvisatory ways, as well as the ability to anticipate and accommodate change, ambiguity, creative risk-taking, uncertainty and unfamiliarity;
An understanding of group dynamics and project management skills in order to collaborate within collective, creative, and professional contexts as well as generating performance texts and presentations;
How to create effective structure within a scene; how to edit your scene and think like a dramaturg; how to create effective characters. __

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

"Writing for Performance and Entertainment Industries" explores playwriting and screenwriting, which is standard in the creative industries

You'll discover how to find your voice within the craft of playwriting

This course deepens your understanding of performance, which is a highly sought-after skill in entertainment and beyond

Taught by Cambridge instructors, Abigail Docherty, you will study with professionals who are recognized for their creations

For playwrights and writers, this course examines generating effective structure and characters, essential skills for the craft

Students will work on creating scenes and a lead character for a play to strengthen their practical writing skills

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Finding your voice as a playwright with these activities:

Read "The Craft of Playwriting" by John Howard Lawson

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Provides a comprehensive overview of playwriting techniques and principles, solidifying understanding of essential concepts.

View Into the Woods on Amazon

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Acquire a copy of the book
Read and take notes on key insights

Review Fundamentals

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Review important foundational concepts and theories in writing for performance to refresh your knowledge and strengthen your understanding before taking the course.

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Read up on the key concepts and theories related to writing for performance.
Revisit your notes or summaries from previous courses or workshops on playwriting and theatre.

Daily dialogue writing exercises

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Provides regular practice in writing effective and engaging dialogue, improving characterization and flow.

Browse courses on Dialogue Writing

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Choose a scene or characters
Write a short dialogue between them

Two other activities

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Show all five activities

Write a short play scene

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Allows students to apply their knowledge and skills to create a tangible piece of writing, fostering creativity and developing their voice.

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Choose a theme or concept
Develop characters and their relationships
Write a draft of the scene

Participate in a writing critique group

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Provides opportunities for peer feedback and discussion, enhancing critical thinking and improving writing quality.

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Find a writing group or workshop
Share and discuss writing with peers

Career center

Learners who complete Finding your voice as a playwright will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Theatre Director

The course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' teaches students how to use advanced editing and writing techniques to create the most powerful stage plays possible. Theatre Directors need to understand the elements of a good play, as well as how to implement stage direction and other theatrical elements. While this course does not teach directing or stage management, it is a useful companion course for aspiring Directors who want to sharpen their dramaturgical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Theatre Director

Creative Writing Lecturer

As the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' is part of a larger program in Writing for Performance and Entertainment Industries, it would be a particularly valuable course for students hoping to become lecturers in this discipline. The course also teaches advanced writing techniques that would be particularly applicable for those seeking to teach courses in theatre, writing, drama, or playwriting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Writing Lecturer

Dramaturg

Dramaturgs use their knowledge of playwriting and theatre to assist playwrights and directors in the development of new plays. As the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses on playwriting techniques, it would be a useful companion course to build knowledge in this field. While this course does not instruct students in dramaturgy, it would be a particularly valuable course for aspiring Dramaturgs who want to build a strong foundation in playwriting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Dramaturg

Playwright

The course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' is a comprehensive introduction to theatre writing, from developing distinctive themes to structuring powerful scenes. As the course is part of a larger program in Writing for Performance and Entertainment Industries, it also teaches students how to connect with new writing theatres and get their work read. Students interested in becoming playwrights would likely find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Playwright

Screenwriter

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in dramatic structure and scene structuring are still highly applicable for screenwriters. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by screenwriters. Students interested in becoming screenwriters may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Screenwriter

Novelist

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for novelists. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by novelists. Students interested in becoming novelists may find this course useful.

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Poet

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for poets. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by poets. Students interested in becoming poets may find this course useful.

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Journalist

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for journalists. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by journalists. Students interested in becoming journalists may find this course useful.

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Speechwriter

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for speechwriters. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by speechwriters. Students interested in becoming speechwriters may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speechwriter

Marketing Copywriter

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for marketing copywriters. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by marketing copywriters. Students interested in becoming marketing copywriters may find this course useful.

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Advertising Copywriter

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for advertising copywriters. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by advertising copywriters. Students interested in becoming advertising copywriters may find this course useful.

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Public Relations Specialist

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for public relations specialists. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by public relations specialists. Students interested in becoming public relations specialists may find this course useful.

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Social Media Manager

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for social media managers. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by social media managers. Students interested in becoming social media managers may find this course useful.

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Grant Writer

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for grant writers. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by grant writers. Students interested in becoming grant writers may find this course useful.

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Technical Writer

While the course 'Finding your voice as a playwright' focuses primarily on playwriting, the lessons it teaches in developing distinctive themes and creating powerful characters are still highly applicable for technical writers. Additionally, the advanced editing techniques taught in the course are also used by technical writers. Students interested in becoming technical writers may find this course useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer