PlayPEN Live online courses

DEFINITELY NOTHING DEFINITIVE

5 Potentially Useful Concepts for Writing a Play with Nicolas Billon

Application deadline: November 11. Sign up now, before it's too late.

Ask ten playwrights, “How do you write a play?” and you’ll get ten different answers. My answer? I don’t have a clue. What I do have are 5 playwriting concepts that have served me well over the years.

Sign up No fee or commitment until your spot is confirmed.
Nicolas Billon, PlayPEN instructor
Nicolas Billon Your instructor
Admit one $325 fee for participants
Dates
November 23 – December 21, 2026Mondays November 23 - December 21, 2026 (5 sessions)
Time
7:30–10:00 PM ETMondays · 5 live sessions
Where
Live online, on ZoomJoin from anywhere
Group
Small and focusedMax 12 writers

Subsidized spots are available. Email breanne@expect.org to inquire.

01 About the course

Ask ten playwrights, “How do you write a play?” and you’ll get ten different answers. Why? Theatre’s been around for (literally) ages! Film and TV writers have oodles of how-to books and formulas they can just plug their story beats into, right? Get your hero to embark on a journey to save a cat or something?

What’s the equivalent for writing a play?

I don’t have a clue.

What I do have are 5 playwriting concepts that have served me well over the years. I’ll share them in this course with the hope they’ll resonate with you and be of service to your own writing process. 

Each class will involve a mix of theory, examples, and hands-on exercises. There will also be (optional) homework.

An intensely worthwhile and practical approach to playwriting offered by a renowned playwright.

Past Participant

02 Meet Nicolas

Nic’s literary vocation surfaced at the age of six, when he wrote and illustrated a story on index cards about a rampaging robot. He stapled the cards together and sold “Le Robot” to his mother for a tidy profit.

Today, his work is known for its challenging subject matter blended with humour, twists, and deep humanism.

The Elephant Song, Nic’s first play, premiered at the Stratford Festival in 2004; it has since been produced around the world and was made into a feature film in 2014. Several of his other plays, most notably Iceland and Butcher, have had major productions across Canada and internationally; his most recent, The Neighbours, was a critical and audience hit at Tarragon this past season.

Accolades include a Governor-General’s Award for Drama, a Canadian Screen Award, a Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award, and two Dora Awards.

03 How it works

We keep every course small so everyone gets real attention. That means we can't always fit everyone who's keen, and Nicolas helps us shape a group of writers who'll get the most out of these weeks together. Here's the whole process.

  1. 1

    Sign up

    Name, email, phone. That's it. No essays, no fee, no commitment.

  2. 2

    We say hello

    Within a couple of minutes we'll email you and ask for a short writing sample and a little about your writing and experience.

  3. 3

    Confirm and go

    If it's a fit, we confirm your spot and follow up with more details and payment information. If we can't fit you this round, you'll hear first about the next one. And of course, there's no fee to pay unless you're offered a spot.

Sign up

Sign up for Nicolas Billon's course

Thirty seconds, four fields. No fee and no commitment right now. We just need to know you're interested.

Signing up puts your name on the list for DEFINITELY NOTHING DEFINITIVE: 5 Potentially Useful Concepts for Writing a Play with Nicolas Billon, Mondays November 23 - December 21, 2026 (5 sessions), 7:30–10:00 PM ET. Fee for participants: $325, payable only once your spot is confirmed.

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