Facilitated by Gavin Kostick, the evening and weekend courses provide new writers with the confidence, skills and stimulus required to write successfully for theatre.
Fishamble: The New Play Company is dedicated to supporting new and developing writers from the very beginning of their literary careers. Over the last 10 years, Fishamble has run 50 playwriting courses for over 700 developing playwrights from Ireland and overseas. So far over 300 new plays have been written through these courses, with over 80 plays by writers who attended the courses going on to full production.
Tiny Plays for Ireland, 2012 and 2013 and published by New Island Press, contained many works by writers who had taken part in the courses. Fishamble’s production of Whereabouts, a series of site-specific short plays, was awarded the Special Judges’ Award for creativity and innovation at the The Irish Times Theatre Awards 2006. Six of the eleven plays produced in the series were by writers who have participated in Fishamble’s playwriting courses.
Tiny Plays for Ireland, 2012 and 2013 and published by New Island Press, contained many works by writers who had taken part in the courses. Fishamble’s production of Whereabouts, a series of site-specific short plays, was awarded the Special Judges’ Award for creativity and innovation at the The Irish Times Theatre Awards 2006. Six of the eleven plays produced in the series were by writers who have participated in Fishamble’s playwriting courses.
About the Courses
The Spring and Summer courses are likely to take place online, while the Autumn and Winter courses will be held in the Fishamble office. There will be some minor structural changes as we bring some courses online, so that we ensure that all attendees receive a high quality and accessible experience.
The maximum number of participants is 12 in each course.
Please note that the courses tend to book out 3-4 months in advance, so please book early to avoid disappointment!
Evening Course Content
Each course participant is immersed in a range of ideas and exercises designed to develop useful skills in writing for live performance. These include: Openings, The Playwright’s Imagination, Plotting, Alternative Structures, Characterisation, the Rhythms of Language and Dialogue. Each course member is encouraged to develop their own idea through the course into a finished draft. As well as developing playwriting skills the course aims to broaden conceptions of what is achievable in live performance and encourage practical considerations of successful staging.
Weekend Course Content
The weekend course is aimed at learning all about playwriting by doing. Over the weekend, through examples, discussion, writing and feedback each participant will take part in a varied set of creative playwriting exercises which are satisfying in themselves and provide a stimulating portfolio for future work. The weekend course has a positive and supportive atmosphere to encourage participants to discover new ideas and deliver work to the best of their ability. The course includes a free trip to the theatre on the Saturday night.
The maximum number of participants is 12 in each course.
Please note that the courses tend to book out 3-4 months in advance, so please book early to avoid disappointment!
Evening Course Content
Each course participant is immersed in a range of ideas and exercises designed to develop useful skills in writing for live performance. These include: Openings, The Playwright’s Imagination, Plotting, Alternative Structures, Characterisation, the Rhythms of Language and Dialogue. Each course member is encouraged to develop their own idea through the course into a finished draft. As well as developing playwriting skills the course aims to broaden conceptions of what is achievable in live performance and encourage practical considerations of successful staging.
Weekend Course Content
The weekend course is aimed at learning all about playwriting by doing. Over the weekend, through examples, discussion, writing and feedback each participant will take part in a varied set of creative playwriting exercises which are satisfying in themselves and provide a stimulating portfolio for future work. The weekend course has a positive and supportive atmosphere to encourage participants to discover new ideas and deliver work to the best of their ability. The course includes a free trip to the theatre on the Saturday night.
I found this course was not a ‘how to’ course like many others. Instead, it opened up the area of possibility in playwriting – made me think, see different ways to the completed work. Most usefully, it reawakened an understanding of rhythm and metre which has had a direct effect on my writing. It also got me writing poems and short stories, which has helped improve my management of playwriting. Well worth it! |
Fishamble’s playwriting courses have made an amazing contribution to the development of the many companies and artists who have presented new work at the Dublin Fringe Festival. |
Courses
SOLD OUT - Spring/Summer 9 Week Playwriting Course - ONLINE
€100.00 - €300.00
Thurs 16 Apr- Thurs 11 Jun
The online course is now sold out
Every Thursday evening from 7-9pm for 9 weeks.
€300/ €100 deposit required to secure place
We would require that the balance is paid by Monday 16 March.
THIS COURSE WILL NOW BE TAKING PLACE IN AN ONLINE FORMAT.
Changes to the existing course:
- The course will be 2 hours a week instead of 3
- We are increasing the amount of one-to-one feedback each participant will have
- We will set more exercises than usual during the week
- We will be assigning more readings
We have taken these measures to ensure that the quality of the course remains high. We also require participants to preferably have a laptop as the sessions will take place via Zoom, and we will be using the screenshare option which is not ideal on a phone.
