If you already have experience as a writer and are looking for your next step, you might want to consider a free playwriting course that gives you in-depth teaching about playwriting and working in the arts.
Freedom Studios, a Bradford theatre company, is looking for writers to be involved in Street Voices 8. It’s a six month course for those with distinctive voices, new perspectives and the potential to develop.
A previous attendee, Zodwa Nyoni, will be guiding those who are looking to broaden their skills, be willing to take risks and to try out new ideas, with an over-arching commitment to attend every date of the course.
The course includes workshops, masterclasses, events, performances and Q & As with experienced creatives, as well as support from theatre-makers and industry professionals. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see a performance of their own work.
Freedom Studios co-Artistic Directors Alex Chisholm and Aisha Khan said:
“Developing new writers is about developing the theatre of the future. So, it is with particular delight we are launching Street Voices 8, our new writers’ course, this October. Playwright Zodwa Nyoni will be joining us again as tutor on the course, who went through the course herself as a young(er) writer. Our region has a wealth of talent and potential and we look forward to hearing from writers wanting to take that extra step to expand their experience and become the strong, diverse new generation of theatre.“
Previous attendees of the course who have gone on to write for professional theatre have included Kat Rose Martin (winner of Kay Mellor Fellowship, Leeds Playhouse), Chris O’Connor (The Parting Glass, Red Ladder Theatre), Gemma Beadeau (who is currently under commission with Freedom Studios) and Ben Tagoe (When We Were Brothers, Freedom Studios).
Playwright Gemma Beadeau who attended last year’s Street Voices 7 said:
“Street voices was an incredibly affirming experience. Freedom Studios have created a really safe space to learn; and I learned so much about narrative. There is literally nothing that our writing mentor Zodwa Nyoni didn’t know about shaping a story.
We were encouraged to be bold, brave and ambitious, and I was in great company with other brilliant writers, whose feedback and work pushed me to take my loose idea to a play I’m really proud of. If you can apply it’ll be life-changing.“
Assuming current guidance, the course will be run online via Zoom, until March 2021. However, if guidance changes, the sessions will take place in Bradford in line with government advice, in consultation with both tutor and participants.
Freedom Studios tells us: To apply for the Street Voices 8 writing course, all applicants must be over 18, based in Yorkshire and must have some level of writing experience. Individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are actively encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 17 August. Applicants selected for interview will be informed by 28 August and interviews will take place either in Bradford or via Zoom week commencing 7 September.
The Street Voices 8 writing workshops will run from 10 Oct 2020 till 6 March 2021.
For further details on how to apply for the course please visit here.
Session Dates:
Sat 10th Oct 2020 – Meet and greet
24th October – Character
Sat 7th Nov – Structure
21st Nov – Dialogue (Guest speaker)
Sat 5th Dec – Opportunities (Guest Speaker tbc)
19th Dec – Re-writing problems and solutions
Sat Jan 16th 2021 – Group Reading
Sat Jan 23rd – Group Reading
Sat 20th Feb – Script reading with actors
Sat 27th Feb – Script Reading with actors
Sat 6th March – De-brief
Showcase – Mid to late April.
Feature photograph is Zodwa Nyoni, taken by Zanele Nyoni.
