Playwrights! Aspiring playwrights! Those who have never written for the stage but would like to give it a crack! Whether you’re an old hand or simply curious, this is a course for anyone who wants to get a play started. Beginning with writing games and exercises through which we build characters, conflict, narrative and structure, you will finish the weekend with the outline of a new play. You’ll gain an intimate knowledge of your characters as well as the world of your play. While we can’t write an entire play over two days, participants will write a central scene – allowing them to see and hear how their characters behave, and generating energy for the scenes that precede and follow it, so that they can continue writing it in their own time. Through discussion and workshopping, Hilary will discuss the elements of drama as they pertain to each individual project. An understanding of the elements of drama will come about through this practical application in the context of the participants’ own work. Presented by Hilary Bell, Director of the Hunter Writers’ Centre. This event is part of the Lake Macquarie Dobell Festival.