Writing Workshops and Courses
Ten-week course, or intensive two-day workshop.
Suitable for new and early-career playwrights
One-day intensive masterclass, or weekend workshop.
All levels welcome
One-day intensive masterclass, or weekend workshop.
All levels welcome
How to Maintain a Healthy Writing Practice
Group masterclass or private session.
All levels welcome
The Elements: Structure / Character / Dialogue / Plot / Setting
A collection of two-hour masterclasses.
All levels welcome
Previous Workshops and Courses
Introduction to Playwriting (ten-week course)
2023
Howick Little Theatre
Auckland, NZ
Verbatim Technique
2023
Playmarket
Auckland, NZ
Dramatic Structure
2023
Playmarket
Auckland, NZ
Talking Dialogue
2021-22
The Creative Hub
Auckland, NZ
How to Maintain a Healthy Writing Practice
2021-22
The Creative Hub
Auckland, NZ
How to Maintain a Healthy Writing Practice
2021
Auckland Writer's Festival
Auckland, NZ
Creating Character
2020
International Writers Workshop
Auckland, NZ
The Playwrights Toolkit
2018
Oak Cliff Arts Mission
Dallas, TX, USA
Verbatim Technique
2016
Oak Cliff Cultural Center
Dallas, TX, USA
Introduction to Playwriting (ten-week course)
2016
Theatre Britain
Plano, TX, USA
Introduction to Playwriting (ten-week course)
2015
Chelsea Theatre
London, UK
How to Maintain a Healthy
Writing Practice
The journey to a final draft isn’t always easy. In this inspiring masterclass, I share tips and ideas for developing effective work habits and maximising your productivity as a writer.
A restorative masterclass focusing on mindfulness, positivity, and real-world connections using immersive writing techniques to encourage writers to check in with their inner creator.
Introduction to Playwriting
Suitable for new and early-career playwrights
Delivered as a ten-week evening class, or as an intensive two-day workshop, my Introduction to Playwriting course is designed to be a stimulating and inspiring introduction to the craft of playwriting. Between practical group sessions and one-to-one tutorials, writers will complete a ten-minute play to be performed as part of a rehearsed reading in the final session.
Course Overview
The script is the backbone of any theatre production - from the point of conception through to the realisation of the final work on stage. In this practical course, I share an introduction to the writer's craft and practice, developing the skills essential for writing for theatre, as well as exploring tips and techniques for maintaining a healthy writing practice.
Through weekly workshops, based on my book, The Writer's Toolkit, sessions cover the fundamental elements of playwriting; including dramatic structure, the creation and function of character, how to write dynamic dialogue, crafting a compelling plot, and much more. Outside of the group sessions, participants will apply the skills learned to write a ten-minute play. Each writer will benefit from two one-to-one online tutoring sessions to advance their script ahead of a staged reading in the final session.
Getting Started / Dramatic Action
The first session explores some of the preparatory work that needs to be done before writing a play and asks fundamental questions of the writers... What is drama? What kind of writer are you? What makes your perspective unique and how is your voice original? Ahead of the next session, writers will begin to generate ideas for their ten-minute plays, considering thematic subtext or a central dramatic question.
Participant Feedback
'A great course, with a skilled and knowledgeable instructor. This will drive you to create plays, and better them!"
'Thanks so much for putting all of our plays on stage – I had a wonderful night. I really enjoyed the course and as a tutor, you're a natural.
I'll definitely be making use of many of the exercises in the future and taking into account your feedback.'
'Paul was superb at planning and instruction for each and every class. His concern for each student to be inspired and work hard was clearly evident.
Those factors alone made the class enjoyable from the start.'
'I couldn’t recommend this course more... [Paul's] wealth of knowledge is exceptional, and the fact you get a public play reading out of it as well is incredible. It also helped me immensely as an actor - the entire writing process through to the table read and public reading.
