Playwriting summer school?! Does the word school send shivers down your spine? Perhaps it takes you back to coughing your way through surreptitious cigarettes around the back of the bike sheds? Or maybe you think of end of term discos and love bites you desperately try to stave off with toothpaste? (SPOILER: it doesn’t work!)
Whatever feelings your learning journey so far brings to mind, a summer school is not like that. Summer schools are an opportunity to explore, experiment, and discover things that inspire you to bring ideas to life on the page.
This blog post explains what to expect at the WriteForTheStage summer schools this year.
Ready? Let’s go!
What is WriteForTheStage?
I established WriteForTheStage back in 2013 as an off-shoot of Studio Salford – an umbrella company of theatre companies who solely curated the seasons at The Kings Arms Theatre. Studio Salford ran from the early 2000s to around 2019, and brought a massive array of work to audiences – mostly new writing from the in-house theatre companies, but also from visiting companies.
We presented an impressive array of work, written and performed by some of the (now) most well-known names in TV and theatre. Many professional writers and actors cut their teeth on those boards at The Kings Arms, and – thanks to brilliant events like The Greater Manchester Fringe – they continue to do so.
I was lucky enough to be involved in Studio Salford – founded by James Foster and Julia Nelson – from the early days and eventually became the co-ordinator. Being part of the collective gave me a platform to try out new work and grow as a playwright, and I’ll always be massively appreciative of the opportunities that came my way as a result of being part of that great era.
Why I founded WriteForTheStage
I founded WriteForTheStage because – at the time – there was a lack of training or support for new playwrights.
My aim was to provide low-cost, high-quality courses for people who wanted to learn the ropes. And, over the years, we’ve helped countless playwrights write their first play, offered hundreds of writers and actors a platform through Studio Salford Development Week, and helped develop a long list of writers who are now established names to develop their craft.
I’m very proud of that. And after a mini-hiatus, WriteForTheStage is back to continue the work I love.
What do people say about WriteForTheStage online playwriting courses?
We’ve helped hundreds of burgeoning and experienced playwrights develop their work over the past decade. Here are some reviews of our online and live playwriting courses:
The WriteForTheStage summer schools
We’re breaking our hiatus with two short-courses, run as summer schools this summer. Later in the year, we’ll be running similar playwright’s “retreats” – I’ll explain the quotation marks later.
The two summer schools sit at either both ends of the summer holidays:
And if you sign up for the June/July summer school before Sunday 22nd June, you’ll get 30-days’ free access to our super-popular Finding Starting Points course to help you prepare and gather ideas.
What is the time commitment for the playwriting summer school?
As with everything in life, the more energy and effort you put into something, the more you’ll get out of it. But, of course, I know that life gets in the way.
So, consider what you want to get out of it.
If you want a short play by the end of the week, attend the morning sessions and try to give yourself a couple of hours a day throughout the week to write.
But if you’re hoping for a first draft of a longer play of up to 60 minutes plus, try to clear your diary for the week. Treat the summer school as an opportunity to throw yourself into the joy of writing and discovering.
Where are the sessions being held?
To maximise accessibility, I’m running the sessions online using Zoom. I’ve been teaching online using this method for years – way before the pandemic – so I know how to make it feel like everyone’s in the room together.
While some people aren’t keen on studying online, I find it a great way to share content, facilitate open discussions, and deliver presentations. And it’s better for the environment, I think – no one has to travel, and everyone can work from the comfort of their own homes.
Online learning FAQs
Absolutely! Online learning offers the same high-quality content, expert instruction, and interactive discussions as in-person classes. Many learners find it even more effective because they can study at their own pace and revisit materials whenever they need.
Yes! Online courses often include live sessions, discussion forums, and direct messaging with instructors, ensuring you get the support and feedback you need.
Definitely! Online learning platforms provide group discussions, peer reviews, and collaborative projects, so you can engage with classmates just as you would in a physical classroom.
Online courses are designed to keep you engaged with interactive lessons, structured deadlines, and supportive communities. Plus, you can tailor your learning environment to suit your needs, making it easier to stay focused.
There will be an open Zoom chat throughout the week, allowing you to ask questions while you work. Or I’ll be keeping a close eye on my emails all week, so you can send an email and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
What times are the sessions?
Over the week, there will be five morning sessions and three evening sessions.
Mornings
Each morning, we’ll gather online between 9.30-10.30am (UK time), and we’ll spend the time working on writing exercises. At the beginning of the week, we’ll do some material gathering, like we do in the Finding Starting Points online course.
As we progress through the week, we’ll focus on specific writing devices and warm-ups that will help set you up for your day’s writing.
Evenings
The evening sessions will run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for two hours from 8pm (UK time). That might feel a little late, but I wanted to arrange those evening classes around people’s lives, so it gives you a chance to get the kids to bed or have you tea.
We’ll use these two-hour evening sessions as a WritersLab, where we’ll read your work as a group. We’ll discuss the writing constructively, helping each writer develop a path for their next day’s writing.
Personally, I find WritersLabs super-helpful when I’m writing a new play. It helps lift your words off the page – it always feels different when you hear it out loud. It’s an essential stage of playwriting, and having three over the course of the week should help everyone steer their writing in a healthy direction.
Who is running the playwriting summer school?
That’ll be me, Mike Heath. I’ve been writing for the stage for over 20 years and have had twenty-one of my plays (and counting) produced.
This year, we’re reviving my play The Big Things (shortlisted for the Alfred Bradley Bursery Award 2016) after its controversial three-week run at the Barons Court Theatre in London back in 2018. We’re bringing it to life with a brand new cast and a fabulous new director at this year’s Greater Manchester Fringe.
I’m a qualified teacher (PGCE) and have a distinction MA in Creative Writing (Playwriting) from Salford University, where I teach Playwriting and Writing for Performance modules for second and third year BA students.
I’m also one of the hosts of the WriteForTheStage Podcast, co-presenting it with fellow playwright and academic Dr Stephen Hornby.
What happens at the end of the summer school?
We’ll stage public readings of all the pieces from the playwriting summer schools at a very special Studio Salford Development Week at The Kings Arms towards the end of September (date tbc).
Development Week is a mini festival of new work, mainly from WriteForTheStage participants. But we also open out slots to other local writers/theatre makers who want to try a new piece of work out in front of an audience.
The audience provides written feedback for each piece, and that feedback goes directly to the writer.
Sign up for the WriteForTheStage playwriting summer school now!
Bookings are open now. And because we’re running the sessions online, there are no geographic barriers to taking part. All you need is a decent broadband connection, the Zoom app, something to write with, and a passion for discovery.
And if you sign up before Sunday 22nd June, you’ll get free access to our short-course Finding Starting Points, which will give you some material to get started with. It’s usually £25 for 30-day’s access.
More information
Find out more here.
And if you have any questions, join the conversation below.
And feel free to share this with your friends and colleagues.
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