Instinct & Structure:
The Helltown Playwriting Workshop
A four-month hybrid intensive that unites the emotional and intellectual sides of playwriting.
Instinct & Structure: The Helltown Playwriting Workshop blends actor-based exploration with the tools of dramatic structure to help writers craft plays that are both emotionally alive and architecturally strong. Through in-person sessions with Lynda Sturner and weekly online sessions with Jim Dalglish, playwrights learn to connect instinct with intention as they shape their ideas into compelling, cohesive scripts. The result is a complete approach to playwriting: inspired discovery supported by strong, deliberate craft. Playwrights leave with sharper instincts, stronger pages, and a deeper sense of how to build plays that resonate on the page and on the stage.
“A wonderful blend of theory and practice. A great course with great teachers.”
– Past Workshop Participant –
At a Glance
Duration: January – April
Hybrid Format: in-person & online
Total Sessions: 13 sessions
4 In-Person Sessions (Sunday afternoons at 1:00pm)
9 Online Sessions (Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm)
Meeting Pattern - The workshop follows a repeating rhythm:
First in-person session, three online sessions • Second in-person session, three online sessions • Third in-person sessions, three online sessions • Culminating in-person session.In-Person Location: Harwich Community Center
Online Platform: Zoom
Session Lengths: 2 hours
“The theory was excellent, but the real magic was watching Jim workshop plays. His insights were transformative.”
– Past Workshop Participant –
Lynda Sturner leading a recent Helltown playwriting course. From left to right, Mary Chris Kenney, Jay Critchley, Margaret Van Sant, Lynda Sturner, and Victorea Luminary.
“Lynda’s instinct work opened emotional doors that transformed the way I write.”
– Past Workshop Participant –
A Complete Approach to Playwriting
This workshop is built on two complementary pillars:
1. Instinct – In-Person Sessions with Lynda Sturner
Actor-driven sessions at the Harwich Community Center focus on:
Improvisation and acting exercises
“I want” monologues and impulse work
Embodied character exploration
Discovering subtext, emotional truth, and stakes
Learning to “hear” your characters in bodies, voices, and space
These sessions help writers unlock spontaneity, build characters from the inside out, and develop scenes that feel alive, specific, and playable
2. Structure & Meaning – Online Sessions with Jim Dalglish
Weekly Zoom sessions provide essential tools for understanding and shaping the meaning and architecture of a play, including:
Clarifying creative vision, theme, and emotional anchor
Story elements (premise, plot, conflict, POV, setting, symbolism, etc.)
Dramatic structure archetypes and story types
Plot mapping and pacing
Creating a structural outline tailored to your play
Character arcs and scene design
Drafting and revising opening or pivotal scenes
Strengthening cohesion, momentum, and impact
These sessions help writers see the big picture of their plays, make conscious structural choices, and keep their storytelling focused, coherent, and theatrically effective.
Instructors
Jim Dalglish
Jim Dalglish
Playwright • Director • Producer
With over three decades of experience as a playwright, director, and producer, Jim Dalglish brings a deep understanding of both the art and craft of playwriting. His plays have been produced internationally and have won numerous awards, and his work is known for powerful storytelling, nuanced characters, and inventive dramatic structure. Jim has a long history of mentoring writers, helping them clarify their vision, find the right structural container for their stories, and build plays that are both emotionally resonant and structurally strong.
More about Jim Dalglish>>
“I’ve studied dramatic literature at the doctoral level and worked with many teachers—no one compares to Jim as a coach.”
– Past Workshop Participant –
Lynda Sturner
Lynda Sturner
Actor • Playwright • Teacher
Lynda Sturner is a veteran New York and Cape Cod actress (cast in the original Broadway production of Oliver!), as well as an award-winning playwright. She has led acting and writing workshops for more than twenty years at institutions including Boston University and the Castle Hill Arts Center in Truro, as well as from her homes in New York City and Truro. Her teaching draws on an actor’s toolbox—improvisation, physical work, and emotional specificity—to help playwrights write characters and scenes that feel immediate, truthful, and playable.
