When was the last time you watched a play? Since the rise of technology and screens, new plays have been created less and less. Nowadays, most entertainment is gathered from digital scripts on either TVs or phones, with many people now writing screenplays (movie/TV show scripts).

But plays themselves have seen a decrease in production, with many performances just reciting old, classic plays, from either Ancient Greece or the Renaissance Period. While these plays are considered classic and wonderful for a reason, they fail to capture the new societies and times in which we live in. They’re also unoriginal, as they already stem from pre-created stories.

So, in this article, I’m going to show you how to create an original play. And who knows? Maybe you’ll become the next Shakespeare!

Guide to Creating a Play

Have you ever wanted to write a play? Well, you’re in luck because I’m here to show you just how to make one. Like any other story, the three most important parts of a play are the setting, characters, and conflict/s.

To recap, setting is where and when the story is taking place. Is it happening in the past, present, or future? The time period is vital to understanding your characters’ names, how they’ll talk, societal norms, as well as costumes the actors will wear. Similarly, the location is also important, as different parts of the world (whether on Earth or fictional) have various cultures, languages, and societal/political systems.

But who will actually be acting within the story? That’s where characters come into play. There are many components to a good character, but the three most important are their voice (the way they speak, certain words they use), their wants (goals they’re trying to achieve), and their fears. Voice ensures not all your characters sound the same, and is important for your actors to understand the character they will be acting. Additionally, their wants and fears will ultimately impact their decisions throughout the story. Every main character (and even minor ones) should have a goal, whether big or small. Their fears will be what’s setting them back and stopping them from achieving their goals.

This clash of wants and fears leads directly into the last, if not most important aspect of plays: the conflict. There are three main conflicts, which include external, internal, and philosophical. External conflicts are obstacles that the character has no control over, while internal conflicts are decisions or fears that are stopping the character from moving forward. Another type of conflict, which you most likely haven’t heard, is philosophical. These conflicts orbit around the characters’ beliefs systems, and how their own morals or values may be acted against when facing a choice. Philosophical conflicts are often the most difficult to execute well, however, they often lead to the most interesting and entertaining stories.

Once you’ve decided on these three major aspects, you can start writing the play. Besides formatting, there are a few key pieces that are needed throughout. First, you need to determine how many acts you’ll have within your play. The most common structure is a 3-Act Play, which often follows a classic beginning, middle, and end series. Each act may also include scenes, which can be considered miniature acts, but have no specific structure they should follow.

Next, you need to include the “setting” and “at rise” at the beginning of each scene. “Setting” should tell your actors what is currently on the stage. Here, you would include props, music, and background. “At rise” should tell your actors where their characters should be as soon as the scene starts. Is the main character off to the side, working on their computer? Are they sleeping? These help to set the scene so everything flows coherently.

Lastly, you need stage directions. How should the characters talk, walk, gesture? How will these scenes come alive for your audience? Stage directions are often in-between the dialogue and tell your actors when to act rather than simply speaking. Think about your daily life; do people only talk back and forth without moving? No, people gesture and walk around and have animation. The same should apply to your characters. They’re not puppets, they’re people (assuming you’ve chosen the human race for your characters), and should act like a living being.

Now, you have the most important pieces of your play completed, and are ready to format your writing to look like a proper script. There are many online sources, however, this link provides clear rules that all professionals use: https://caryplaywrightsforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/CPF_play_formatting2.pdf. That’s all for the art of playwriting. With enough time and effort, you’ll have your own play that even actors might enjoy performing. Happy writing!