Interrogate your writing process with this interactive workshop, and discover creative techniques for generating material, planning and re-drafting. How do you go from a blank page to a full-length play? How do you ‘plan’ a play, but still stay open, fluid and creative? How do you write with boldness and intuition, whilst also looking after the mechanics of playwriting? Whether you have a seed of an idea, a half-finished play, or a third draft, join us and develop your project and process.

Carmen is a British-Lebanese playwright. In 2026, her upcoming play, Samira, will open at the National Theatre, as well as her adaptation of Babak Anvari’s film, Under the Shadow, which will premiere the Almeida Theatre. She is currently working on new commissions for the Almeida Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe, Hampstead Theatre and Sky Productions. Previously, her play The Climbers premiered at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, in June 2022. Her play The Maladies, made with the Almeida Theatre young company, premiered at The Yard Theatre in London in 2022. In 2017 Carmen was a winner of the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme, on which she was attached to the Finborough Theatre, where her play Dubailand previously premiered. Alongside writing she runs the MA Playwriting Programme at the University of Manchester.

Please fill in the application form below to submit your interest for joining this workshop.

If you would prefer to submit your application via video recording or voice recording (no longer than 3-5 minutes), please email your application to [email protected]

Please note, applications for this masterclass close on Monday 7th, 12pm and we will not be able to accept any applications beyond this point. The Gate team will be in touch to confirm whether your application was successful by June 3rd. Please note, if unsuccessful we are unable to offer feedback.