Park Theatre

Dramaturgy: Supercharging Your Story

04 May 2020

Park Up Masterclass

IMPORTANT - due to the developing Covid-19/ Coronavirus situation, all classes and courses are POSTPONED indefinately. We apologise for the short notice & inconvenience. For now please wait for a member of our box office team to be in touch via email in the coming days or weeks. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Masterclass booking has been postponed until further notice. You must be a Park Up member to be able to book when booking reopens – click here to join for FREE (proof of eligibility required)

Find out how to get your play noticed by readers with script-reading and dramaturgy company RoughHewn.

What is it?

A 3-hour masterclass with RoughHewn, led by Tamar Saphra and Tommo Fowler, to give you the tools to clarify, strengthen and supercharge your work.

What's it about?

At its heart, playwriting is storytelling. So, as a playwright, how can you make sure you’re telling your story as powerfully as possible?

By interrogating the fundamentals of how, why, and when stories are told in the theatre, this workshop will explore the role of dramaturgy within the evolution of a new play. We’ll give you the tools to clarify, strengthen and supercharge your work, empowering you to make sure it reaches its first audience in the way you want it to.

We’ll also share our extensive experience of working with theatre literary departments and prizes, demystifying the reading and programming process, and helping you to see your own work through the eyes of theatres, directors and producers.

Who is this for?

This masterclass is open to young people aged 16 – 26 who are Park Up members. Park Up is free to join – click here to find out more. No previous experience is necessary!

What do I need to bring/prepare?

Something to write with/take notes, any questions and yourself.

RoughHewn

Founded in 2019 by two directors and dramaturgs, Tamar Saphra and Tommo Fowler, RoughHewn work with writers to shape, focus and develop their plays. Their mission is simple: to make dramaturgy accessible to all, especially to playwrights without the support of a building or experienced network of peers.

Tamar is a Resident Director at the Almeida, and Tommo is Visiting Tutor on the MA Creative Writing (Playwriting) at City University, and sits on the Advisory Board of the dramaturgs’ network. Between them Tamar and Tommo have read thousands of plays, helping to identify emerging talent and recommending next steps for the development of writers and their work.

They draw on their cumulative experience as script readers for the UK’s most prestigious new writing theatres, including: The National Theatre, Royal Court, Almeida Theatre, The Royal Exchange, Sheffield Theatres, New Diorama, Bush Theatre, Theatre503, and the Finborough. They’ve also read for the UK’s biggest playwriting prizes and awards: the Bruntwood Prize, Papatango Prize, Verity Bargate Award and Theatre503 Playwriting Award. Arts journalist, theatre critic and Evening Standard Awards judge Holly Williams is a consulting associate at RoughHewn | www.roughhewn.org

Testimonials

‘Their eye for talent and passion for stories and how they are told is a proper gift’

Gillian Greer, Literary Manager at the Soho Theatre; Playwright (Meat, Theatre503).

‘They both have a feeling for the real complexities of life, and don't go for smoothed-out dramaturgy, but rather the dramatic warp and pinch that moves the artform forward. I wish everyone in the industry were like Tamar and Tommo’ - Eve Leigh, Playwright (Midnight Movie, Royal Court)

‘The steers I got were not only genius, but really opened up a part of the story that I was struggling with. I can’t recommend RoughHewn enough.’

Stephen Laughton, Playwright (One Jewish Boy, Trafalgar Studios).

‘The most influential dramaturgs I’ve worked with in my career’

Sarah Kosar, Playwright (Old Vic 12; Armadillo, The Yard)

‘Committed, generous, sharp readers of plays [...] They have a wonderful grasp of tone and gesture, and ask the questions that help you make your play into its best possible version’

Matt Parvin, Playwright (Gentlemen, Arcola)

How do I join Park Up?

1) Create an account with us here.
2) Click here and add the free membership into your basket.
3) Complete the checkout process – don’t worry, you won’t be charged a penny!
4) Email a picture of your ID to [email protected]. You won’t be able to book masterclasses unless you send us your ID first.
5) You can now book £10 tickets, £5 masterclasses and more!