Scriptwriting for Theatre and Screen

A Practical Guide

Richard Stockwell

$99.95 $84.56

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Routledge
23 September 2025

Theatre Studies; Film movie scripts & screenplays; Screenwriting techniques; Writing & editing guides

Scriptwriting for Theatre and Screen: A Practical Guide is an introduction designed to help readers understand the nature of dramatic scriptwriting and quickly guide them to a place where they can write, first a short play, and then a short screenplay.

The book clearly points out not only the differences between writing for the stage and writing for the screen, but also the shared skills and the fundamental dramatic principles that unite them. The two sections (Theatre Writing and Screenwriting) are connected by a bridging chapter that explores similarities and differences between the two media. The chapters are arranged with a short introductory essay on topics such as generating ideas, structure, character, modes of address, empathy, status, visual writing, and revising and editing, followed by practical exercises with exemplar responses – including a sample short play and film. Two additional chapters address how to approach writing a self-reflexive commentary, explore how the skills covered can be applied to writing for television, and explain other skills a writer might need to develop when working in this industry.

This complete introduction to writing dramatic scripts is intended for students of playwriting and screenwriting but is also suitable for all writers new to these areas and interested in developing their skills.

By: Richard Stockwell
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 470g
ISBN: 9781032874692
ISBN 10: 1032874694
Pages: 242
Publication Date: 23 September 2025
Audience: College/higher education , A / AS level
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction – How to Use This Book Part 1: Theatre Writing Chapter 1. Invitations Chapter 2. Ideas Chapter 3. Character Chapter 4. Structure Chapter 5. Location – Setting Chapter 6. Empathy Chapter 7. Status Chapter 8. Practical Considerations – Acts – Scenes - Format Chapter 9. Planning and Writing Scenes Chapter 10. Modes of Address Chapter 11. Actual Writing Chapter 12. Similarities and Differences Between Stage and Screen Part 2: Screenwriting Chapter 13. Introducing Screenwriting and Launching a New Idea Chapter 14. Structure Revisited Chapter 15. Particularities of Short Films Chapter 16. Format Chapter 17. Genre Chapter 18. Character Revisited Chapter 19. Visual Writing Chapter 20. Moment-to-Moment Writing Chapter 21. Rewriting… Again Chapter 22. Writing for TV Appendix 1: Critical Commentaries – Evaluations Appendix 2: Some More Writing Exercises

Richard Stockwell lectures in theatre and screenwriting at Newcastle University, UK. He is an award-winning playwright, and has been writing drama for over 30years, with plays performed in over a dozen countries. He has also written for television, including a period writing for Eastenders for the BBC.