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Watermill writing tutor Laurence Marks

Presents

Laurence Marks

Course dates

Saturday 7 September to Saturday 14 September 2019

Scriptwriting with Laurence Marks

Profile

Laurence Marks, together with his partner Maurice Gran, has written some of Britain's classic television comedies, including, Birds of a Feather, Goodnight Sweetheart, The New Statesman and Shine on Harvey Moon. They have also written highly successful theatre and radio plays, as well as film scripts and hit musicals.

Knitting example from Sarah Hazell at the watermill in Tuscany
Knitting example from Sarah Hazell at the watermill in Tuscany
Knitting example from Sarah Hazell at the watermill in Tuscany

The comedy duo’s career began in the late 1970s and early 1980s and quickly went from strength to strength. This was because Maurice and Laurence were taught by the best: Barry Took (Round the Horne), Ray Galton and Alan Simpson (Hancock's Half Hour, Steptoe and Son), Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (The Likely Lads, Porridge), and later the inestimable Sir Alan Ayckbourn, whose credits are too numerous to list.

After their first four British top-five TV hit shows, Laurence and Maurice were lured to Hollywood where they were signed to write hit shows for Paramount Studios, from where they went on to win an esteemed Emmy award. So much was learnt working in the Hollywood studio system – much that will be passed on to students on their Watermill course – that when Maurice and Laurence returned to the UK they were elevated from jobbing writers to 'industry experts' and helped advise the route that ‘Light Entertainment’ would take over the next 20 years.

Laurence and Maurice formed one of the very first independent television production companies – ALOMO Productions. Creating writing ten hit shows for the production company. They were the first to bring to UK television the idea and practice of team-writing. Many of the writers on one of their numerous shows went on to become successes in their own right, forging proud careers of their own.

After 22 years of endless TV hit comedies and dramas, Laurence and Maurice felt the time was right to change direction and concentrate on the stage. Since 2005 they have had three hit stage plays and, much to their amazement, three hit stage musicals. There is also now a movie of their musical, Dreamboats and Petticoats… and a new series of Birds of a Feather on ITV, as well as a theatrical adaptation … and new projects in the pipeline...

You can find out more about Laurence and Maurice on their website www.marksandgran.com

Contents of the course

Laurence’s week-long course will show you how to craft your work from your original idea through structure, character, plot and finally script.

He will lead you slowly through what makes classic television comedy, using one-to-one tutorials, team writing sessions, and most enlightening of all, studying, deconstructing and analysing films and TV series that have become 'classics'.

Praise

Some comments on Laurence's previous courses at the watermill:


"The food, accommodation and setting were all perfect and, of course, Laurence's input was inspirational. The week was truly memorable in all respects."


"Laurence was truly inspirational."