How To Write A Play | Online Tutorials

Thinking about applying for our Young Playwrights Award, but want some help starting, writing and finishing your play? 

Below you’ll find a six-part video series from award-winning playwrights Sabrina Ali, Tife Kusoro, Ryan Calais Cameron, Beth Flintoff, Nina Segal and Vinay Patel, you’ll find writing exercises, tips and advice, taking you through the different stages of writing a play.

Videos will be released weekly, alongside a worksheet, covering topics such as finding a spark, creating characters, building structure, writing scenes, breaking the rules, and redrafting.

Watch, listen and write along to the pre-recorded tutorials, as a group of friends, in the classroom or in your own time. Available to watch on our Instagram, YouTube and below.

Episode Schedule:
Workshop 1: Finding Inspiration with Sabrina Ali – Tue 25 Feb
Workshop 2: Creating Characters with Tife Kusoro – Tue 4 Mar
Workshop 3: Building Structure with Ryan Calais Cameron – Tue 11 Mar
Workshop 4: Writing Scenes with Beth Flintoff – Tue 18 Mar
Workshop 5: Breaking the Rules with Nina Segal – Tue 25 Mar
Workshop 6: Redrafting with Vinay Patel – Tue 1 Apr

These videos are designed to support entry to the Royal Court Young Playwrights Award, which is open to young people aged 13-18 living or attending school in London. The competition is open from 24th March – 2nd May 2025.

“A play can be inspired by anything – a favourite film, a favourite book, a conversation with friends, a funny memory – essentially, it’s a spark.” 

In this video, Sabrina Ali will help you to find your spark, the inspiration to start writing your play.  

There will be a series of short writing exercises, including Word Association and What If prompts. You can use the handout below to help you work through the exercises, if this helps you. 

By the end of this video, you should have a play concept – including a setting, character(s) and conflict – ready to start developing your characters. 

Download Workshop 1 Worksheet

“Characters are the heart of any play. They keep us engaged with the play, and create interesting situations and conflict to help us build a story. If you’re unsure of how to start your play, creating characters can be a great way to begin.” 

In this video, Tife Kusoro will help you to start creating and developing your characters.  

You’ll create a character profile for your main character, explore monologue writing, and introduce a second character (and some conflict!). By the end of this video, you should have created at least one character, who has some desires, some flaws, and some conflicts – ready to start developing your play structure. 

You can use the handout below to help you start developing your characters, if this is helpful. 

Download Workshop 2 Worksheet