Advanced Playwriting with Oladipo Agboluaje: 5 week Course

Written by Oladipo Agboluaje

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Session 1: Monday 15 September 2025, 19:00-21:30

Outlining: Theme, character and plot. We will explore how characters represent the themes of a play and how
theme is an essential aspect of conflict. We will see how the character’s journey and the plot are intertwined
and why the structure of character+plot aids the writer in telling an effective, compelling story.

Session 2: Monday 22 September 2025, 19:00-21:30

World-building. Location and setting determine the time and place of the play. They establish the relationships, rules,
norms and expectations or limitations of the character. We shall examine how location and setting work to shape
the characters’ actions and audience expectations. We will look at how the characters interact with each other
and how these interactions move the story forward.

Session 3: Monday 29 September 2025, 19:00 – 21.30

Dialogue and action. Now that we have established the theme and world of the play, we will plot the character’s
journey through what they say and do. We will look for consistency in the characters’ actions and seek moments of change
that come organically from the characters’ choices and motivations. We will look at how dialogue and action work to create
subtext.

There will be a writing break between sessions 3 & 4.

Session 4: Monday 13 October 2025, 19:00 – 21:30

Redrafting. What does the process of redrafting a play entail? What are we doing when we redraft a play? How do we
deal with notes? When do we know when we have done enough work on a play?

Session 5: Monday 20 October 2025, 19:00 – 21:30

Recap and sharing.

If you have any access requirements, you can let us know by contacting filling out our Writer’s Programme Accessibility Form or contacting Theatre503 via our Writers’ Programme email, writersprogramme@theatre503.com or by calling 02079787040.

For further details of Theatre503 Accessibility, please visit the Access page of our website.

Thanks to our Share The Drama scheme, we want to make sure those of you who are struggling in the current climate can still take part in our Writers Programme. If you would like to book a Share The Drama bursary for the Writer’s Programme, please call our box office on 02079787040.

Oladipo Agboluaje

Oladipo Agboluaje is a playwright and creative writing tutor. His plays have been performed in venues such as Soho Theatre, Arcola Theatre and Birmingham Rep. He has worked with several theatre companies including Theatre Centre, Tiata Fahodzi and Utopia Theatre. He has taught playwriting and screenwriting at several universities. He has run several playwriting workshops for theatres including Theatre503. He has written several plays for the stage and radio. He is an RLF Bridge Writing Fellow.