FREE WORKSHOPS
with industry professionals
We run at least six workshops a year, often more, inviting a wide range of fantastic guest professionals along to engage and enlighten us in topics including…
• The nuts and bolts of scriptwriting
• Writing for specific genres
• Writing for different media
• Adapting others' stories for stage or screen
• Presenting your work and getting commissioned
• Working as a script editor or a staff writer
Workshops are usually held on Saturdays at Leeds Playhouse from 11am to 4pm, and they’re absolutely free for members.
WORKSHOP DIARY 2025
Meet the commissioner with Julia McKenzie
Saturday 18th October
11am - 4pm @ Bingley Little Theatre
Julia will be sharing her wealth of knowledge of commissioning from her comedy experience, having overseen Radio 4 classics The News Quiz, Just a Minute, and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue.
Julia is passionate about developing new comedy talent, creating opportunities for writers, performers, and producers, and helping them to thrive whilst making the nation laugh.
This will be a very interactive workshop with a great opportunity to work closely with a BBC Radio Commissioner.
The day will explore:
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how BBC Radio 4 differs to its sister stations, an overview of BBC Sounds, and the differences between radio and podcasts.
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clips of commissioned work with insights on how these shows get on to air - the commissioning brief and process
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how the Producer relationship with production companies works, referencing agents and unsolicited scripts
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best practice for preparing a pitch
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how to receive and process feedback
Participants will then have the opportunity to work in small groups to develop an idea which can then be pitched to Julia, all capped off with a time to network!
A fabulous opportunity which promises to be a goldmine of information sharing and practical experience in writing Audio Comedy!
Please Note: If you book onto a workshop and find you are no longer able to attend, please cancel your place via the SY website/Spaces App so that others who may be on a waiting list are contacted automatically and have the opportunity to sign up
The booking window opens Saturday 4th October via the events tab in your member account
Write Your Musical: A two-day creative intensive with Victoria Gimby
Saturdays 8th and 15th November
1pm to 6pm @ Leeds Playhouse
This two-day intensive is an incredible opportunity for 12 lucky Script Yorkshire members with a passion for musical theatre storytelling to work with award-winning writer, director and dramaturg Victoria Gimby.
Trained at RADA and Mountview, Victoria specialises in the development of new musical theatre. She is currently the resident director on Hadestown in the West End, and spent the last four years as international associate director on Sister Act while developing the new postgraduate courses in Dramaturgy and Musical Theatre Creatives for Leeds Conservatoire. [More about Victoria]
In these dynamic sessions, Victoria will guide you through the essential building blocks of writing a compelling musical. By the end of the two days, you’ll have a working outline of your musical, the beginnings of your script and score, and the motivation to keep creating!
OVER TWO DAYS, YOU WILL:
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Learn how to structure, outline, and shape your musical
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Explore a range of musical theatre styles and why they work
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Discover the unique musical language of your show and how to craft it
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Build your story with creative development techniques
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Develop rich, believable characters
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Write scenes and lyrics that speak in a unified voice
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Create a professional pitch document to attract producers and collaborators
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Walk away with confidence, practical tools, and a roadmap to keep writing!
WHAT'S EXPECTED OF YOU:
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A 100% commitment to attending both days, as there are only 12 places available.
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Arrive with an idea for a musical, but no script written yet.
Ready to bring your musical idea to life? Then block out the dates in your diary, set your alarm clock and be ready for the booking window opening!
The booking window opens Saturday 25th October via the events tab in your member account
In the pipeline...
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Write and produce your own film
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Radio comedy for the BBC
WATCH THIS SPACE!
HOW TO BOOK
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Numbers are limited to 20 writers per workshop.
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To attend, you must be a current paid-up member of Script Yorkshire. Join us!
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Tickets are bookable via the events page in your Script Yorkshire account, and the booking window opens on the Saturday two weeks before the workshop date.
