Description

Get Beyond the 10-Page Sift

Learn how to write a play that survives the infamous 10-page sift.

Whether you’re an experienced playwright or just starting out, your level of experience rarely matters if your script doesn’t hit the ground running.

Our Top of the Stack course focuses specifically on developing the first 10 pages of a script—arguably the most crucial section when submitting to competitions and theatres.

How It Works

This 5-week course examines:

• The art of writing concise stage directions that allow us to get to the action
• The functions of active dialogue
• Writing to a Dramatic Question
• How to apply the principles of a compelling opener to your new or existing piece
• Finding the right starting point

Through writing exercises and examining the opening pages of contemporary and classic plays, you’ll learn to hone your playwriting skills for maximum immediacy and optimal reading impact.

Dramatically increase your chances of a full read in writing competitions.

Check out our blog about getting to the top of the stack for a taste of what to expect.

 

What People Say about WriteForTheStage Courses?

Sue talks about her experience of learning on the WriteForTheStage courses.

“This course is perfect for both a new writer, but also a writer who has written a number of pieces and is struggling to find the inspiration for a new piece of writing (like I am/was).

Mike’s course is just the tonic for finding a starting point, and having just completed the three modules I now have a theme, draft outlines for characters and a starting point for a brand new piece of writing.

I particularly found module 1 to be really helpful in breaking down what I need to write next. I enjoy the timed tasks that were given, and i didn’t feel any pressure to come up with something spectacular as Mike gives us a suggestion for what to do if we are blocked during those timed exercises. As it was, I wasn’t actually blocked – I have a lot of things that I would like to write about, and through Mike’s guidance I narrowed this down to one theme and by the end of the course I have a solid starting point. I find being able to pause and then restart the exercise to be super helpful.

Highly recommend this course.”

-Sarah Cassidy, Finding Starting Points

David talks about his experience of learning with WFTS online.

“40k words into my novel I’d ground to a halt. Totally stuck and no idea why it wasn’t working. This course broke the block by taking me right back to basics and clarifying the central themes and character motivations. A life-saver! Am now back on track with it all thanks to Mike and his unique, clear and motivating approach. Highly recommend for any writer.”

– Anna MacGowern, Finding Starting Points

 

“It was a great atmosphere and learning environment. Though the course was short and over zoom there was a great connection within the group, which I feel is important when sharing work with each other and having the space to give feedback and give honest thoughts. I had a great experience and found the course creatively motivating. Thank you!”

— Becca Ashton, WFTS Summer School

 

“What a great course. I was fed-up not being able to find a short course that addresses the specific needs of writing for stage. Most courses follow a Novel writing format that covers ground I already know. I needed something that tackled structure and dramatic impact that did not require me to sell a human organ or was so long that I was at retirement age by the time it was completed. This was a great injection of writing insights, specific to the stage that very quickly helped us hone our writing to be more impactful and dramatic. It exceeded my expectations. I have come away with two pieces of work: one, near complete and the other to be progressed. It was great value for money. Great tutor and I met some lovely talented writers. I would not hesitate in recommending this course to anyone who wants to move their stage writing forward.”

— Claire Hogan, WFTS Summer School

 

“I learnt so much from this class – especially about structuring scenes and building tension. It really helped me improve my dialogue writing and appreciate its dramatic power. The bootcamp concept was perfect: focused, motivational, and full of inspiration. I felt encouraged to write, reflect, and grow – with instant, qualified feedback that made all the difference.”

— Vivian Colbert, WFTS Summer School

Preparing a Script to Send Off?

This course is for you if you’re preparing to submit your script to competitions like the BBC Writers Open Call. If you’re new to playwriting, it’ll give you a solid foundation—where to start and how to progress.

This course is suitable for:

• Experienced playwrights preparing to send their scripts to readers
• Novice playwrights wanting to learn about the craft of playwriting.

We cover the fundamentals of playwriting to ensure your script leaps off the page.

The WriteForTheStage Legacy

We’ve been teaching people how to write a play since 2013, helping hundreds of first-time and experienced playwrights get their ideas out of their heads and onto the page.

Our participants have developed scripts for competitions and opportunities, with work progressing to professional development with theatre companies, and runs at the Greater Manchester Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe festivals.

We’ve helped writers get their work in print. And some of our alumni have won playwriting prizes such as the Bread & Roses Playwriting Award.

Others have gone on to professional writing careers in theatre, TV, and radio.

Can I Start a New Play from Scratch?

Absolutely. We recommend joining the course with the intention to write something new. We’ll be covering the essential facets of how to write a play that competition readers want to read.

But if you’re looking to fine-tune an existing script for maximum impact—especially if you’re preparing it for submission—that’s fine too. Just come open and ready to hone your work.

Who Is the Tutor?

Mike Heath has worked as a professional playwright for over 20 years. He teaches playwriting at Salford University and holds an MA in Creative Writing: Playwriting.

He’s been teaching for nearly 30 years, with a PGCE and decades of experience working with adults and young people.

When Is It Running?

The first 5-week course begins in January 2026, running on Wednesday evenings from 7–9 pm (UK time).

Sessions are held on Zoom, offering every participant plenty of opportunity to engage in discussion and learning. We’ve been running online courses since 2018.

Term 1 dates: Jan 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, and Feb 4th.
All sessions are recorded and shared with participants, so you can catch up if you miss one.

What Is the Cancellation Policy?

We run our courses in small groups to ensure a high-quality experience. All courses are subject to minimum numbers. If a course doesn’t run due to low enrolment, you’ll receive a full refund or the option to defer to a future course.

You’ll receive a full refund (minus a small admin fee) if you cancel up to 72 hours in advance. If you cancel after the course has started, we’ll refund 50% of the fee.

Unfortunately, there are no refunds for cancellations after Week 2—though we may agree to defer your participation to a future course.