In this practical, playful and hands-on workshop, playwright Karen Cecilia will explore how to turn an idea into a compelling 10-minute play from the first line of dialogue to the final moment.
Across three sessions, you’ll get stuck into writing exercises, character development, dialogue, conflict and story structure, with plenty of opportunities to read your work aloud, hear it performed and get feedback.
What will we explore?
CONFLICT — What is the argument?
How do we create conflict between characters? You’ll use short writing prompts to create an argument between two characters, then read and discuss the scene in class.
CHARACTER — What do they want?
We’ll look at how to build memorable characters and, crucially, what they want and need. Why does a character need an objective? What happens when something gets in their way?
OBSTACLES — What stands in their way?
You’ll develop your writing by introducing obstacles and exploring how they change the dynamic between your characters.
STORY — What happens next?
We’ll explore different writing prompts to unlock ideas, develop stories for short plays and understand the structure of a 10-minute piece: what needs to happen, and when?
VOICE & DIALOGUE — How do characters speak?
Through monologue and dialogue exercises, you’ll dig deeper into your characters, uncover their backstories and discover how much can be revealed through what they say — and what they don’t say.
THE 10-MINUTE PLAY — Bringing it all together
We’ll look at the challenges of writing to a short format, develop the opening of your own 10-minute play and consider how to take your ideas forward.
Expect prompts, experiments, discussion, reading aloud and plenty of writing. No previous playwriting experience is necessary, just bring your ideas, curiosity and willingness to put words on the page.
3 sessions on Thursdays – 24 September, 1 & 8 October 2026, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
£85 for all three sessions
Come with an idea. Leave with a complete draft of a 10 minute play and the foundations to write further.
For further information, please contact admin@breakalegacademy.com, call 07867 431490 or visit https://breakalegacademyltd.classcard.app/en/event/1617214.