Sonali Bhattacharyya
Character
Great characters remain with us long after we’ve forgotten the minutiae of a storyline. How can we create characters who provoke, surprise and inspire? How can we ensure our stories are led by our characters in ways that move and thrill audiences? Led by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Sonali Bhattacharyya, this workshop will draw on examples from Sonali’s own practise and classic works from stage and screen, with writing exercises, games and group discussion.
Bring your rough ideas, character sketches, scenes, first drafts or scripts waiting to be rewritten. This is a space to play and explore. You will leave with tools to create new characters and reimagine existing ones.
Sonali Bhattacharyya is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Her stage plays include King Troll (The Fawn) (Kali Theatre/New Diorama - finalist for Women’s Prize for Playwriting), The Little Mermaid (Bristol Old Vic), Liberation Squares (Fifth Word/Nottingham Playhouse/Brixton House), Arabian Nights (Bristol Old Vic), The Jungle Book (Chichester Festival Theatre), Chasing Hares (Young Vic/Theatre Uncut - winner of the Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Award and Sonia Friedman Production Award), Silence (Tara Theatre/Donmar Warehouse), Two Billion Beats (Orange Tree Theatre and Kirkos Theatre, Seoul). She was part of the writing team for forthcoming Sister Pictures/BBC primetime drama The Split Up and is developing her own sci fi/horror series for Firebird Pictures.
Saturday 11 July 2026
10am-1pm
After the workshop we invite you to join us for Snacks ‘n’ Chats! We're holding tea for all workshop attendees - a chance to get to know your fellow creatives, skill swap and, most importantly, eat biscuits.
SCRUM Theatre at Riverside Studios
Offering affordable training is at the heart of SCRUM’s charitable objectives, which is why we have different ticket price tiers. We encourage you to pay what you can based on the below descriptors:
£12 - Subsidised ticket price - You have limited expendable income** and need to opt for the lowest cost option. If this ticket price is a barrier to access, we always have a number of bursary places and travel stipends available for all of our programmes. Simply email workshops@scrumtheatre.co.uk.
£15 - Subsidised ticket price- You have some expendable income and can meet basic needs, even if there may be occasional financial stress
£20 - Full ticket price - You have a comfortable amount of expendable income, do not face financial barriers and are able to cover the full cost of the event ticket.
*BASIC NEEDS include food, housing, clothing and transportation.
**EXPENDABLE INCOME might mean you are able to buy coffee or tea at a shop, go to the cinema or a concert, buy new clothes, books and similar items each month, etc,
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Summer Writing Series
Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu’s intensive writing workshop is part of our 2026 Summer Writing Series. Whether you want to deepen your practice, train specific muscles in your craft, or work with a specialist, we’ve got something for you. Check out the full season below.
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