Writing creatively: plays
by The Open University
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Course Description
For those interested in English language or literature, or with ambitions to write plays, the creative activities throughout this learning pathway provide an overview of the process of playwriting – from capturing ideas through to character, structure, dialogue, stage directions and editing.
Leading contemporary British playwrights, including Alan Ayckbourn (the most performed living English language playwright), Bryony Lavery (also author of ‘The Woman Writer’s Handbook’), and Willy Russell (‘Educating Rita’) give tips and practical advice on how to write plays. Their tips include how to read, watch and understand plays – using examples from Shakespeare, Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’ and Caryl Churchill’s ‘Top Girls’.
This pathway encourages experimentation as well as learning by reading and questioning. You will also be able to listen to linguistics professor David Crystal at the London Globe Theatre re-evaluating Shakespeare by exploring the original pronunciation.
| Name | Description | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Writing creatively: plays - video introduction | -- | -- | Free | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Starting out in playwriting | How do you find your starting point? Playwrights discuss the start of the creative process from developing simple ideas to narratives. | 15:29 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Developing a play | What are the best practices to apply when developing a dramatic idea? This discussion ranges from wider issues such as genre to more technical aspects of the art. | 9:34 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
The importance of character | Crafting characters is an integral aspect of playwriting - the rhythm and patterns of their speech, their narrative development and even whether they’re on-stage. | 5:33 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 5 | Approaching plays | Do you want to get more out of drama? This unit is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary plays. You will learn about dialogue, stage directions, blank verse, dramatic structure and conventions and aspects of performance. This study unit is just one of many that can be found on LearningSpace, part of OpenLearn, a collection of open educational resources from The Open University. Published in ePub 2.0.1 format, some feature such as audio, video and linked PDF are not supported by all ePub readers. | -- | Free | View In iTunes |
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6 |
How to write dialogue | Dialogue is all about listening and the interpretation of speech. Here, it is highlighted how dialogue can alter the pace economy of a play. | 9:55 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
The structure of plays | Arguably the key tool in the playwright’s arsenal, all aspects of structure are touched upon here, along with a few invaluable tips of the trade. | 7:57 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
The editing process | This is where a play really comes together. Playwrights discuss approaches to editing their work and writing with actors in mind. | 5:38 | Free | View In iTunes |
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9 |
Politics and the stage | How political should your drama be? Is tackling politics the same as tackling current issues? | 6:31 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Shakespeare and popular culture | How Shakespeare has influenced contemporary popular culture. | 4:25 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 11 | Shakespeare: Original pronunciation | An introduction by David and Ben Crystal to the 'Original Pronunciation' production of Shakespeare and what they reveal about the history of the English language. | 10:14 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 11 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
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