Each course participant is immersed in a range of ideas and exercises designed to develop useful skills in writing for live performance. These include: Openings, The Playwright’s Imagination, Plotting, Alternative Structures, Characterisation, the Rhythms of Language and Dialogue. Each course member is encouraged to develop their own idea through the course into a finished draft. As well as developing playwriting skills the course aims to broaden conceptions of what is achievable in live performance and encourage practical considerations of successful staging.
If you have any special requirements in accessing the course, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Chandrika at chandrika@fishamble.com
May Bank Holiday Playwriting Course - ONLINE
€70.00 - €200.00
Sat 2 - Mon 4 May
From 10am - 5pm, for 3 days.
***Course has now already begun***Dates and times may be subject to change as we move this course into an online format, however it will still take place around this weekend.
€200/ €70 deposit required to secure place
We would require that the balance is paid by Monday 13 April
Location: Fishamble office at 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, D01 NV63. Our door is the black door between Barry's Hotel and Belvedere College.
The weekend course is aimed at learning all about playwriting by doing. Over the weekend, through examples, discussion, writing and feedback each participant will take part in a varied set of creative playwriting exercises which are satisfying in themselves and provide a stimulating portfolio for future work. The weekend course has a positive and supportive atmosphere to encourage participants to discover new ideas and deliver work to the best of their ability. The course includes a free trip to the theatre on the Saturday night.
If you have any special requirements in accessing the course, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Chandrika at chandrika@fishamble.com.
Autumn/Winter 9 Week Playwriting Course - SOLD OUT
€100.00 - €300.00
Thurs 8 Oct - Thurs 3 Dec
Every Thursday evening from 7-10pm for 9 weeks, ONLINE VIA ZOOM.
€300/ €100 deposit required to secure place
We would require that the balance is paid by Monday 21 September.
In the light of the ongoing uncertainty with regard to Pandemic restrictions Fishamble has decided to deliver the Autumn Evening Course online via Zoom. In order to make the most of the format, the Evening Course will include extra shared written and visual materials, and an extra guest playwright and director interview as part of the course. We are confident of the quality of the course to be delivered in this manner.
Each course participant is immersed in a range of ideas and exercises designed to develop useful skills in writing for live performance. These include: Openings, The Playwright’s Imagination, Plotting, Alternative Structures, Characterisation, the Rhythms of Language and Dialogue. Each course member is encouraged to develop their own idea through the course into a finished draft. As well as developing playwriting skills the course aims to broaden conceptions of what is achievable in live performance and encourage practical considerations of successful staging.
If you have any special requirements in accessing the course, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Ronan at ronan@fishamble.com.
October Bank Holiday Playwriting Course - ONLINE
€70.00 - €200.00
Only a few left!
Sat 17 Oct + Sat 24 - Mon 26 Oct
In the light of the ongoing uncertainty with regard to Pandemic restrictions Fishamble has decided to deliver the Autumn Weekend Course online via Zoom. In order to make the most of the format, the Weekend Course will include extra shared written and visual materials, and an extra guest playwright and director interview as part of the course. Further, we propose an introductory session, on the morning of Sat, 17th October. This is to get used to the format and set people up for the weekend ahead. Each day of the weekend will end at 4pm, as the Zoom format is slightly more concentrated. We are confident of the quality of the course to be delivered in this manner.
UPDATED TIMETABLE
Sat 17 Oct: Morning introductory session, time TBC
Sat 24 Oct: 10am - 4pm
Sun 24 Oct: 10am - 4pm
Mon 24 Oct: 10am - 4pm
The weekend course is aimed at learning all about playwriting by doing. Over the weekend, through examples, discussion, writing and feedback each participant will take part in a varied set of creative playwriting exercises which are satisfying in themselves and provide a stimulating portfolio for future work. The weekend course has a positive and supportive atmosphere to encourage participants to discover new ideas and deliver work to the best of their ability. The course includes a free trip to the theatre on the Saturday night.
If you have any special requirements in accessing the course, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Ronan at ronan@fishamble.com.
To enrol, choose an available course above, and either pay a deposit or the full amount to secure your place. There are no requirements for participating in this course.
Alternative Payment Methods
All courses are held in Fishamble office at 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1.
For further information on Fishamble’s playwriting courses contact Gavin on 01 670 4018 or email gavin@fishamble.com.
Please note that no places will be held without a deposit.
All fees and deposits paid are strictly non-refundable.
- If you would like to make a payment by bank transfer, let us know in your email and we will send you our details. PLEASE USE YOUR FULL NAME AS THE REFERENCE WHEN MAKING A TRANSFER.
- To pay by cheque, please make your cheque out to Fishamble Theatre Company, address 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1.
- You can also drop into our offices and pay with cash.
All courses are held in Fishamble office at 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1.
For further information on Fishamble’s playwriting courses contact Gavin on 01 670 4018 or email gavin@fishamble.com.
Please note that no places will be held without a deposit.
All fees and deposits paid are strictly non-refundable.
