Writing for Theatre
| Thursdays, 29th Feb -18th April | 6pm - 9pm |
Course Info
Working with playwright Sophie Ellerby, you will learn key skills for writing for theatre, whilst developing your own work. This is ideal for those who are making a start in their playwriting journey and who wish to gain further confidence, tools, and crucial feedback from a successful working writer.
Before the course: Have a think about any ideas you’re keen to develop. This could be an existing piece of writing you’re already working on, or a brand-new idea.
Weeks 1 – 3: Sophie will guide you through a series of exercises and discussions on how to develop your idea, structure, characters and dialogue.
Week 4: Independent writing time to write a scene (which could be an independent short piece, or a scene from a longer show) which you will send to Sophie. She will read and give feedback to all participants.
Weeks 5 – 7: Develop your writing further with feedback from Sophie and the group, and further tools to fine-tune your scene so that it is performance-ready.
Week 8: You will work with the participants of the Acting: Developing Your Process masterclass on your scenes, culminating in a performance of all the scenes
FAQs
Course Details
Dates:
Thursdays
February - 29th
March - 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
BREAK
April - 11th, 18th
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Venue: 443-445 Holloway Road, London, N7 6LW
Am I eligible for a free place?
At The National Youth Theatre we never want cost to be a barrier, that's why we offer limited free spaces on each course. For a free place, please fill out the short application form here
Can I take part?
This course is available for anyone aged 18-30, whether they are active members of NYT or new to the organisation
What about access needs?
Our courses are adaptable for participants with disability and neurodivergence where required. All participants are asked to provide Access Requirements before attending to make sure their needs are met. For further information, please contact auditionandcourses@nyt.org.uk
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the team on auditionsandcourses@nyt.org.uk
More about Sophie
Sophie Ellerby
Sophie Ellerby is a writer for stage and screen. Her career began as an actor at fifteen, starring in This is England (directed by Shane Meadows). In 2016 she was awarded a place on HighTide's First Commission scheme, where she wrote her debut play Lit, co-produced in 2019 by HighTide and Nottingham Playhouse, having a sell out run and rave reviews. Lit is currently being developed for screen with Griffin Pictures and the BFI. Other theatre work includes: Three (Arcola Theatre), Function (Criterion Theatre), to whom it may concern, (Cardboard Citizens tour), Lysistrata (Lyric Hammersmith), and painkiller (Theatre Royal Stratford East). She has a number of projects in development - a new political musical with ‘Standing At the Sky’s Edge’ producers, Various Productions, and an original series co-writing with Pete Jackson for Miramax. The Guardian cited her as one of the 2023 stage sensations to look out for. Her debut short film ‘The Walk’ starring Adeel Akhtar will screen at the London Film Festival in October, after being nominated for Best Short. Sophie was once a member of the National Youth Theatre, she was in the inaugural year of the REP Company. Since then she has run auditions, led courses, directed and written plays for NYT. Sophie is excited to return for the Writing for Theatre Masterclass.