Join your tutors, script consultant and 4Screenwriting lead Philip Shelley and award nominated screenwriter Thara Popoola, for this immersive course designed to give you time and space to develop your screenplay. Set in the tranquil surroundings of Totleigh Barton in Devon, this course enables you to dedicate quality time to your creative work and provides a rare opportunity to step away from everyday distractions and fully concentrate on honing your scripts, surrounded by fellow writers all working towards the same goal. The UK film and TV industry thrives on collaboration – and this course will foster that spirit of support and creative inspiration. You’ll be encouraged to share your writing experiences, exchange ideas, and support each other through the challenging process of crafting a brilliant screenplay.
On a tutored retreat you are offered one-to-one support each day and feedback to help you make meaningful progress on your screenplay and encourage you to produce the best version of the story you want to tell. Crucially, you will also have time to write. This retreat is suitable for writers with a work-in-progress, whether this is your first or fifth screenplay, a short film, a pilot episode, or a feature film.
Participants are invited to submit a one-page synopsis and a 10-page script sample to be received no later than two weeks before the course begins, i.e., by Friday 11th September, to totleighbarton@arvon.org.
What to Expect: Inspiring masterclasses to deepen your understanding of the craft of writing for the screen.
• Expert guidance from your tutors: Acclaimed industry experts share their knowledge and experience
• Personal Feedback: Focused 1:1 sessions with one of your tutors each day with four tutorials across the week
• Inspiration from a range of screenplays: Learn more about what makes a compelling screenplay
• Time and space to write: Hours of time at your disposal to write and hone your screenplay
• Community: Share meals and workshops ideas with a supportive group of fellow writers
• At the end of the week: You’ll leave feeling inspired with a roadmap for how to further develop your script and clarity on which direction to take
*Please use the expandable links below to reveal timings and further details of the course schedule.
Room with indoor shared bathroom:£960
Room with shared bathroom accessed via outdoor covered pathway:£895
Concessions: Room with indoor shared bathroom £672
Concessions: Room with shared bathroom accessed via outdoor covered pathway £626.50
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.
What your course fee covers:
Tutoring: Four morning group workshops, with inspiring writing exercises to kick-start your creativity, plus two 1:1 tutorials, one with each tutor, focusing on your own work. Our tutors are some of the leading writers at work today, and in addition to formal workshops and tutorials you will share meals with them and have opportunities for more casual conversation. During evening readings, you’ll hear your tutors – and a guest speaker on Wednesday evening – share their work and answer your questions, from the secrets of their craft to the practicalities of life as a writer.
Your accommodation: A week in a grade II listed thatched Devon manor house in beautiful, peaceful west Devon.
All meals: We hand over our well-stocked and welcoming kitchen to you, offering a fresh, tasty seasonal menu prepared from local ingredients where possible (with dietary requests catered for), as well as a cream tea on arrival and a constant supply of coffees, teas, and home-baked cakes throughout your stay.
Time and space to write: an opportunity to step away from the distractions of everyday life and focus solely on your creativity.
A community of writers: our writing weeks have a relaxed and sociable atmosphere and offer the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people. Many of the writers who attend our residentials stay in touch and continue to share work and support one another’s writing journeys – sometimes even decades later.
Support for our charitable activity: Arvon is a charity, and each year over 40 of our courses are with vulnerable groups and schools, from young people who have experienced bullying to adults recovering from an addiction. Your course fee helps to support groups who would otherwise not have the opportunity to access our transformational courses.
Physical Access at Totleigh Barton:
We do not currently recommend this house if you are a wheelchair user. Totleigh Barton is a sixteenth-Century manor house and has many steps and tight corners. In the future we hope to redevelop the property to provide level access. For additional detailed information on physical access in bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, dining, shared spaces and the grounds please visit our dedicated access page.
Please see our access page for general access information for residential courses.
Our grants scheme may be able to cover a portion of your course fees. Disability costs and additional living/support costs are taken into account when considering your grant application. You may also be entitled to concession pricing on selected courses.
If you have any questions or concerns and want to chat to a member of staff prior to booking please contact us on access@arvon.org
Totleigh Barton, the first ever Arvon centre, is a 16th-century manor house in one of the most peaceful and idyllic parts of Devon.
Totleigh Barton is a thatched manor house with single occupancy rooms and shared bathrooms. The house offers many comfortable lounge and spaces to relax and write throughout the house and a renovated barn offers a comfortable space for evening readings. Mobile and Wi-Fi signal is limited. We invite you to think of a retreat to this beautiful old house as a full ‘digital detox’ – a chance to make real progress with your writing with no distractions.
All your meals are provided, locally and sustainably sourced wherever possible. Help yourself to breakfast, our team will prepare lunch, and dinner is prepared in groups each evening using the delicious recipes and ingredients provided.
Totleigh Barton lies two miles from the village of Sheepwash, with walks along the River Torridge nearby. There is a beautiful and productive garden and quiet spaces on-site for writing.
See here for more information on Totleigh Barton.
Philip Shelley
Thara Popoola
Chris Hurford
