Teaching Playwriting: Creativity in Practice

Description

Playwriting is a skill under-explored in the classroom, despite the strong evidence that it’s an engaging and rewarding activity for young people. Teaching Playwriting addresses this gap and is an essential resource for teachers wanting to gain the skills and confidence necessary to introduce playwriting to their students. Based on rich research and clearly explained theoretical concepts, the book explores the lessons from creativity theory that will provide the teacher with the skills and knowledge necessary to empower students’ writing and creativity. It also includes extensive practical activities and writing exercises to develop students' playwriting proficiency and creative capacity. Discussing key concepts in playwriting such as idea, dialogue, character, action and structure, the book enables teachers to respond to the unique learning needs of their students and help them tell their stories and reach their potential as young playwrights. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgements Part 1: Playwriting and young writers Chapter 1: Introduction What theatre does What a playwright does What is a play? My research What this book does References Chapter 2: Why playwriting? Introduction What is agency? Why teach playwriting? Conclusion Summary References Chapter 3: Creativity and engagement Introduction The systems view of creativity Conclusion Summary References Chapter 4: Spectrum of playwriting approaches Introduction The spectrum Key lessons from dramaturgy The alternative to a closed approach Teaching the spectrum Conclusion Summary References Part 2: How to teach playwriting: the approach Chapter 5: How to use this book The student playwright Approaching playwriting in the classroom or workshop: Teacher as dramaturg Writing and rewriting: Finding the gold Conclusion Summary References Chapter 6: Teaching the idea Introduction First thoughts: What kind of play? Idea and opinions Getting started Discussion and idea generation Writing exercise: Idea creation Voice Finding the vehicle: Turning an idea into a theatrical vision for a play Writing exercise: From big idea to situation Creativity and imagination: Writing to find the idea Writing exercise: Free writing Writing exercise: Structured writing Writing exercise: Guided writing Writing exercise: Guided imagery Writing exercise: Guess my play Writing exercise: Character A and Character B Writing exercise How good is the idea? Evaluating creativity Summary References Chapter 7: Creating character Introduction Ideas and characters Writing exercise: Visualize your characters Writing exercise: The monologue Writing exercise: Character background 1 Creating your characters Writing exercise: Realist approach to your character’s backstory Writing exercise: Symbols of character – the backpack Physical approaches to character Writing exercise: Characters from elements Writing exercise: ‘Leading with … ’ – character from body positions Writing exercise: Status Writing exercise: Meeting new people Summary References Chapter 8: Generating action Introduction Part 1: Character action Writing exercise: Verbing the line Part 2: Dramatic action Writing exercise: Action and the elements of drama Writing exercise: Action and environment Writing exercise: Chain of actions Writing exercise: Moments Improvisation and writing Writing exercise: Improvised action Summary References Chapter 9: Crafting dialogue Introduction What is dialogue? What can dialogue do? Focus on listening Writing exercise: Training the ear Writing exercise: Theatricalize the everyday Dialogue creates character Writing exercise: Dialogue accent and dialect Writing exercise: Stressful monologue Writing exercises: Character voice Exposition and levels of familiarity Writing exercise: Familiarity Writing exercise: Subtext Writing exercise: The music of dialogue Writing exercises: Dialogue riffing Stage directions Writing exercise: Stage directions When to begin writing the dialogue Embodied writing – improvisation and the drama workshop Writing exercise: Dialogue writing workshops Summary References Chapter 10: Building structures Introduction Understanding the scene Writing exercise: The scene Writing exercise: The class play Writing exercise: Ideas into situations Writing exercise: Creating situations Writing exercise: Event structure Writing exercise: Card the play Writing exercise: Minimalist structure Writing exercises: Time and shape Writing exercise: Generating ideas with structure – climax card Writing exercise: Tableaux Summary References Chapter 11: Embedding symbol Introduction Everything is significant …  Symbols and the poetic Symbols as a contract with the audience: The paradox of collective meaning Three types of symbol Writing exercise: Who am I? Verbal symbols Writing exercise: Poetic monologue Writing exercise: Unimportant objects, serious fights Writing exercise: Backpack revisited Writing exercise: Symbolic stage business Writing exercise: Stage directions as symbols Writing exercise: Symbols chart Summary References Chapter 12: Page to stage Introduction Creativity and collaboration Creativity workshop Writing exercise: Workshop for idea generation Summary References Chapter 13: Conclusion References Index