Breaking Form – an exploration into how to play with form in your writing
A masterclass with Chinonyerem Odimba
In this form exploding workshop, playwright, poet and director Chinonyerem Odimba will share some of the ways you can allow the form of your writing to come alive and stay true to the story you want to tell. Bringing useful tips and questions, this is an opportunity to examine the processes of enquiry that give you the freedom to experiment and grow in confidence in writing in non-linear form in theatre.
There will be time in the workshop to look at some pre-selected play extracts as well as to ask questions about what it means to break form in playwriting.
Chinonyerem Odimba is a Nigerian British playwright, screenwriter, and poet. Her recent work ranges from Medea at Bristol Old Vic, We Too, Are Giants for Kiln Theatre, Unknown Rivers at Hampstead Theatre, Prince and the Pauper at Watermill Theatre, The Seven Ages of Patience at Kiln Theatre, and Princess & The Hustler which toured across the UK for Eclipse Theatre/Bristol Old Vic/Hull Truck. She is also Writer-in-Residence at Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
She has been shortlisted for several awards including the Adrienne Benham and Alfred Fagon awards. In 2015 her unproduced play Wild is De Wind was shortlisted to the final ten for the Bruntwood Playwriting Award. She is the winner of the 2018 Sonia Friedman Award (Channel 4 Playwright Bursary) for a new play How to Walk on the Moon, and a finalist for the inaugural Women Playwriting Prize 2020 for her play Paradise Street.
As a director, Chinonyerem has worked for Bristol Old Vic, Theatre503 and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She will be co-directing her new play Black Love for Paines Plough, as well an audio drama for Live Theatre/BBC Radio 4 in 2021. In April 2021, Chinonyerem became the new Artistic Director and Chief Executive of tiata fahodzi.
OUR NEW MASTERCLASSES PROGRAMME
Chino’s masterclass is part of an expanding programme at Tobacco Factory Theatres.
Our theatre owes so much to freelance and independent artists, who have created almost everything we’ve presented over the last 20 years. These exceptionally talented and professional colleagues have been confronted with huge challenges through Covid-19, whilst on the whole receiving far less support than venues.
Last year we partnered with The Cube Microplex to distribute hardship grants to local artists with acute financial difficulties, funded by The Gane Trust.
This year, whilst we continue to work on our long-term survival, we aim to support local artists in new and varied ways.
The first initiative is our Masterclasses Programme, designed for South West-based professional artists, and led by a range of inspiring practitioners.
- RUNNING TIME3 hours
- AGE RECOMMENDATION18+
- VENUEFactory Theatre
Mon 11 October 1pm – 4pm
Pay What You Choose – £3, £8 or £12. We understand that everyone is experiencing different financial circumstances. Whatever you feel able to spend, session leaders will be fully paid for their work.
Max 14 participants
Masterclasses are designed for South-West based professional artists.
Masterclasses are first available to book for our Artist Members, who receive a priority booking period. It is free to become an Artist Member, and you can do so by emailing an introduction of yourself, where you live and your practice to artists@tobaccofactorytheatres.com
If you require captioning or BSL interpretation of the sessions, or have any other access needs, please let us know.
