A story is a vehicle through which a writer expresses an idea or a concern, which is why we say a story is about something. Theme influences other story elements such as character and plot, and grounds the characters in universal values such as love, envy, ambition, etc. In this workshop, participants will work through the themes of their stories to see how they actively advance a story and help the writer sustain a full-length play.

About Oladipo Agboluaje

Oladipo Agboluaje’s most recent play, Crown of Blood, was produced by Utopia Theatre and ran at the Sheffield Crucible and The Belgrade in Coventry. His other plays include Early Morning, The Christ of Coldharbour Lane, The Estate and Iyale. Oladipo is course director of the Black British Theatre and Performance programme at the British American Drama Academy (BADA)

About Theatre503

Theatre503 is the national theatre for debut playwrights and the artists who bring their words to life. We play a vital role in the theatre ecology by helping diverse new voices reach the first rung on the artistic career ladder. We are experts in developing, launching and transforming the next generation of leading writers across stage and screen.

We have nurtured modern classics such as The Mountaintop by Katori Hall and Rotterdam by Jon Brittain – both Olivier Award winners – and classics in the making like Yasmin Joseph’s J’Ouvert, winner of the 2020 James Tait Black Prize, and Ross Willis’ Wolfie, winner of the 2020 Writers Guild Award for Best New Play. Theatre503 alumni have written for Succession, Doctor Who, Killing Eve, Normal People and One Day.