One-act plays are short, usually 10-40 pages, and can be a great way for new playwrights to learn the basics of story and character building. They should have a unity of place, time, and action, and usually have four or fewer characters with a clear conflict. Avoid extended exposition and seek objective criticism. Examples of one-act plays can be found in the works of Moliere, Anton Chekov, David Ives, Horton Foote, and David Henry Hwang. The most important thing is to be passionate about the subject and write something you’re proud of.
A one-act play is usually between 10 and 40 pages long and is often called a “tenner” due to its short length. Writing one-act plays can be an excellent way for new playwrights to learn the basics of story and character building. While there are no set rules on how to write a one-act play, a few basic guidelines can help eliminate any confusing format or content issues and truly enable the writer to get their script right.
Traditional plays, and often one-act plays, sometimes conform to the units of drama discussed by the philosopher Aristotle. These guidelines suggest that a show should take place with a unity of place, time and action. In other words, plays should have a location, be set over a period no longer than one day, and have a central plot. These units are somewhat more useful for writing one-act plays, as the 10-40 minute running time won’t leave much room for set changes or sub-plots.
A one-act play will usually have four or fewer characters developed to varying degrees. Depending on the story you are trying to tell, there may be one or more main characters. In some short plays, the roles are equally balanced, in others, some roles may have only a few lines. Even if your game is short, you should have a clear idea of who your characters are, what they want, and how they’re going to try to get what they want.
Many experts believe that the most important element of any game is conflict. This doesn’t necessarily mean arguing or fighting. A man sad about throwing away his baby blanket is conflicted with himself. Similarly, two people trying to decide which sofa to buy is also a conflict. Conflicts are simply a contrast between wants or needs, but they are essential to bringing a scene and a performance to life.
Because a one-act play is so short, most experts recommend avoiding extended exposition. If the show is about Mary and John fighting in a restaurant, the audience doesn’t need to know where they were born, how many siblings they have, or any information unrelated to the show. That doesn’t mean the playwright can’t know these things, but valuable time can be wasted giving explanations or background on things that don’t affect the immediate outcome of the scene or situation.
Once you’ve written a one-act play and feel it’s in good shape, give it to a few trusted friends to read. Insist that they give you objective criticism. While it may be nice to know that you’re an excellent writer from your friends, it won’t help you as much as a good, solid critique. Encourage friends who write to try writing a one-act play. Evenings of one-act plays by several local playwrights are a great way to showcase your work.
You may want to read through examples of one-act plays to understand how they are written and what can be done with them, check out some in the genre you like. If you like classic literature, Moliere and Anton Chekov have both written extensive collections of one-act plays. David Ives is considered by many theater critics to be the greatest modern mind when it comes to one-act plays. For drama, you may want to look at the work of Horton Foote or David Henry Hwang.
The most important thing to remember when writing a one-act play is to be passionate about your subject. Playwriting isn’t the key to a millionaire lifestyle, and whether you’re a hobo for a career, it should be because it’s what you love to do. Ignore all other rules in favor of your one-act being something you’re proud to have written about.
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