Hi All, I've been writing screenplays for a little while now and have been having some success with short films. However, I'm wanting to branch out into writing a play or two and getting them produced with some friends of mine. Can anyone recommend some resources that are useful when trying to master the difference in format, flow etc for playwriting compared with screenwriting? Thanks a lot in advance.
On Writing : Transitioning from Screen to Play by Liam Lacy
Other topics in Authoring & Playwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
2 people like this
You live in Australia. Go to your local theatres and buy a season's subscription. Attend each play. Critique it. You'll learn quickly what works by seeing others' weaknesses and deficiencies. As in writing for the screen: SHOW don't tell. Biggest mistake I see every week.
3 people like this
Hi Liam. I went from writing a couple of 1 act plays to screenwriting and have had many years onstage as an actor and singer. Some of the ways plays are different: scenes are longer (to avoid too many set changes onstage), characters use more introspection to reveal plot, backstory etc. physical settings/sets/scenes are simpler(less expensive!) with as as few characters as possible and necessary (also expensive if it's pro theatre). As LindaAnn noted show don't tell is used more in movies, though minimal dialogue and show can be very effective onstage as well. In plays you can use more tell don't show. By all means, I recommend seeing as many plays as you can, but if you can't get to see many, you'll find plays in your local library. Read modern and older (eg. Stoppard, Shakespeare or Wilde) for format and to see how the master playwrights did it best. If you already have software for screenplays like Final Draft or Movie Magic, that can format plays too. Another suggestion, as you apparently have friends in theatre, is to offer to work on one or two stage productions. Something like Assistant Director would be a key position to learn about plays on the job. All the best with writing plays!
1 person likes this
Thanks a lot York! Much appreciated.
3 people like this
Agree with LindaAnn and York. While I think it's true that "show, don't tell" is more paramount in screenplays than stage plays, I wouldn't underestimate the importance of that maxim. Your characters on stage are probably going to be a little bit more cerebral or introspective than they would be on screen, but it's still usually a good idea to try to not narrate the story through them. It shouldn't sound like a radio play (unless of course you wrote it for radio or podcast.)