More about Lynda Sturner>>
“Lynda has an uncanny way of showing you the truth inside your characters — and inside yourself. She guided us into creative territory we never would have discovered on our own.”
– Past Workshop Participant –
Schedule…
Launch Session – In Person
Sunday, January 11 – 1:00–3:00 PM
Harwich Community Center
Workshop kickoff
Instinct and character exploration
Overview of your primary play project
Online Sessions (Structure Foundations)
Tuesday, January 20 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Tuesday, January 27 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Tuesday, February 3 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Clarify their creative vision, theme, and the emotional anchor of their play
Work through the story elements (premise, conflict, POV, setting, stakes, etc.)
Explore foundational dramatic structure models and identify which might best serve their story
Draft loglines, taglines, and early structural ideas
Begin writing short scenes or moments inspired by their instinct work
Share and receive feedback on early pages or concept drafts
In-Person Session 2 – Instinct & Scene Work
Sunday, February 8 – 1:00–3:00 PM
Harwich Community Center
Improvisation
“I want” / “I don’t want” monologues
Character-driven scene exploration
Online Sessions (Vision, Structure & Drafting)
Tuesday, February 17 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Tuesday, February 24 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Tuesday, March 3 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Develop and refine a structural outline or scene map
Explore rising action, reversals, escalation, and pacing
Strengthen character arcs and motivations
Work on scene design: conflict, objectives, tactics, and dynamics
Examine and revise their own pages with attention to subtext and emotional movement
Share pages for focused table reads and instructor feedback
In-Person Session 3 – Embodiment & Subtext
Sunday, March 8 – 1:00–3:00 PM
Harwich Community Center
Embodied character work
Subtext, stakes, and refining scenes through performance
Late-Series Online Sessions (Refinement & Momentum)
Tuesday, March 17 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Tuesday, March 24 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Tuesday, March 31 – 6:30–8:30 PM
Integrate structural principles with instinct-driven discoveries
Review partial drafts or clusters of scenes for clarity, pacing, and cohesion
Strengthen dialogue, transitions, and the overall arc of their play
Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities for deeper stakes
Prepare selected pages for the culminating in-person celebration and readings
Continue receiving regular feedback on their writing to support sustained momentum
Culminating In-Person Celebration & Readings
Sunday, April 5 – 1:00–3:00 PM
Harwich Community Center
Sharing of work
Readings
Food, celebration, and reflection
Course Materials: Online Playwriting Book Included
Enrollment includes access to an online book written by Jim Dalglish and Lynda Sturner, which serves as a guide throughout the workshop.
It includes:
Basic and advanced playwriting principles
Historical innovations in dramatic writing
Structural models and writing tools
Exercises aligned with workshop assignments
Students are encouraged to read the book before the workshop begins.
“Jim and Lynda inspire writers to be direct, courageous, and to follow the true heart of their story.”
– Past Workshop Participant –
How to Apply
To help you begin with clarity and focus, all participants must submit a brief description of the work they intend to explore.
Please include:
Your goal for participating in the class
A description of the play you intend to begin or continue
If you have multiple ideas, share the themes or questions you hope to explore
A 1–3 page writing sample is welcome but optional. No script is required for acceptance.
Commitment:
Because each session builds on the last, participants must be able to commit to all in-person sessions and weekly online sessions.
Tuition, Scholarships, and Registration
Tuition: $325
Includes:
All 13 sessions
Online playwriting book
Handouts and materials
Culminating celebration
Scholarships
A limited number of student and need-based scholarships are available. Applicants submit the same requirements as all participants. Please indicate on the registration forms if you are a student currently enrolled in studies and/or if you are facing financial hardships and may need support.
Registration
First-come, first-served. Limited space to ensure a supportive, interactive environment.
Apply for a Spot…
Fill out the form below to apply for one of the limited number of seats to this innovative course.