{"product_id":"the-playwrights-journey-from-first-spark-to-first-night-9781848425804","title":"The Playwright's Journey: From First Spark to First Night","description":"\u003cp\u003eA clear, supportive and comprehensive guide to writing a play - based on the author's long-running playwriting masterclasses, as taught at the UK's National Theatre.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book leads you through everything you need to know, including: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe theatrical tools and techniques you can use to bring your play to life on the stage (and how these differ from writing for film and TV)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscovering and trusting your writing process, with a range of approaches for developing your initial idea into a completed script\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUnderstanding your characters, including their goals and central conflicts, and using emotional logic to connect them to your story\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFinding the dramatic structure and theatrical setting that best suits your play\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe key elements of constructing a great scene, including how to handle exposition, invoke tension, deepen characterisation and create effective transitions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWriting engaging, active dialogue by finding each character's voice, balancing exposition with subtext, and rooting what a character says in their specific context\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThroughout, you'll find examples from classical and modern plays, plus insights from other contemporary playwrights into their own writing journeys. Each chapter provides a set of exercises to help you practise what you've learnt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere's also advice on what to do once you've finished your script - including redrafting, receiving feedback and taking notes - and how to navigate your play's progress towards production.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you're an emerging playwright or embarking on your first-ever play, \u003cem\u003eThe Playwright's Journey \u003c\/em\u003ewill help you develop your creativity, strengthen your connection to your material, and transform your idea into a fully formed play that feels alive on the page - and the stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eJemma Kennedy's plays include \u003cem\u003eSecond Person Narrative\u003c\/em\u003e for Tonic Theatre's Platform initiative; \u003cem\u003eThe Gift\u003c\/em\u003e, part of the Hoard Festival for the New Vic Theatre; \u003cem\u003eThe Summer Book\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Prince and the Pauper\u003c\/em\u003e for the Unicorn Theatre; \u003cem\u003eThe Grand Irrationality\u003c\/em\u003e for the Lost Theatre Studio (Los Angeles) and \u003cem\u003eDon't Feed the Animals\u003c\/em\u003e for National Theatre Connections 2013. Jemma was Pearson Playwright at the National Theatre in 2010 and part of the inaugural Soho 6 writing scheme with Soho Theatre Company in 2012. Her novel \u003cem\u003eSkywalking\u003c\/em\u003e was published by Penguin\/Viking in 2002. Jemma has acted as a writing mentor and judge for the National Theatre's New Views playwriting course and competition for young writers, and teaches playwriting at the National Theatre's Clore Learning Centre. She has also mentored writers for the Koestler Trust.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Nick Hern Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50452517716242,"sku":"9781848425804","price":30.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_95ad811b-5674-4c50-aa20-20ce326ebea2.jpg?v=1729814150","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-playwrights-journey-from-first-spark-to-first-night-9781848425804","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}