Playwriting Workshop with Internationally Renowned playwright Simon Stephens

1st - 6th October 2023

Spend six days immersed in the serene, bucolic surroundings of Le Prieuré, where you will enjoy delicious home-made food whilst fully engaging with your renowned playwright and teacher, Simon Stephens over three days. Having participated in a previous course, I can fully recommend the three intensive days of teaching followed by two fully catered days when you can immerse yourself in writing with the support of Jayne Morley, a British visual artist and theatre writer/maker/performer living in France, who is leading the workshop at Le Prieuré.

The course is limited to 8 students and there are a limited number of places left. Closing date for applications 5p.m. 13th September 2023.

Please contact Jayne to secure a place. e-mail: jftmorley@hotmail.com or telephone +33 658103769, referencing Six Day Playwriting Workshop at Le Prieuré.

Itinerary:

Sunday 1st October, Flight London Stansted to Poitiers 13.30 arrive 16.00.

Transfer to Le Prieuré , approximately 35 minutes or join the workshop at Le Prieuré at 6p.m. Welcome drink and dinner, cooked by your hostess, Paula, renowned for her delicious food!

Monday 2nd October, Tuesday 3rd October, Wednesday 4th October.

8.30a.m. Breakfast – take advantage of being in France and indulge in croissants, and delicious patisserie (you can swim it off later!) as well as delicious fruit salads, home made preserves and yummy French bread.

10a.m. -1.00p.m. Workshop

1.30p.m. -2.30p.m. Buffet Lunch – using delicious local ingredients, many from the garden!

2.30p.m. - 5.30p.m. Workshop

Free time – enjoy the heated pool, or walk through the wonderful wooded countryside around the Priory or chill with a glass in hand and review the days work in front of the log fire!

8.00p.m. Delicious three course dinner with wine – we can cater for vegetarians, vegans and special dietary requirements…just let us know when booking! We eat in the garden when it’s warm and in the dining room when there is a chill in the air!

10.00p.m. Films, Readings

Thursday 5th October - Simon departs.

A free day to write, read, swim, rest or walk in the calm and tranquil surroundings of Le Prieuré.

Friday 6th October - Continue with your writing with encouragement from those around you, swim, relax or read. You might enjoy an outing with your hostess to the beautiful mediaeval village of St. Loup, a few minutes drive from Le Prieuré,

Depart 6pm from Le Prieuré or Poitiers Airport 7.05pm arrive London Stansted 7.05pm

You will need, as well as your writing, walking, swimming and dining attire (we love a bit of dressing up at Le Prieuré!), a notebook and pen, a Laptop, preferably with the charger (!), Toothbrush and toothpaste (soap, shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are all provided).

‘Write. Read. Write again. Read again. Think. Write again. Read more. Write more. Never stop reading. Never stop writing. Never stop thinking. Success comes from work. There is no such thing as talent.’

Simon Stephens

Simon Stephens

Simon Stephens is an English playwright and Professor of Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University. Having taught on the Young Writers' Programme at the Royal Court Theatre for many years, he is now an Artistic Associate at the Lyric Hammersmith . He is the inaugural Associate Playwright of Steep Theatre Company, Chicago , where two of his plays, Harper Regan and Motortown, had their U.S. premieres. His writing is characterized as part of the in-yer-face generation and is widely performed not only in the UK but also throughout Europe, with several of his plays being premiered abroad.

Awards:

• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time won the Olivier Award for Best New Play 2013 and the 2015 Tony Award for Best Play

•  Punk Rock was nominated at the TMA Awards for Best New Play in 2010, and was also nominated for the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play in 2010

•  Pornography won the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland for Best New Play in 2008-09

•  On the Shore of The Wide World won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2006

•  One Minute won at the Tron Theatre Awards as Best New Play in 2003

•  Port won the Pearson Award for Best New Play in 2001

You will have a double room at Le Prieuré. Four have en-suite bath or shower rooms,the remaining 4 bedrooms share a bathroom between 2 bedrooms. Beds are double or bigger, all have super comfortable mattress toppers and 100% cotton sheets. There are two four poster beds, two with drapes over the beds and the remaining bedrooms have beautiful silk curtains or internal wooden shutters.

www.uniquelyfrench.com

The cost of the six day course, including all meals (with wine) is £900. The cost does not include travel.

Coffee, tea and refreshments will be served during the day. We use as few plastic bottles as possible and water will be from the tap….but you will be able to enjoy it with our home made elderflower cordial!

An honesty bar will be available.

For more information about your accommodation, please contact Paula Dormer on +33 (0)6 74 04 53 15