Verbatim Technique
All levels welcome
In order to create an authentic piece of verbatim theatre, it is vital to build honest relationships with the people at the heart of the story, and an intimate connection to the world or locale. In this practical workshop, I share my personal experiences, and the practices that I have developed through writing my own verbatim dramas; The Countess and In the Tall Grass.
ver·ba·tim
(adverb & adjective)
in exactly the same words as were used originally.
The verbatim technique is a form of documentary theatre in which plays are constructed from the precise words spoken by people interviewed about a particular event or topic. This technique allows you to deliver rich authentic writing by capturing the natural rhythm of a contributor's speech, absorbing all the textures, sounds, and fabric of real life.
Workshop Overview
In this practical masterclass, I share my personal experiences of verbatim theatre to inspire an immersive approach to creating authentic and ethical verbatim theatre. By exploring and discussing the work of well-known verbatim playwrights including Alecky Blythe (London Road) and Moisés Kaufman's Tectonic Theater Project (The Laramie Project), participants will gain an understanding of the technique, including the ethics, practicalities, and logistics of creating a verbatim play.
I distill my process, from identifying a good story to the intensive research period that follows. I explain how to build relationships with potential contributors, how to conduct a great interview, and finally, the transcription and editing process - shaping the collected source material to form an original and dynamic piece of theatre. Specifically, I discuss the different practices I employed on both The Countess and In the Tall Grass, sharing raw interview recordings and footage, as well as clips from performances of both pieces.
I am passionate about this organic method of theatre-making and storytelling and am excited to be able to share my experiences with writers who may be discovering the technique for the first time. Verbatim plays attract high-profile criticism and spark impassioned debate - writing a good one is all about the ability to cut to the core of a story in a way that resonates with people. That's what makes it a powerful way to engage with an audience and tell true stories on stage.
Participant Feedback
'It was so well planned and executed; a variety of tools were offered to help me continue working on my writing skills, specifically for verbatim theatre.'
'Really interesting content. Paul was very knowledgeable on the subject and I really enjoyed it.'
'Now I feel confident that I'm equipped with the necessary tools and know-how to write my verbatim play.
I can't wait to get out in the field and start work! Thank you.'
All levels welcome
As a writer working on projects for both stage and screen, I have designed this workshop to explore the fundamentals of scriptwriting across both mediums, taking practical writing exercises from my book, The Writer’s Toolkit. This inspirational workshop will arm you with a bounty of original techniques to help advance your writing.
Workshop Overview
The workshop is structured around a series of fast-paced, inspired exercises, delivered in my popular 'circuit writing' format. Participants will be introduced to a plethora of activities, suitable for writers of all levels including those who are new to the craft. Exercises will cover the art of storytelling, narrative structure, the creation and function of character function, as well as writing dynamic dialogue and much more.
Writers will leave feeling energized and motivated to write, armed with a host of new go-to tips and tricks that can be applied to any work-in-progress; or used as a jumping-off point for a new piece of work.
Participants will also enjoy:
-
An introduction to mindful meditation before writing
-
Immersive writing and method writing techniques
-
Tips and ideas for maintaining a healthy writing practice.
Participant Feedback
'DO IT! If you ever have an idea to write and need help getting started, or if you write all the time and need to infuse some passion into what you do - Paul is the person to help. His writing prompts and exercises will spark your imagination and get you going down the right path. I am so fired up!'
'Don't miss the chance to take this workshop!
Extremely informative and valuable exercises that were not only fun but super helpful in combating writer's block.'
'Paul is an accomplished writer and he will absolutely give you tips that he himself stands behind!
Everything he says comes from his own success and acumen to prove him correct.'
'Thank you for an inspiring session full of great ideas. I came away ready to write and loved hearing about your career and methods.'
'Your workshop today was fantastic. My only complaint is that it ended too quickly!'
'I really enjoyed your class... everything you shared was useful no matter the type of writing one does.
You had such great advice and practical exercises!'
'I especially loved how quick some of the exercises were - as someone with a young child it is easy to feel overwhelmed
at the thought of writing every day, so the story in six words is a game changer for me.'