ENGL233-25SU2 (C) Summer Nov 2025 start

Creative Writing for Stage

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 10 November 2025
End Date: Sunday, 14 December 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 16 November 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 30 November 2025

Description

This course combines the development of students' creative writing with teaching of the practical skills and dramaturgic techniques of scripting for stage.

One of the greatest building blocks for becoming a writer is learning to write scenes. This course will teach the art of scene-craft, gained from a mix of fun, practical drama exercises (designed for anyone to be able to do) and writing exercises. The goal is to learn to write well by writing a lot, and to share with classmates. Samples of the work will be presented at the end of the course in a theatre-format. This course is designed to help writers no matter what their medium, be it film, theatre, prose or comedy.

In this course you can expect to gain skills on stream of consciousness, motivations and objectives, dialogue, scenes dynamics, scenes that explore ideas and philosophies, comedic situations, realism, stylisation, absurdism, and rewriting.

Note that this course is delivered in a workshop format, and requires in-person attendance.

Learning Outcomes

  • students will further their knowledge of dramatic texts and develop the tools to analyse them in ways that improve their own writing
  • students will generate story ideas and develop original writing suitable for stage production
  • students will extend their creative practice through regular reflection and review of work in progress
  • students will further their competencies in constructive critique of dramatic writing, and their ability to edit and revise their own writing and that of others with care and close reading
  • students will develop their understanding of, and their ability to articulate and respond to, the implications of being a writer in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially in regard to Te Ao Māori and Pacific cultures.
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Biculturally competent and confident

      Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

      Engaged with the community

      Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Any 15 points at 100 level from ENGL; DISC101 or DISC102; or any 60 points at 100 level from the Schedule V of the BA.

Restrictions

ENGL234

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 09:30 - 13:00 Elsie Locke 104A (12/11)
Elsie Locke 104A (19/11-10/12)
10 Nov - 14 Dec
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 09:30 - 13:00 James Logie 104
17 Nov - 7 Dec
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 09:30 - 13:30 Elsie Locke 104A
8 Dec - 14 Dec
Lecture D
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 09:30 - 13:00 Elsie Locke 104A
17 Nov - 23 Nov

Course Coordinator

Gillian Ashurst

Lecturer

Duncan Sarkies

Contact Person

Peter Field

This course will be taught by award winning writer, Duncan Sarkies.

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Workshop Attendance 30%
One Scene 25%
Final Script 45%

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $894.00

International fee $4,100.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All ENGL233 Occurrences

  • ENGL233-25SU2 (C) Summer Nov 2025 start