Teach Yourself: Writing a Play

TY Writing a Play is designed for would-be writers of every level and for all types of motivation. Whether writing for the specific needs of an amateur drama group, for a community event, a political campaign or simply for personal or professional development, this is a practical yet informative guide to the craft of playwriting. It offers guidance on the creative principles of scripts, characters, plot, structure and dialogue, and explains the principles of staging and stage directions. It further offers advice on how to write for a variety of different situations, for every age and ability, and according to specific genres—particularly those often preferred by amateur groups, such as pantomime and musical theatre. Each chapter offers a selection of practical exercises to try, and there are plenty of further resources and advice for all those who might wish to take their creative talent forwards to a more professional level.