An Oxford Playwriting course session
OXFORD PLAYWRITING
COURSE DATES FOR 2026 - 2027
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 2nd, 2026
Friday Nov 6th, 2026
Friday Dec 4th, 2026
Friday Jan 8th, 2027
Friday Feb 5th, 2027
Friday Mar 5th, 2027
Friday Apr 9th, 2027
Friday May 7th, 2027
Friday June 11th, 2027
Performance Workshop
Saturday June 5th, 2027
FEE
10 x all-day sessions
(80 hours in total)
Course Fee: £3000
ADVANCED 2
Friday Oct 9th, 2026
Friday Nov 13th, 2026
Friday Dec 11th, 2026
Friday Jan 15th, 2027
Friday Feb 12th, 2027
Friday Mar 12th, 2027
Friday Apr 16th, 2027
Friday May 14th, 2027
Friday June 18th, 2027
Performance Workshop
Saturday June 12th, 2027
FEE
10 x all-day sessions
(80 hours in total)
Course Fee: £3000
FOUNDATION
Friday Oct 16th, 2026
Friday Nov 20th, 2026
Friday Dec 18th, 2026
Friday Jan 22nd, 2027
Friday Feb 19th, 2027
Friday Mar 19th, 2027
Friday Apr 23rd, 2027
Friday May 21st, 2027
Friday June 25th, 2027
Performance Workshop
Saturday 19th June, 2027
FEE
10 x all-day sessions
(80 hours in total)
Course Fee: £3000
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 four 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.
