An Oxford Playwriting course session
OXFORD PLAYWRITING
COURSE DATES FOR 2025 - 2026
The Oxford Playwriting Course is split into two advanced groups, and one foundation group, each with 6 participants. There is no qualitative difference or distinction between the two groups, ADVANCED ONE & ADVANCED TWO – both function to the same high standard.
The course is run on Fridays, 10.30am - 6.00pm as follows:​​
ADVANCED 1
Friday Oct 10th, 2025
Friday Nov 7th, 2025
Friday Dec 5th, 2025
Friday Jan 9th, 2026
Friday Feb 6th, 2026
Friday Mar 6th, 2026
Friday Apr 10th, 2026
Friday May 8th, 2026
Friday June 12th, 2026
​
Performance Workshop
Saturday May 9th, 2026
​
FEE
10 x all-day sessions
(80 hours in total)
Course Fee: £2750
ADVANCED 2
Friday Oct 17th, 2025
Friday Nov 14th, 2025
Friday Dec 12th, 2025
Friday Jan 16th, 2026
Friday Feb 13th, 2026
Friday Mar 13th, 2026
Friday Apr 17th, 2026
Friday May 15th, 2026
Friday June 20th, 2026
​
Performance Workshop
Saturday May 16th, 2026
​
FEE
10 x all-day sessions
(80 hours in total)
Course Fee: £2750
FOUNDATION
Friday Oct 24th, 2025
Friday Nov 21st, 2025
Friday Dec 19th, 2025
Friday Jan 23rd, 2026
Friday Feb 20th, 2026
Friday Mar 20th, 2026
Friday Apr 24th, 2026
Friday May 22nd, 2026
Friday June 5th, 2026
​
Performance Workshop
Saturday 20th June, 2026
​
FEE
10 x all-day sessions
(80 hours in total)
Course Fee: £2750
LOCATION
Vincent’s Club Dining Room, 1A King Edward Street, Oxford OX1 4HS
(This is just off Oxford High Street where there is nearby parking, convenient public transport and wheelchair access)
BURSARIES
​
Bursaries of up to 50% of the course fee are available to people who are not in education or employment, or who are on low income/benefits. If you would like to apply for a bursaried place, please tick the relevant box in the application form, or contact John for more information: john@oxfordplaywriting.co.uk
Previous visiting workshop leaders and guest speakers
​​
SIMON BEAUFOY
(The Full Monty)
​
KENNETH LONERGAN
(Manchester by the Sea, You Can Count On Me, Starry Messenger, This is Our Youth)
MIKE BARTLETT
(Dr Foster, Press, King Charles 3rd, Albion, Earthquakes in London)
CHRIS CAMPBELL
(then Literary Manager at The Royal Court)
Course Feedback
​
"This is, without question, the best creative writing course I have ever done. John’s experience as both writer and director, and his knowledge of technique, make him a wonderful person to have by one’s side during the first tottering steps towards becoming a playwright."
Amanda Mackenzie Stuart, participant, 2018-22
​
"I am loving this course. John manages to be warm, enabling and challenging in the best way. He sees potential and uses all his creativity and experience to help us write with freedom and to be critical and curious about the form itself."
Penny Boreham Saban, participant 2018-21
OXFORD PLATFORMS
As a supplement to the course, there are three OXFORD PLATFORMS per year. These are rehearsed readings of plays that have emerged from the course that take place at The Old Fire Station, Oxford.
OXFORD PLATFORMS began in October 2022 and has gained an immediate public following, selling out every seat at the Old Fire Station’s 125-seat theatre.
Oxford Platforms Future Dates:
​
​Thursday November 20th, 2025
Thursday January 13th, 2026
Thursday March 5th,2026
Thursday May 21st, 2026
Thursday November 19th, 2026