With the deadline for plays for Town with No Traffic Wardens getting closer I thought it might me good to remind everyone of a few of the exercises since the group started.

These exercises have been begged, borrowed, stolen, adapted and corrupted from a variety of sources but mainly Kaite O’Reilly and Noel Greig’s Playwriting:  A Practical Guide

All the exercises work better if you give yourself a time limit initially, you can go back and expand later but for now – give yourself 3 minutes for this first one.

Let’s create or develop a character. Think of a character, either one you’re working on or have a go at plucking one from your imagination now. Start the timer – and go!

What is their gender?
What is their age?
What is their ethnicity
What is their name?
Three physical characteristics (maybe appearance, mannerism, tone of voice etc)?
What are they wearing?
Where does their money comes from (work or otherwise)?
What sort of accommodation they live in?
Where exactly on the world map is that accommodation?
is there something they lack in life?
Is there something they need right now?
Do they have a secret?
Do they have a problem?
What do they believe?
What is their wish?
Where are they right now?
What they are doing at this very moment?
What they are thinking or saying at this very moment?

List three other things you know about them ?
What else do you want to ask that character from the answers they have given above?