Autumn Writing Workshops
at the Seanchaí
In association with
Kerry County Council
WRITING FOR THEATRE*
24th & 25th September, 2011
Director : Conall Morrison
What are theatre managements looking for when they read new plays? Director and writer Conall Morrison leads a workshop on the central principles of playwrighting - a whistlestop tour of such concepts as dramatic action, consistency of style, individuation of character, subtext. If you're an aspiring playwright, this workshop will alert you to these themes; if you're more experienced, the workshop will challenge your habits!
As well as directing many classic plays for such as the Abbey and the Royal Shakespeare Co., Conall has worked with numerous playwrights on their new work, including Tom Murphy, Tom Mac Intyre, and Marina Carr.
Course Director:
Conall Morrison completed his association as an Associate Artsit of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin in Dec 2008. His productions there include The Bacchae of Baghdad (after Euripides), The Importance of Being Earnest, Hamlet (a co-production with the Lyric Theatre, Belfast), his own adaptation of Patrick Kavanagh’s Tarry Flynn, (also at Lyttleton theatre, Royal National Theatre), Boucicault’s The Colleen Bawn (also Lyttleton Theatre), The Freedom of the City, The Tempest, The House, A Whistle in the Dark, Ariel, In a Little World of Our Own and As the Beast Sleeps by Gary Mitchell, Twenty Grand by Declan Hughes, Savoy by Eugene O’Brien, a triple bill comprising The Dandy Dolls, Purgatory and Riders to the Sea/Chun na Farraige Sios and more recently the premiere production of Tom Murphy’s The Last Days of a Reluctant Tyrant. Other productions include Conquest of the South Pole, The Marlboro Man, Emma, Measure for Measure, Macbeth, Kvetch and his own adaptation of Antigone. For the Lyric Theatre, Belfast he directed Dancing in Lughnasa, Juno and the Paycock, Conservations on a Homecoming, Ghosts and more recently The Crucible which opened the new theatre building. He directed Martin Guerre for Cameron Mackintosh, touring England and America. His own plays include Rough Justice, Hard to Believe and Green, Orange and Pink. His production of the musical Ludwig II ran at the Festspielhaus Neuschwanstein, Germany for two years. Most recently, Conall directed La Traviata for the English National Opera and The Taming of The Shrew for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
*Part of the George Fitzmaurice Literary Weekend 2011.
WRITING POETRY
8th and 9th October, 2011
Director : Paul Perry
This workshop will focus on the creation of new work through the use of writing exercises and assignments in poetry. Mornings in particular will be devoted to the writing of new work with directed assignments. During the afternoon session we will workshop the new work with constructive criticism. Workshop participants will also have a chance during the two days for individual one-on-one sessions with Paul to discuss their work, its strength and weaknesses, and strategies for improving their work. Participants may bring some examples of work-in-progress for critique, but the main focus of the two days will be the making of new work while in Listowel. The workshop will aim to create a supportive environment while investigating and developing the notion of a ‘voice’ for each author. We will also discuss the practicalities of publishing and appropriate ways participants can submit work for publication. The workshop is open to new or experienced writers who want to develop their craft.
Course Director:
Paul Perry is the author and editor of a number of critically acclaimed books including The Drowning of the Saints, Goldsmith’s Ghost, 108 Moons and The Orchid Keeper. Winner of the Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year Award and The Listowel Prize for Poetry Paul has been a James Michener Fellow of Creative Writing at The University of Miami, and a Cambor Fellow of Poetry at The University of Houston. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Poetry Ireland Review, Cyphers, TLS, Granta and The Best American Poetry 2000. He teaches creative writing for Kingston University, London, and University College Dublin and is Course Director in Poetry for the Faber Academy in Dublin. His latest publication The Last Falcon and Small Ordinance, The Dedalus Press, was published in 2010..
SHORT FICTION
5th & 6th November, 2011
Director : John MacKenna
The course will look at several aspects of short-story writing. Initially we will deal with ideas, plot, character development, landscape. Participants are asked to bring an extract from one piece of work, in the short story genre, of not more than 1,000 words to the workshop and these pieces will be used as a basis for developing a completed story. The emphasis will be on doing rather than talking and participants must be prepared to write, to work on developing a personal critical perspective and to offer and receive criticism in the workshop situation. The area of publication, agents, publishers, marketing etc. will also be discussed. Most of all the weekend will offer opportunities for participants to work in a constructive and practical environment and to enjoy the process in the company of like-minded people.
Course Director:
John MacKenna is a novelist, short-story writer and playwright. He is the author of four novels, three collections of short stories, a volume of poetry and a biography of Ernest Shackleton as well as several plays. Awards to date are: The Irish Times Fiction Award and The Cecil Day Lewis Award with his most recent novel The Space Between Us being short-listed for the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award in 2010. A new collection of poems will appear later this year and his next collection of short stories will be published in 2012.
COURSE FEES & BOOKING INFORMATION
Fee for Week Long Workshop - €150.00
Fee for Weekend Workshop : €130.00
- The fee includes all tuition. It does not include accommodation, meals and transport to and from Listowel. Light refreshments will be available at break times.
- A non-refundable deposit of €50.00 is required when booking your course. The balance is due 2 weeks prior to commencement of the workshop.
- All payments should be made in Euro. All major credit cards are accepted. Cheques should be made payable to The Seanchaí Centre.
- Seanchaí reserves the right to cancel the course at short notice. In this event, a full refund will be made.
- Courses will run from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Daily times may be subject to change, and participants will be notified of any changes prior to the workshop.
- The workshop director will agree appropriate break times with participants on arrival.
- Places are limited. Strict priority will be given to those who register 4 weeks in advance of the workshop.
- Where participants are asked to submit work, this should be done at least 2 weeks in advance of the workshop.
How to Book :
Bookings can be made by forwarding a deposit with a cover letter including contact details to the address below. Credit Card bookings can be made by telephoning or e-mailing the Seanchaí Centre.
Seanchaí - Kerry Literary & Cultural Centre, |
| Seanchaí is wheelchair accessible and provides facilities for people with disabilities. |