What's on Calendar

This is an invitation to join a series of creative writing workshops at Locomotion in Shildon, Co. Durham with the writer Michael Chaplin.

Over two three-hour sessions participants will work with each other and Michael to produce a piece of writing in whatever form they choose: short story, memoir or other fact-based prose; poetry; or script-based work for film and TV, radio or the theatre. People will also be expected to work on their idea outside the course, though it’s unlikely the piece of work will be finished by its end. Like life, writing is mostly a work in progress.

It isn’t necessary for participants to have writing experience, though that might be useful, but it is a condition of entry that they live in SW Durham. Given where the course is based – and what a fine place it is! – Michael plans to give additional focus to the sessions by asking participants to write about ‘A Journey’ – and hopes the course will be exactly that for everyone, including him!

Michael Chaplin is a writer for theatre, radio and theatre who’s also written non-fiction books. The son of the Durham novelist and short-story writer Sid Chaplin, born in Shildon. Michael started his career as a newspaper journalist before working in television as a producer of current affairs, documentaries and drama.

Since becoming a full-time writer in the 90’s, Michael has created various dramas for television, including Grafters and Monarch of the Glen. For BBC Radio 4 Michael has written series like For The Love of Leo, The Ferryhill Philosophers and lately worked with Sting to create two plays with music set in Newcastle. In a 35-year relationship with Newcastle’s Live Theatre Michael has created some 15 plays and also written five books, including collections of his father’s work, an exploration of Tyneside called Tyne View and recently a much-praised football-led memoir called Newcastle United Stole My Heart.

‘Michael Chaplin is a writer whose work always glows.’ The Sunday Times

This programme of workshops are fully funded, but places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Workshop Dates:

Friday 22nd July, 2pm
Friday 29th  July, 2pm

Register your interest below