What's On

PLAYWRIGHTS@PERIDOT: series of workshops for aspiring playwrights

30 Jun 2020 - 22 Sep 2020
Peridot Theatre Inc.

Director: Michael Olsen

Genre: Other

Synopsis

Ever wanted to write a play but don’t know where to start? Have a half-finished manuscript in the drawer? Want to hone your writing skills? Then PLAYWRIGHTS@PERIDOT might just be the opportunity for you! NOW BEING OFFERED AS AN ONLINE EVENT. CONTACT FOR DETAILS.

Multi-award-winning writer Michael Olsen presents a series of workshops of approximately 60-90 minutes covering topics such as Character, Plot, Dialogue, Editing and getting your work on stage. Each workshop will involve a combination of writing exercises and group feedback, tailored to suit the needs of participants.

Performances

Start Date: 30 Jun 2020

End Date: 22 Sep 2020

Performance Times:

June 30, July 7, 14, 21; August 11, 25; Sept 8, 22. All Tuesdays at 7.30pm

Ticket Prices:

The cost will depend on the number of participants (min 5, max 10) but will be approximately $300, payable in advance.

Bookings: To register your interest Contact Alison at alisonperidot@gmail.com before May 31.

Theatre: Peridot Theatre Inc (at Unicorn Theatre)

Theatre Address:

Mount Waverley Secondary College, Lechte Road, Mount Waverley, 3149 .

Other Information:

Workshop details

1. Introduction
• Outline of the course
• theatrical tools available to the writer
• Start thinking about your one-act play: an idea, image, character, argument

2. Character
• Essential aspect of characters (and your play): CONFLICT - Internal and External forces
• What do I need to know about my characters? - plus character proformas
• What an actor is looking for in a character - keeping this in mind when writing a character

3. Plot
• The heart of any story: why it started, what's in the character's way, and how things end
• Units of Action: what actually happens in the play - another approach to writing
• What will keep the audience interested in my play?

4. Dialogue
• Why it's different to how people speak in real life
• Subtext - the Iceberg analogy: what the playwright is really writing.
• The connection between dialogue and character.

5. Getting started
• Formatting - again!
• Writing the 1st draft: bypassing the Inner Critic

6. Review
• rewriting: now for the hard part
• instructions for cold reads and what you can get out of them

7. Cold reads
• cold reads of peoples' plays/scenes by the group as well as group discussion

9. Actors, Directors & getting your work on
• the playwright's vision: how to control it as best you can
• What actors and directors are seeking in your work.
• Giving up your work - and working with actors and directors
• Getting your work out there: where to go to from here

Opportunities at Peridot:
Peridot Theatre actively supports local playwrights. Consequently we offer participants in Playwrights@ Peridot a number of possible opportunities.
• Attending the Monash One Act Play Festival (Oct 2-4), hosted by Peridot. An opportunity to watch a large number of one act plays, many by local authors.
• Suitable plays could be included in our regular Play Reading program
• Our One Act Play season often includes plays by local authors. Might yours be one of them?