The Playwright in Practice: Writing for the Stage in 21st Century Ireland

This course explores how Irish playwrights have contributed disproportionately to the output of English-language drama over the course of the 20th century. This practical playwriting course will interrogate the tradition of theatrical writing in the Irish capital of Dublin at a time when that tradition is undergoing radical changes in terms of form, experimentation, and the shifting role of the playwright in the process of theater-making. Challenged by a wide range of individual and group exercises, students will be exposed to a host of methodologies for writing and creating work for the stage specific to this unique moment in Irish theatrical history, and in the process gain an appreciation for the important role writers still play in making theatrical performance. Students will examine the range of skills required to write and present successful drama; and will explore, discuss, and present new dramatic work in a supportive environment.