Write Thinking is:
a playwriting programme, linked to the Citizenship curriculum
a partnership between writernet and Mousetrap Theatre Projects
Stimulated by a theatre visit to a contemporary play that raises issues relevant to the citizenship agenda, the programme enabled a group of Year 8, 9 or Year 10 students to find their own literary voices. The workshop programme included a session with trainers from The Citizenship Foundation to explore and debate the themes raised in the play, followed by between 4 and 7 sessions with professional playwrights focusing on writing. The students were supported by the playwrights to write their own 5- 10 minute ‘play’, either individually or in groups. A selection of the ‘plays’ from each of the four participating schools was presented by professional actors, as a rehearsed reading, and critiqued by a panel of writers and actors.
Teachers were involved in selecting the play for the theatre visit, as well as helping to shape their own workshop programme.
The programme is a joint collaboration between Mousetrap Theatre Projects, writernet and The Citizenship Foundation, and is financially supported by Deutsche Bank. It took place during the summer term, at times to suit each school.
Objectives
To dispel students’ fear of writing;
to develop literacy skills, specifically playwriting;
to encourage debate and discussion;
to encourage research skills;
to emphasise the importance of empathy;
to deepen students understanding of the structure of plays
to enable students to write about issues of importance to them, possibly stimulated by specific issues explored in an existing play. (Students will be given parameters such as the number of characters permitted, etc.)
Structure of Project
INSET:
The programme included an INSET, aimed at English, drama and citizenship teachers – and could involve more than one teacher from each school. The INSET took place on 25th April, 10am-3pm at the Noel Coward Theatre, St. Martin’s Lane (formerly the Albery).
The INSET looked at: the teacher’s role; themes and processes of writing, literacy and theatre-making; an examination of some of the citizenship issues that might be explored through the theatre visit and the workshops; and what would be expected from the students. Teachers also had an opportunity to link up with the playwrights with whom they would be working, and plan their workshop programme and timetable.
Theatre Visit
Students went to see either Kindertransport by Diane Samuels or Absolute Beginners by Roy Williams – as selected by individual teachers.
Format of Workshop Programme
Approximately 6 - 8 workshop sessions at school. The first session with the citizenship trainers helped the students explore a range of issues stimulated by the play, though ultimately each student decided on the theme of his/her own ‘play’, whether or not this was influenced by the professional play. The students then worked solely with the playwrights for between 4 – 7 sessions to develop their writing skills and their short ‘plays’. Part way through this process the students had a workshop with a couple of actors, to help them understand how their writing transfers from the page to the stage, and support them as they redraft/refine their ‘play’.
Final Presentations
At each school, the teacher and playwright assigned to that school jointly selected 1 or 2 of the best plays to be presented at the shared presentation morning, at The Arts Theatre. This took place on the 10th of July. A group of four professional actors, under the direction of a professional director, rehearsed each of the selected plays on the previous day, and the student writers were invited to join the actors for an hour or so to help them interpret the piece
Each of the plays, from all four participating schools, was be critiqued by a panel of writers and actors, to provide constructive feedback and support for the writers.
Students were also be offered an opportunity to have individual tutorials, at school, with their assigned playwright at the end of the writing process.
Find out more about the first Write Thinking project.
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