LIVE PLAYWRITING

Live Playwriting Courses

Are you a writer with a story burning to be told? Do you dream of seeing your words come to life on stage? Whether you're new to playwriting or have a few drafts tucked away, these courses are designed to guide, inspire and support you in discovering your voice and shaping your stories for live performance. 

We believe in nurturing new voices and making space for stories that need to be heard. That’s why these courses aren’t just about learning craft, they are equally about building confidence, community, and connection.

We now have 2 playwriting courses at Live Theatre: 

Live Playwriting Course  

OPEN TO APPLICATIONS NOW

Deadline to apply: Fri 26 Sep 2025

Who is it for: 

For writers who know the basics of writing and have some experience e.g. have written a play before (does not need to have been staged), have had R&D’s of their work, studied creative writing, have done other playwriting courses, etc. 

This isn’t a rigid rule, if you think this course is appropriate for you, please do apply and let us know your experience where prompted. 

When: 

Monday evenings, 6pm–8pm. 

6 October – 1 December 2025. 

Followed by a feedback session in January 2026.

Where: 

In-person at Live Theatre & online via Zoom

Information:

Join our 10-week Live Playwriting Course, a warm, welcoming space for theatre writers in the North East who are ready to take their first steps into writing for the stage. 

Led by Live Theatre’s creative team and featuring masterclasses from some of the industry’s most exciting and acclaimed theatre writers, you’ll dive into the essential elements of playwriting: story structure, character, dialogue, plot and theatricality. You’ll also get a behind-the-scenes look at how new plays are developed and produced in the theatre industry.

Course outcomes:

Before starting the course, you will be asked to come up with an idea for a new play which you will then write over the duration of the 10 weeks. By the end of the course the hope is that you have turned that idea into the first draft of a 50-60 minute play. Each writer will also receive check-in sessions with the team throughout the course, and a 1:1 script feedback session after completion. 

Previous course guest tutors have included:

• Anna Jordan – YEN, Succession, Killing Eve
• Samuel D. Hunter – The Whale (Oscar Winner), A Case for the Existence of God
• Vinay Patel – Murdered By My Father, Doctor Who
• Chinonyerem Odimba – Unknown Rivers, My Best Friend Married A Warrior
• Phoebe Eclair-Powell – Shed: Exploded View, Epic Love and Pop Songs

In order for everyone to get the sufficient care and attention they need, the course is capped at 15 writers.