Lyra Teatro – Masterclass with Simon Stephens in Milan

“We need stories again. In a time of poverty, we need our storytellers do their work properly. It is only through lightness, fun and anarchy that we can really investigate the darkest areas of human existence. So we investigate horror with lightness and play.”
Simon Stephens

After the great workshop we hosted in 2018 and 2019, with attendees from Italy, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands and USA, and after the great success of his play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, viewed by over 20000 people at the Elfo Puccini Theatre, Simon Stephens will be back at The Art Land (Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan) for another two-day workshop.

It is a unique opportunity, for beginners and experienced writers alike, to study with a brilliant and engaging master really passionate about his job.

“Thoughts, laughs, notes and inspirations from the workshop are still in my head. As per Simon’s definition of nostalgia (something from the past which was interrupted and we wish would continue), I already feel nostalgic” ―one of the attendees from last year’s workshop.

The number of participants is limited to 12 and the workshop will be held in English: a good written and oral proficiency level is required for all attendees.
The workshop will take place on May 7th and 8th, from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm. Other collateral events (theatre visits, rehearsals watch, meetings with local artists) will be organised for the attendees during the course of the weekend.

To enrol, please send us an email with

  • your artistic CV
  • a cover letter in English. Please write “Simon Stephens 2022” as a subject line and send to info@lyrateatro.it by Friday April 1st

For attendees not living in Milan, we will be glad to assist in finding lodging at an affordable price.

The participation fee for the workshop is 200 Euros.

SIMON STEPHENS
Simon Stephens (Manchester, 1971) is one of today’s leading playwrights, with more than 30 plays written over the last 20 years. His works have been staged by the most prominent theatres in the UK, US, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany and Eastern Europe. Having taught at the Young Writers Program of the Royal Court (2001-2005), he is now Artistic Associate at the Lyric Hammersmith in London. His adaptation of Mark Haddon’s novel “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” won the Oliver and Tony Awards for Best New Play. In 2018 his new play “Light falls” premiered at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. In 2020 he adapted the novel “Blindess” by Saramago for a sound installation now touring the world.
He is Professor of Scriptwriting at the Manchester Metropolitan University since 2017.

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