This exploration will focus on guiding emerging and experienced playwrights in looking at what it means to write for theatre for young audiences. What is happening across the country and who is doing what? What are the different themes that one might explore? How does one decide what age to write for and how does this affect what you are writing, the language you use and who might be interested in producing it? We will talk about the responsibility you take on when writing for young audiences and how responsibility cannot turn into preachy theatre.
Most importantly we will discuss that writing for young audiences means that you are writing for an audience with the most vivid imagination of all You are also writing for people who, when lied to, will disregard what you are giving them, but, when taken on a journey, will embark more fully than anyone could have expected.
- 3 sessions of 3 hours each
- May 21, June 4 and 18, from 1pm-4pm
- on Zoom
- This class has reached its full capacity. Check out other classes.
Dean Patrick Fleming
Dean Patrick Fleming is a director, an actor, a teacher and a person with many varied interests. He has directed over 60 productions and produced shows that have toured across the U.S. and Canada. Dean has taught at Concordia University and continues to teach and guide different projects at the National Theatre School of Canada. He has been teaching a TYA project in the playwriting section at NTS for over a decade.
In 2015, he accepted the inaugural Equity, Diversity and Inclusion award on behalf of Geordie Productions where he spent 10 years as Artistic and Executive Director. At Geordie, one of Canada’s premiere TYA companies, Dean premiered over 20 new plays, many of which he commissioned.
He has been a volunteer board member for both local and national organizations. In 2013 he was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contribution to the Arts and in 2019 was awarded the Amyot prize for teaching excellence at the National Theatre School. He presently freelances and holds the position of Artistic Director of Professional Theatre at Hudson Village Theatre.
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