Facilitated by Tamar Saphra and Tommo Fowler of RoughHewn, this workshop will cover the fundamentals of script analysis and discuss the process of writing written responses to plays – whether as a script report for a theatre or competition, or as the basis for meeting a writer. You’ll also explore the role of readers and dramaturgs within the theatre ecology.

RoughHewn is an award-winning script-reading service and dramaturgy company, working with writers of all experience levels – from first-timers, to West End transfers – to support them in shaping, developing and honing their plays. Find out more here – roughhewn.org

Workshop spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis, and a waiting list will be kept if there are more applicants than spaces.

Eligibility Criteria:

These workshops are for professional theatre makers of all disciplines, including recent graduates (writers, directors, actors, dramaturgs, designers, stage managers etc.). Your CV should include details of at least two professional or fringe credits.

Tamar Saphra
Tamar is a theatre director and a dramaturg based in London, working collaboratively with playwrights to develop new plays. She trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and was a Resident Director at the Almeida Theatre from 2019-2020. Tamar is co-founder of dramaturgy company RoughHewn (Olwen Wymark Award winners 2021). Tamar has been a script reader for the UK’s most prolific new writing theatres and playwriting awards, including The National Theatre, Almeida, Bush, The Royal Exchange, Soho Theatre, the Bruntwood Prize, the Papatango Prize and The Verity Bargate Award. She also works as a script reader for TV – she has read for BBC Writersroom and was shadow script editor on the esteemed Channel 4 Screenwriting Course 2021.

Tamar’s recent work includes:

PHAEDRA (2022, ALRA South, director); GREAT MEN (2021, Galeria d.Italia, Milan, dramaturg); ANDROMACHE (2021, NT Studio, R&D, dramaturg); ALICE (Vaults 2020, director); MIDNIGHT MOVIE (2019, Royal Court Theatre, assistant director); VASSA (2019, Almeida, assistant director); THE NOISES (2019 Old Red Lion, director).

Tommo Fowler
Tommo is a dramaturg for text and production, and a director, based in Sheffield. He is a Supported Artist at Sheffield Theatres, co-founder of dramaturgy company RoughHewn (Olwen Wymark Award, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain), and sits on the Board of the Dramaturgs’ Network, working on anti-racist practice and support for early-career dramaturgs.

Work includes How to make a revolution (Finborough Theatre, online), There Is No Planet B (Theatre Deli, Sheffield), One Jewish Boy (Trafalgar Studios), Out of the Dark (Rose Theatre, Kingston), In My Lungs the Ocean Swells (VAULT Festival, Origins Award Winner) and Omelette (VAULT Festival, Origins Award Nominee).

Tommo was Visiting Tutor on the MA Playwriting at City, University of London, has worked for Oxford School of Drama, Rose Bruford and Identity School of Acting, and been a reader for theatres including the Royal Court, Bush Theatre, Royal Exchange and Traverse.

https://lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/introduction-to-script-reading