Play Writing workshop with Cliff Cardinal
This workshop will focus on helping participants to develop the dramatic idea by gaining a sense of how writing for live performance is different from other types of creative writing. Combining formal lecture, reading and analysis of example plays, in-class creative writing exercises, and workshopping of participants' writing, we'll explore dramatic situation, conflict, character, dialogue, and plot, and share strategies for creating written work that can function as the basis for a performance by actors. Particular focus will be given to shorter forms like the 10 Minute Play and the One Act, as these commonly feature in contests and festivals for student and emerging playwrights, and are often used by more experienced writers to develop material and explore ideas for longer plays.
This 5-session class begins Monday, March 5. To register, click
here >>
About the Instructor
Cliff Cardinal’s first play
Stitch
, debuted in SummerWorks 2011, winning both The Spotlight Award for Performance, as well as Theatre Passe Muraille’s Emerging Artist Award for the script’s notable artistic impression. For his solo piece
Huff
, Cardinal won the Buddies in Bad Times Vanguard Award for Risk and Innovation at SummerWorks 2012 and The RBC Tarragon Emerging Playwright Award. In 2015, Native Earth Performing Arts re-mounted
Huff
in the Aki theatre space in Toronto. For this production, Cardinal was recognized with two Dora Mavor Moore Awards in the independent category. (Outstanding Performance – Male; Outstanding New Play.)
Huff
has completed two National Tours including presentations at The Push International Performing Arts Festival, The Magnetic North Theatre Festival and the High Performance Rodeo, and closed the studio season at the National Arts Centre in May 2014.
Cliff graduated from the playwriting program at the National Theatre School of Canada.
