Join award-winning tutors James McDermott and Hannah Khalil for this stimulating and supportive week of creating work for the stage. If you have an idea for a play, a work-in-progress, or have always dreamed of writing for theatre but don’t know where to begin, this week will set you on your path. Through a series of group discussions, analysis of scenes and practical writing exercises, you will learn how to make exciting theatre, with stories that come to life on the stage.
You will also explore tools to create authentic characters, ways to write dialogue and how to structure scripts in conventional and unconventional ways that work best with your unique voice. In this week, you will create the space and time to discuss how to start and sustain a career as a freelance writer, with a special on sharing material that asserts and celebrates a diversity of individual voices.
Tutor
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James McDermott is a queer writer based in East Anglia represented by Independent Talent. His plays published by Samuel French include…
Tutor
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Playwright Hannah Khalil was the 2022 Resident Writer at Shakespeare’s Globe and her work there includes Hakawatis: Women of the…
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Katy makes her own work including award-winning storytelling/stand-up show Schutte the Unromantic and acclaimed semi-immersive folk horror play …
Online: £450
Concessions: £315
As part of our effort to increase participation in the arts, we offer limited concessionary places at a 30% reduction. You can select this option at checkout if available.
We are committed to making our Arvon at Home programme accessible to as many people as possible.
Across all of Arvon at Home
Masterclasses and Online Writing Day
How I Write
Online Writing Weeks / Weekends
Subject to funding/permissions (please contact arvonathome@arvon.org for more details)
If you have any access issues that we have not covered here, please contact us on access@arvon.org
See here for more access information.
Nothing short of transformative! I can't believe how much we packed into just a few days and how much impact it has had. I'm writing in new styles, new forms, new images, new rhythms!— Writing Week Participant
I had the chance to speak with two well respected tutors about my work. Being able to do this in one-to-one tutorials was excellent and not reduced in any way by being on Zoom. A good chance for some very good advice. I am now determined to set to work on my writing.— Writing Week Participant
Arvon courses are always so inclusive, supportive, fun, and instructive. There is something really magical and intimate about what happens during the week.— Writing Week Participant
Monday
11.30–13.00 Everyone gathers online in Arvon’s Zoom Writing House. Your Arvon host will welcome you and the tutors. You’ll get to meet everyone, ask questions, and settle in. Your tutors will ask you to start thinking about your writing, perhaps setting an exercise.
13.00–14.00 Lunch
14.00–16.30 Quickfire tutorials (both tutors will be in one Zoom room – you will be allocated a 7 min slot to drop in and give a quick intro about yourself and your writing)
16.30–17.00 Break
17.00–17.30 The closing session of the day, the theme of which will be decided nearer the time by your tutors
Tuesday
9.30–11 Morning Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
11–11.30 Break
11.30–12.30 Tutorials or Writing Time: Please keep this time pencilled in your diary. Over the course of the week you will have 2 x one-to-one tutorials lasting 25 minutes (one with each of your tutors). These will be allocated for you and sent to you a week before the course starts. If you do not have a tutorial, we encourage you to use this time to write.
12.30–13.30 Lunch
13.30–15.00 Afternoon Workshop: Everyone meets online for the afternoon workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break
15.00–15.30 Break
15.30–16.30 Tutorials or Writing Time
16.30–17.00 Break
17.00–17.45 Tutor readings: Both tutors read and speak about their work, followed by a Q&A hosted by your Arvon host.
Wednesday
9.30–11 Morning Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
11–11.30 Break
11.30–12.30 Tutorials or Writing Time
12.30–13.30 Lunch
13.30–15.00 Afternoon Workshop: Everyone meets online for the afternoon workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break
15.00–15.30 Break
15.30–16.30 Tutorials or Writing Time
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19.15–20.15 (optional) The Arvon Wednesday ‘How I Write’ reading and Q&A — you get a free ticket to this, as well as access to the recording for a month afterwards.
Thursday
9.30–11 Morning Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
11–11.30 Break
11.30–12.30 Tutorials or Writing Time
12.30–13.30 Lunch
13.30–15.00 Afternoon Workshop: Everyone meets online for the afternoon workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break
15.00–15.30 Break
15.30–16.30 Tutorials or Writing Time
Friday
9.30–11 Morning Workshop: Everyone meets online for the morning workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break.
11–11.30 Break
11.30–12.30 Tutorials or Writing Time
12.30–13.30 Lunch
13.30–15.00 Afternoon Workshop: Everyone meets online for the afternoon workshop, which includes writing exercises, discussion and a comfort break
15.00–15.30 Break
15.30–17.00 A celebratory reading where you have the chance to share some of your new writing. Expect laughter, tears and a huge sense of pride for all you have learned, written and achieved this week. There’ll be plenty of virtual hugs.
And then...
Next steps: The week doesn’t stop here. You now have a writing community. Stay in touch. Share your work with each other, and take it forward!
Oct 16-20
Online
Characterising real people
Oct 23-28
Lumb Bank
The gift of writing
Oct 23-28
Totleigh Barton
The gift of writing
Nov 6-10
Online
Dreaming songs into life
Nov 13-17
Online
Getting started (and carrying on)
Nov 27-Dec 1
Online
Other lives intertwined
Dec 4-8
Online
Dive deep into character
Dec 11-16
The Hurst
Draw inspiration from page and stage
