Will the course concentrate on theory or practice?
It is important to get clear the extent of tuition in writing for performance, and the balance between "theory" and "practice" in any given course. In some cases, this may be difficult as the institutions themselves may not always be that clear about it. This is partly due to a more general historical problem of where performance studies ("theatre arts", "theatre studies", "film and media studies", "drama", etc.) fits within the academy in terms of their academic/vocational identity. Some institutions will claim that their courses are not vocational (i.e. to train you how to be a playwright), while others aim to train writers to work in different contexts and are therefore more expressly vocational than most.
In other courses - particularly where playwriting is a module within an overall degree - the study of writing may be more a means to an end: to understand more fully how theatre or film works through close textual analysis of work as much through students' own practical projects. Particularly in film courses, where theory is more generally accepted as an integral part of study, the "academic" emphasis can be stronger. At the same time, screenwriting courses may also provide more tuition in guiding your career through the industry than those which are more theatre-based. It could be said that ideally all courses including those on writing for the theatre would involve practical, theoretical and vocational elements as equal partners in developing a student's understanding. It is important to be clear, but realistic, about what you want out of a university course.
All you may want is the time and space that a course can give you simply to write. A less academic course may therefore be the best option, but any that simply leave you to just write without providing any real opportunities for development may, in the long run, be a poor use of the time.
Don't immediately reject courses which involve a theoretical element. Understanding the ways both performance and writing itself operate culturally is important for any writer. Also, a quick burst of Aristotle or Barthes may concentrate the mind wonderfully on both the form and content of your writing and be just what it needs. No course can or should claim to have turned you into a writer by the end of the course -- only audiences responding to what you say and the way you say it can do that. Some of the more prestigious courses can, however, smooth your way in terms of contacts in the industry and this can be a way of finding work when you leave.
On the other hand, a sizeable number of people within the industry remain highly suspicious about the relevance of degree courses in playwriting. Having letters after your name might impress the neighbours, but actually dissuade the producer to which you want to send your next play. |
|
|
|
