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In this album, some of our current and most well-respected playwrights offer an insight into the mechanics and beauty of writing for the stage. Contributors include Alan Ayckbourn, David Edgar, Bryony Lavery and Willy Russell, who discuss their own work and the pleasures and pitfalls of crafting a script. All of the fundamental topics, from character and structure to dialogue and editing, are covered in detail in a series of entertaining and insightful interviews. This material forms part of The Open University course A176 Start writing plays.
Track 8: Politics and the stage
How political should your drama be? Is tackling politics the same as tackling current issues?
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Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start writing plays | A short introduction to this album. Play now Start writing plays |
| 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. Play now Starting out in playwriting |
| 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. Play now Developing a play |
| 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. Play now The importance of character |
| 5 | 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. Play now How to write dialogue |
| 6 | 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. Play now The structure of plays |
| 7 | The editing process | This is where a play really comes together. Playwrights discuss approaches to editing their work and writing with actors in mind. Play now The editing process |
| 8 | Politics and the stage | How political should your drama be? Is tackling politics the same as tackling current issues? Play now Politics and the stage |
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