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If the workshop is full, you can add yourself to the waiting list and you'll get an email if someone drops out.
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If you book a ticket and discover you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket as soon as you possibly can via your account so another writer will have the chance to come along.
PAST WORKSHOPS
2025
25 January: How to kill your darlings with Lisa Holdsworth
22 March: Writing ghost stories with Adam Z Robinson
17 May: Writing for radio with Marion Nancarrow
19 June: Writing for games with Will Jones
2024
23 March: How does telly work? with Lisa Holdsworth
18 May: How to write a gripping monologue with Cheryl Martin
11 June: Writing for radio with Jonathan Hall
25 June: Writing for radio with Marion Nancarrow
9 July: Writing for radio with Jonathan Hall
16 July: Producing your own work with Dick Bonham
10 Sep: Opportunities at The Playhouse with Amy Leach/Rio Matchett
1 Oct: The script doctor is online with Jonathan Hall
5 Oct: The writers' room experience with Ian Kershaw
2023
10 January: The Proactive Writer with Jonathan Hall
11 February: Devising theatre with Actors with Lucy Campbell
18 April: Writing for radio with Oliver Emanuel
20 May: Writing & pitching a TV drama series with Jade Jones
17 June: Podcasting for scriptwriters with Pods Up North
14 October: Producing your own work with Gordon Meredith
2022
26 January: Reconnecting With Our Creativity with Script Yorkshire's workshop team
26 March: Writing Film Scripts with Julian Woodford
23 April: How To Put On Your Own Play with Dick Bonham
12 November: Writing a theatre play with Tom Wells
2021
11 & 18 January: How to Catch Ideas with James Moran
15 & 22 February: Shoot Your Script with a Smartphone with Wayne Sables
22 April: Unlock Your Creativity with Emma Adams
22 May: Sitcom writing with Bennett Arron
15 July: The First Ten Pages with Tom Needham
2020
8 February: Has it Got Legs? with Ola Animashawun
29 February: Writing for Video Games with Steve Ince
14 July: Writing for Radio Part 1 with Oliver Emanuel
18 August: Writing for Radio Part 2 with Oliver Emanuel
8 September: Writing for Radio Part 3 with Oliver Emanuel
7 November: How to Start a Podcast with Pods Up North
2018
27 January: Creative Kickstart with Ola Animashawun
10 February: Horror Writing Workshop with James Moran
17 February: Scriptwriting Essentials 1 with Lisa Holdsworth and Alison Hume
17 March: Scriptwriting Essentials 2 with Lisa Holdsworth and Alison Hume
28 April: Thriller Writing with David Allinson
26 May: Plays That Kick Ass with Ola Animashawun
16 June: How to Write for Radio Drama Q&A – Chris Reason, Gary Brown, Kamal Kaan, Everal Walsh
15 September: Using Historical Research in Story-driven Drama with Ciaran Bermingham
3 November: Writing Radio-ready Drama with Stefan Escreet
2017
18 March: Writing for Film with Jimmy Richards
27 May: Script Editing Workshop with Alison Hume
8 July: Adaptation Workshop with Martin Jameson
23 September: Writing for TV with Ian Kershaw and Debbie Oates
11 November: Writing Comedy Workshop with Toby Hadoke
16 January: Creative Workout with Emma Adams
13 February: Producing New Writing with John Tomlinson
7 May: Writing for Radio Drama with Chris Reason
16 July: How to Get Ideas from Absolutely Anywhere with Dan Bye
10 September: Ways to Use Autobiographical Material in Creating Drama with Matt Miller
5 November: Creating Drama from Original Sources with Vanessa Rosenthal
26 November: AGM/Writing and Producing TV Q&A/Christmas social
WORKSHOP ETHOS
It’s very important that our workshops are events at which people feel safe and included and can share their work without prejudice, regardless of their age, race or gender.
We ask that our members always show respect to each other in a mutually constructive and supportive way.
