Sherman Cymru Announces National Playwriting Workshop Programme 'Spread The Word'

26 Sep 2011

Following the success of Sherman Cymru's Cardiff-based playwriting workshops, the programme is now going national. At venues across Wales, experienced stage writing tutors will host weekly workshops in both English and Welsh for new and emerging writers of all ages.

During evening sessions, and using a combination of writing exercises and text study, participants will learn about five key elements of playwriting - story, character, dialogue, structure and re-writing. Once the evening sessions are completed, all the participants will take part in a lock-in session, when they will gather at the participating venue to start writing a play, with practical guidance from the tutors and a member of the Sherman Cymru team. Following the lock-in session, each participant will have up to six weeks to complete their play, and will then be given detailed feedback on their work by the Sherman Cymru team.

A selection of the plays written will then go on to a rehearsed reading event at the participating venue, when the chosen writers will have the opportunity to work with a professional cast of actors and director.

Sherman Cymru Literary Manager Sian Summers comments:

“Our writing courses have proven very successful in the past couple of years and we are thrilled that we now have the opportunity to extend them across Wales in both Welsh and English and to work together with theatre companies and venues to provide development for new and emerging playwrights across the country.”

Previous participants of Sherman Cymru’s writing courses have gone on to have their plays produced as part of Sherman Cymru’s RAW / AMRWD initiative. Brad Birch, whose play Light Arrested Between the Curtain and the Glass was presented earlier this year by Sherman Cymru and who has since had a play produced by the Royal Court comments:

“My time on the New Writing Course was extremely important for my progression as a writer. It still is… Having begun with Sherman Cymru I find myself in a strong position, not only as being a much more experienced writer but also as being a Welsh writer. Sherman Cymru instils a faith in Welsh theatre, not provincial but national, which is imperative for theatre in this country.”

If you would like more information or would like to apply to take part in Spread the Word, please contact Sherman Cymru’s Literary Manager, Sian Summers on sian.summers@shermancymru.co.uk