Writing a playscript Different but the same – The White Puffin NextExit

Writing a playscript One day a very rare white puffin joins at Atlantic Puffin colony at sea. 17th Century sailors believed the leucistic puffin possessed mystical powers. How will the colony act towards the newcomer? Will they welcome the new arrival or will he/she be cast out? Different but the same – The White Puffin

Features of playscript writing 1. Setting the scene It is a dark, cold night and the Burhou Puffin colony are sheltering from the cold biting wind behind the Le Etacs rocks. Two young puffins Peter and Paula are together looking out to sea. In the distance approaching the colony is a solitary puffin. To there surprise the new arrival looks different. Its whole body, feathers and neck are white.

Features of playscript writing 2. Recording speech Peter: Who are you? Paula: Where have you come from? Peter: What is your name? The White Puffin: My name is Alex but some call me the The leucistic. Paula: Are you alone. The White Puffin: I used to raft with a group of sea birds but I left. Things did not work out. Now I travel alone. Characters, when they speak don’t need speech marks!

Features of playscript writing 3. Stage direction Peter: Who are you? (looking startled!) Paula: Where have you come from? Peter: What is your name? The White Puffin: My name is Alex but some call me the The Leucistic. (sad look on face) Paula: Are you alone. The White Puffin: I used to raft with a group of sea birds but I left. Things did not work out. Now I travel alone. (Turns to paddle away) Stage directions, tell the actors what to do on stage.

Features of playscript writing 4. Adding sound Peter: Who are you? (looking startled!) Paula: Where have you come from? Peter: What is your name? The White Puffin: My name is Alex but some call me the The Leucistic. (sad look on face) Paula: Are you alone. The White Puffin: I used to raft with a group of sea birds but I left. Things did not work out. Now I travel alone. (Turns to paddle away) The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks can be heard in the background. Sounds made on or off the stage are always included in a playscript.

Features of playscript writing 5. Acts and Scenes Act 1: Scene 1 Meeting at Sea Peter: Who are you? (looking startled!) Paula: Where have you come from? Peter: What is your name? The White Puffin: My name is Alex but some call me the The Leucistic. (sad look on face) Paula: Are you alone. The White Puffin: I used to raft with a group of sea birds but I left. Things did not work out. Now I travel alone. (Turns to paddle away) The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks can be heard in the background. An Act is a part of a play. Each Act can consist of several small scenes.

Different but the same – The White Puffin One day a very rare white puffin joins at Atlantic Puffin colony at sea. 17th Century sailors believed the albino puffin possessed mystical powers. How will the colony act towards the newcomer? Will they welcome the new arrival or will he/she be cast out? Act 1: Scene 1 Meeting at Sea Peter: Who are you? (looking startled!) Paula: Where have you come from? Peter: What is your name? The White Puffin: My name is Alex but some call me the The Leucistic. (sad look on face) Paula: Are you alone. The White Puffin: I used to raft with a group of sea birds but I left. Things did not work out. Now I travel alone. (Turns to paddle away) The sound of the waves crashing against the rocks can be heard in the background. What happens next? Continue writing the play. Home