STORY IN ACTION YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAM
Epic ideas start with our youngest creators, and that nurturing the voice of emerging storytellers plays an important role in creating more vibrant, welcoming and creative communities.
With Story in Action Driftwood Theatre is setting the stage for our next generation of creative story-makers, providing in-class and intensive playwriting programs which encourage students to express their most epic and dreamiest ideas.
Story in Action is a program which supports student playwrights in a journey from ideation through to professional presentation of their work for a public audience.
In-Class Workshops
In Driftwood Theatre’s 75-minute Story in Action Workshop, students in Grades 7-12 learn the basics of playwriting, and explore new tools and processes for creating their very own original plays. Through instruction, guided group discussion, and in-session activities, students will not only learn how to generate new ideas, but how to mine them for dramatic potential, and transform them into viable concepts for original plays.
Optionally, the workshop culminates in a 1-2 page assignment (with evaluation rubric provided to the teacher by Driftwood Theatre). This assignment is also all students need to apply for participation in the Story in Action Intensive (see below).
In-class workshop is suitable for: intermediate (grades 7-8) and high school groups (grades 9-12), up to one class size (approx. 30 students)/session. There is a $275+HST fee per 75-minute workshop.
Timeframe: In 2026, Story in Action In-Class Workshops can be booked between February 2—March 13.
Playwriting Intensive
The Story in Action Intensive digs even deeper into the craft of playwriting for our student writers. Over a series of in-person and virtual group and individual sessions, participants explore tools for writing compelling action-driven scenes, they’ll learn the mechanics of writing strong dialogue moment-to-moment, and they’ll respond to multiple writing prompts as they prepare their own, brand new 10-minute play. The Story in Action Intensive culminates with a public reading of student work.
Participation in the Story in Action Intensive is limited to 8 students, determined by open application. All applicants will need to apply is the assignment already created during the in-class session.
Story in Action Intensive is suitable for: young creators ages 12-18. There is a $350+HST fee per student. Scholarships are available by application for students for whom the full fee represents a barrier to participation.
Timeframe: For 2026, Playwriting Intensive applications due April 3. The Intensive consists of: one-day (5 hr) in-person group session early May 2026; two virtual group sessions (2 hrs) and one private virtual coaching session (30-45 min) May-June, 2026; two-day in-person group session and public presentation late June 2026. Final dates TBD.
For more information about Story in Action programming for young playwrights, send us a message at contactus@driftwoodtheatre.com
