Sat 1st Nov 10-5pm - Sunday 2nd November 10-5pm.
Fee £60 (paid in full to secure place)
Location: Commedia of Errors, 21 Ormeau Ave, Belfast BT2 8HD
Spaces are limited to 10 participants
Please note we require full balance to be paid by Monday 20th October
Led by professional playwright and Commedia of Errors co-creative Clare McMahon (The Gap Year, I am Maura, Shakespeare’s Women), this hands-on weekend playwriting course is designed to help participants learn by doing. The course begins with a relaxed introductory session on a Saturday morning — a chance to get to know one another and to set up the reading and preparatory work for weekend, plus a fancy hot beverage from our friends across the road at Napolean Coffee, because every writer needs a fancy coffee to get started.
The sessions take place across two full days at our company office in Belfast city centre, where participants will:
engage in a dynamic mix of creative exercises, discussion, and feedback.
use practical examples and collaborative exploration to develop a portfolio of original material.
deepen their understanding of structure, voice, and story.
The course fosters a positive and supportive atmosphere, encouraging participants to experiment, take creative risks, and produce work they’re proud of. It’s a chance to fill the creative well, as we navigate the world around us, and the beginning of Commedia’s development strand The Process.
As part of the experience, participants will also receive exclusive access to a recorded Commedia production — a valuable opportunity to see from page to stage in action.
About
Clare is an experienced playwright, actor and facilitator and has taught creative writing workshops for The Lir Academy, Lyric Belfast, Young At Art & QUB amongst others. Her main stage play ‘The Gap Year’ (2022/2025) played to over 16,000 people in the North as well as one off sharings in New York with the Irish Rep. Other work includes ‘Mary Ann, The Forgotten Sister’ (Kabosh), BERNIE (VR FILM/UU), ‘Shakespeare’s Women’ (GOH). She holds a distinction in her Playwriting Masters of Fine Arts from The Lir Academy/Trinity College Dublin where she was the Patricia Leggett Scholarship awardee. She graduated from Royal Central School of Speech & Drama (BA Acting) in 2009 and has worked professionally across the UK & Ireland. She is the Co-Creative of Commedia of Errors and is based in Belfast.
Booking your Place
To book please drop us an email below, we’ll be in touch with payment details and confirm your spot. Places are first come first serve.
If you have any access needs please just let us know in your email.