The Script’s The Thing 2025

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Dorset’s Festival of Scriptwriting – Returns for a Second Year at Dorchester Arts

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Writers, directors and actors from the worlds of theatre, film and TV will gather in Dorchester on Saturday 3rd May for The Script’s The Thing – the second Dorset Festival of Scriptwriting. Featuring work from one hundred local and national writers, the Festival promises a packed day of 15-minute scripts and free events.

This year’s keynote speaker is David Byrne, Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, which has recently enjoyed a revival of new work, including the acclaimed play Giant, based on the life of Roald Dahl. Other organisations taking part include BBC Writers, National Theatre, BFI Network South West, London-based Rawanee, and new writing specialists Papatango. Dorset-based venues and organisations will also be represented, with Lighthouse Poole and Artsreach discussing how regional writers can be supported and how new work can be developed and promoted.

The programme includes talks from audio drama writer and director Carl Prekopp (BBC Radio 4’s Kramer versus Kramer), screenwriter Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes), and playwright Jemma Kennedy, who will be offering live feedback to writer Max Kyte. Maria Gayton from Dorset History Centre will present artefacts and documents to inspire attendees to develop stories rooted in the region.

Workshops at The Script's the Things 2025

The Festival has expanded this year to include new performance spaces at the Kings Arms, Shire Hall and Dorset Museum. Local favourite Tom Browns pub returns with another vibrant line-up of comedy and drama scripts, while the Corn Exchange will host four performance areas running from 10am to 6pm, with events scheduled every half hour.

Scripts to be showcased include brand-new pieces covering a wide range of topics – from a boggart terrorising a Dorset family, to Gertrude Bugler’s return following London success, and stories about knitting, a failed journalist, and sketch comedy featuring bees.

Nick Hern Books will be on hand with a stall offering scripts and books on playwriting and screenwriting at specially discounted Festival prices.

You don’t have to be a writer to take part – anyone interested in how plays, television and film scripts are created and developed will find something to enjoy.

Family-friendly scripts will be staged at Shire Hall in the morning, with the Acting Out company running a scriptwriting session specifically for children aged 5–12.

Festival Director Ed Viney said, “I’m absolutely staggered by the volume of scripts we received this year. We tried to give a slot to everyone who applied but it was simply impossible. Preference has been given to writers with a Dorset connection, and we hope everyone will join in with this celebration of new work.”