Workshops & Courses
FailSafe Theatre is committed to providing opportunities to support women to develop their skills in theatre, gain confidence, and feel able to take up space unapologetically.
Sphinx Theatre’s Women in Theatre Forum Report (2020) found that women are still under-represented and facing challenges in theatre and that if they fail, women are less likely to be given a second chance than men.
We draw on personal experience and extensive training in theatre as well as research from leading writers in gender and feminist theory.
Our workshops are designed and led by women in theatre, for women in theatre and we can't wait to work with you.
Write Here, Write Now
An 8 week online playwrighting course by women for women
Female and non-binary writers are still under-represented in the UK theatre industry.
Our playwriting course is unique because it not only guides and supports you through the playwriting process, but it also examines and gives useful exercises and insights to explore and combat the reasons that female and non-binary creatives are still so underrepresented; from the authority gap to caregiving responsibilities to our ingrained fear of failure.
We have created a bespoke playwrighting course for female and non-binary writers to ‘Write Here, Write Now’, providing dedicated time and support to complete a first draft of a play. You will be guided through each stage of the process from generating ideas to plot, structure and character and this course will also touch on the more practical aspects of staging work.
Through this course you will develop a play from an idea to a full first draft. It doesn’t matter if you come into the first session with no idea at all or with an a draft that’s been languishing in a drawer for years; this course will provide you with exercises, discussion and feedback to support you to interrogate and strengthen your work and get it down on paper.
Dates & Times
Monday 29th April - 7.00 - 9.30pm – Session 1
Monday 6th May - Bank Holiday - No session/Writing Week
Monday 13th May - 7.00 - 9.30pm – Session 2
Monday 20th May - 7.00 - 9.30pm – Session 3
Monday 27th May - Bank Holiday - No session/Writing Week
Monday 3rd June - 7.00 - 9.30pm – Session 4
Monday 10th June - 7.00 - 9.30pm – Session 5
Monday 17th June - 7.00 - 9.30pm – Session 6
Monday 24th June - 7.00 - 9.30pm – Session 7
Writing Break
Monday 22nd July – Times TBC – Session 8
*Sessions will finish between 9-9.30pm depending on number of participants. 9.30pm is absolute latest finish time.
We know life often gets in the way and are actively working on ways to make the Arts more accessible to female and non-binary creatives so if you are unable to attend any sessions you will still receive guidance and exercises via email relevant to that week’s topic to complete in your own time.
Writers must be 18 or over to participate.
Price: This course is currently in ongoing development and as such is being offered on a PWYC scale from £50-£100 for the full course. Select your chosen amount below to book your place.
Location: Online (Participants must have access to Zoom)
Cancellation Policy
Please be aware that FailSafe Theatre courses have a set minimum number of participants to run. If this number is not met the course will be cancelled. You will be informed at least 5 days before the start of the course and fully refunded any fees paid to FailSafe Theatre for the cancelled course.
Course Leader: Rachael Walsh
To check availability for this course please email.
Rachael Walsh is FailSafe Theatre’s Artistic Director. She is a director and dramaturg and a graduate of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Drama Directing MA. She works as a dramaturg with new writers and theatre makers to support them to tell the stories they want to tell. Rachael was Director and Dramaturg on Kindle by Hattie Collins which was nominated for a VALUT Origins Award and has worked extensively with Mortal Fools as Dramaturg/Writer-in-the-Room on a number of their Young Company Ensemble projects. She has worked with New Writing North and Live Theatre to deliver creative writing workshops to young people and has worked as a reader for English Touring Theatre, Funny Women and Birmingham Rep’s Victoria Wood Comedy Playwriting Award.