How To Write A Play with Mike Bartlett

Old Fire Station
  • 5.0 (17)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Playwriting advice, writing tips, writing exercises, answers to your questions, and thoughts on the theatre world in 2023 from Olivier Award-winner Mike Bartlett, presented and hosted by the The Old Fire Station, Oxford. This podcast series runs alongside the eleven-week course of the same held in-person, held at the Old Fire Station, Oxford. You can find show notes and transcripts here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 14/07/2023

    Series Finale - Week Eleven: What is the Higher Purpose?

    In the last episode of the series, we discuss commissions and how our writers can take the next step.  -  Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/  ‘I was living in a fool’s paradise’: Adrienne Kennedy on meeting the Beatles and losing control of her play – The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/jun/06/adrienne-kennedy-on-meeting-the-beatles-american-playwright-john-lennon   ‘Play’ by Samuel Beckett: https://youtu.be/s2QJ0FYE3pw   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min

  2. 07/07/2023

    Week Ten: Reviews and characters

    Episode 10: Reviews and characters  This week we talk about reviews (should you read them?) and Mike discusses character.  -  Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/  WhatsOnStage: Time Out retires one- and two-star review ratings: https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/time-out-retires-one-and-two-star-review-ratings_58852/  Hugh Laurie’s song “Mystery”: https://youtu.be/3sW-LcxijrM   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  3. 30/06/2023

    Week Nine: Character, and BONUS interview with Paines Plough's Katie Posner

    Episode 9: Character, plus BONUS interview with Paines Plough's Katie Posner This week we look at how to develop character in your work, and Mike interviews Katie Posner from new writing development company Pains Plough's work. Show notes:   Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/  Tour the Writer Programme https://painesplough.com/get-involved/tour-the-writer/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min

  4. 23/06/2023

    Week Eight: Self-censorship in the arts, and editing.

    Episode 8: Self-censorship in the arts, and editing.  This week we look at how to edit your work, and discuss how people in the arts might censor themselves.  Show notes:   Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/  Lyn Gardner in The Stage: Bite your tongue: is self-censorship stifling the important conversations? https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/opinion/bite-your-tongue-is-self-censorship-stifling-the-important-conversations  New York Times: The Battle of ‘Miss Saigon’: Yellowface, Art and Opportunity https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/17/theater/the-battle-of-miss-saigon-yellowface-art-and-opportunity.html   American Theatre: I Am Miss Saigon, And I Hate it. https://www.americantheatre.org/2017/04/13/i-am-miss-saigon-and-i-hate-it/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  5. 16/06/2023

    Week Seven: Solo shows and using the theatre

    Episode 7: Solo shows and using the theatre  This week we discuss solo shows, and Mike takes us through three exercises to help you think about your play.  -  Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  The Stage: “I have a confession: I hate solo shows – except when I don’t.” - https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/i-have-a-confession-i-hate-solo-shows-except-when-i-dont-david-benedict-i-found-my-horn-re-member-me  Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/  Alex’s top 5 recommended solo shows that you can buy:  Salt by Selina Thompson: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780571352265?gC=5a105e8b  Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Every-Brilliant-Thing-by-Duncan-Macmillan/9781350282087  Class by Scottee: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Class-by-Scottee/9781913630010  We Were Promised Honey! by Sam Ward: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/We-Were-Promised-Honey-by-Sam-Ward/9781350381353  Joseph Morpurgo: Hammerhead: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Joseph-Morpurgo-Hammerhead-NextUp/dp/B07ZWZ4G1C   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min

  6. 02/06/2023

    Week Six: Saving the Arts and Starting Off, with Penelope Skinner

    Week 6: Saving the Arts and Starting Off, with Penelope Skinner  This week we discuss arts funding, and how to start your play – with a guest appearance from playwright Penelope Skinner.    Show notes:  Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  “The arts in Britain are teetering on the brink. Here is my plan to save them.” - Nicholas Hytner in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/may/17/arts-council-britain-plan-save-new-body  “Divided opinion: why Nicholas Hytner is wrong about splitting arts funding.” - Lyn Gardner in The Stage: https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/divided-opinion-why-nicholas-hytner-is-wrong-about-splitting-arts-funding  Penelope Skinner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penelope_Skinner  Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min

