University of Essex

TH344-6-AU-CO:
Writing for the Theatre

The details

Year: 2025/26

Department: Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Undergraduate: Level 6

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 02 October 2025

End date: Friday 12 December 2025

Credits: 15

Last updated: 17 March 2025

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: (none)

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

BA W401 Drama,
BA W402 Drama (Including Year Abroad),
BA W403 Drama (Including Placement Year),
BA W408 Drama (Including Foundation Year),
MLITQ394 Drama and Scriptwriting

Module description

This is a practical module which aims to introduce students to some of the tools and techniques involved in writing successfully for the theatre. The module will examine the flexibility and variety of theatre as a story-telling medium and will look at some of the many different approaches available to the playwright.

The emphasis will be divided equally between the dramaturgical analysis of plays and the development of students' own skills through practical exercises and assignments. While identifying, exploring and practising certain key dramatic structures will form the backbone of the course, no one 'method' of writing plays will be advocated. Instead students will be encouraged to explore their own interests, and develop their own creative processes.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:

1. To introduce students to some of the tools and techniques involved in writing successfully for the theatre.
2. To develop students' critical understanding of the flexibility and variety of theatre as a story-telling medium
3. To provide students with the conceptual tools of dramaturgical analysis
4. To provide a broad understanding of the different approaches to dramatic structures and playwriting.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Understand and analyse the theory and practice of dramatic composition.

2. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of a range of tools and techniques available to the playwright.

3. Apply a range of approaches to their own writing for the theatre.

Module information

Plays to be studied:

Faith Healer by Brain Friel
Cuttin' it by Chalene James
Fleabag -the play Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Death of England by Roy Williams; Clint Dyer
Pomona by Alistair McDowal
Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar

Learning and teaching methods

Anticipated teaching delivery: Weekly 3-hour seminars/workshops

Bibliography*

Hansberry, L. (2021b) Raisin in the Sun. London: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC.
Churchill, C. (1996b) Fen, Plays: 2. Harlow: Methuen Drama. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=6159747.
McDonagh, M. (1996) The Beauty Queen Of Leenane. Bloomsbury Publishing. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781472515674.00000003.
Boyd, B. (2009) On the origin of stories: evolution, cognition, and fiction. 1st ed. Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3300840.
Yorke, J. (2014) Into the woods: a five-act journey into story. UK: Penguin Books. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/210677.
Tidmarsh, A. (2014b) Genre: a guide to writing for stage and screen. London: Bloomsbury Methuen Drama. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5982271.
Johnstone, K. (2018) Impro: improvisation and the theatre. London: Bloomsbury Academic. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/386185.
Kane, L. (2000b) David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross: text and performance. New York: Garland Pub. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=672482.
Spencer, S. (2002c) The playwright's guidebook. New York: Faber and Faber.
McDonagh, M. (1998) The beauty queen of Leenane and other plays. New York: Vintage Books. Available at: https://www-dramaonlinelibrary-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/playtext-overview?docid=do-9781472515674&tocid=do-9781472515674-div-00000003.
Mamet, D. (2014) Three Uses of the Knife. Vintage Books. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/630199.
Egri, L. (1960) The Art of Dramatic Writing: Its Basis in the Creative Interpretation of Human Motives. New York: Simon & Schuster. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5658397.
Waters, S. (2010b) The Secret Life of Plays. New York: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1184952.
Harris, A. (2021b) Is God Is. London: Nick Hern Books.
Butterworth, J. (2009b) Jerusalem. London: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://www-dramaonlinelibrary-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/playtext-overview?docid=do-9781784600044&tocid=do-9781784600044-div-00000003.
Wilder, T. (2020b) Our Town. Harper Perennial. Available at: https://login.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cbibliographic_details%7C3608919?account_id=10766&usage_group_id=105213.
Kuti, E. (2017) Fishskin trousers. London, [England]: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5149871.
Friel, B. (2013) Faith Healer. Main. London: Faber & Faber. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=30270030.
Coel, M. (2013) Chewing gum dreams. London: Oberon Books. Available at: https://www-dramaonlinelibrary-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/playtext-overview?docid=do-9781350206625&tocid=do-9781350206625-div-10000001.
Birch, A. (2011) Many Moons. London: Oberon Books. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350208087.00000005.
O'Rowe, M. (2015) Terminus (NHB Modern Plays). New York: Nick Hern Books. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781784600716.00000002.
Baker, A. (2014) The flick. New York: Theatre Communications Group.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	1,000 Word Commentary - on any play studied on the module.	15%
Practical	Short Play (15-20 minutes), plus 1,000 Word Reflective Commentary	50%
Practical	Participation	5%
Practical	Short Play (10-15 minutes)	30%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor:

Teaching staff:

Contact details: LiFTS General Office - email liftstt@essex.ac.uk. Telephone 01206 872626

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording:* No lecture recording information available for this module.

Further information

Department website: Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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Module Directory

TH344-6-AU-CO:Writing for the Theatre