  7. 26/05/2023

    Week Five: Structure and Adaptation

    Episode 5: Structure and Adaptation  This week: how do you structure a play? And how do you adapt a play for film?    Show notes:  Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  Cynthia Erivo to star in movie adaptation of hit play Prima Facie: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/may/15/cynthia-erivo-prima-facie-movie   How to watch the film adaptation of King Charles III by Mike Bartlett: https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/20/how-to-watch-king-charles-iii-film-and-who-plays-the-monarch-17413357/    Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/      Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min

  8. 19/05/2023

    Week Four: Form and Dialectic

    This week: form and dialectic! What is form and structure? How can we play with it and what's out there?   Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk Show Notes: Theatre Spaces: https://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/discover-theatres/theatre-faqs/170-what-are-the-types-of-theatre-stages-and-auditoria Open/ Closed time and space in scriptwriting - from Playwriting: Structure, Character, How and What to Write by Stephen Jeffreys https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/playwriting Oxford Playwriting https://www.oxfordplaywriting.co.uk/ Oxfordshire Theatre Makers https://www.oxfordshiretheatremakers.com/ Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/ Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  9. 12/05/2023

    Week Three: Plot and Politics

    This week: plot and dialectic. How do you tell your story? Plus – how can theatre interact with politics?    Show notes:  Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk  Seriously... podcast episode What Kind Of Scotland? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fk5btn   Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/   Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  10. 05/05/2023

    Week Two: Drama, and ChatGPT - a new playwright?

    This week: drama! What is drama, and how do you make it happen? Also – what impact could AI have on theatre?   Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk Show notes: The Art Newspaper article on the photo award: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/04/18/the-camera-never-lies-creator-of-ai-image-rejects-prestigious-photo-award The Stage article on AI in theatre: https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/editors-view-what-impact-will-artificial-intelligence-have-on-theatre NPR on Clarkesworld closing submissions: https://www.npr.org/2023/02/24/1159286436/ai-chatbot-chatgpt-magazine-clarkesworld-artificial-intelligence debbie tucker green: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debbie_tucker_green Tony Kushner: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Kushner David Grieg: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Greig_(dramatist) John McGrath: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McGrath_(playwright) Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/ Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min

  11. 28/04/2023

    Week One: How to Start!

    In Episode One, we kick off the Old Fire Station's How to Write a Play course with Mike Bartlett. We discuss how to start a play, where they come from, and some exercises to use. We also talk about how playwrights and theatres can work together, and Mike answers your questions.  Got a Question for Mike and Alex? Send us your updates and questions: info@oldfirestation.org.uk   Show notes:  Sarah Kane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Kane  The Artist’s Way: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Artists-Way-by-Julia-Cameron/9781788164290  Royal Court Theatre: https://royalcourttheatre.com/ Hampstead Theatre: https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/ Headlong Theatre: https://www.headlong.co.uk/ The Stage - “Theatres told to stop ‘ghosting’ playwrights”: https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/theatres-told-to-stop-ghosting-playwrights Support the Old Fire Station: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/support-us/  Transcript available here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min

  12. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Trailer

    On this brand-new podcast presented by The Old Fire Station, Oxford we'll be talking to triple Olivier Award-winner Mike Bartlett about how to write a play. This podcast series runs alongside the eleven-week course of the same held in-person, held at the Old Fire Station, Oxford. You can find show notes and transcripts here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Playwriting advice, writing tips, writing exercises, answers to your questions, and thoughts on the theatre world in 2023 from Olivier Award-winner Mike Bartlett, presented and hosted by the The Old Fire Station, Oxford. This podcast series runs alongside the eleven-week course of the same held in-person, held at the Old Fire Station, Oxford. You can find show notes and transcripts here: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/our-work/how-to-write-a-play/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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