As screen time evolved, the theater began to feel like an ancient reference. Only a few still appreciate watching a true stage play in this digital age, and I mean a theatrical masterpiece, not the rushed stage plays that lack the crucial elements of theatre.
This leaves me wondering: what happened to the indigenous theater that used to captivate us before Netflix, YouTube, and the rise of streaming giants?
Well, it didn't actually die. I think we simply failed to pass its standard down well enough to this generation.
There is a strict industry standard for writing play scripts, yet the major focus has shifted almost entirely to screenwriting. Everywhere I turn, fewer people are talking about playwriting. If you tell someone, "I'm a playwright" today, it is often treated like a distant, background craft compared to screenwriting. Yet, we still have literary giants in Africa like Professor Wole Soyinka, whose powerful stage works continue to echo across the globe.
Attached to this post are two screenshots of typical, industry-standard play scripts. Personally, each time I read a good play script, it takes me back to where the magic of storytelling began. The raw realism, presence, and creativity involved in live stage plays cannot be overemphasized.
Even as a screenwriter, I still write play scripts for organizations, churches, ministries, and schools. While I sometimes lean away from the strict industry standard for clients who aren't familiar with it, it is always beautiful to see a standard play script that has everything it takes to get a stage actor ready for a breathtaking performance.
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Are you a scriptwriter? Even as you master screenwriting, do not neglect the foundational art of playwriting.
I would love to hear from you.
As a writer, which do you prefer? Playwriting or Screenwriting? Let's discuss in the comments! 👇
© TOLU ELIZABETH (DIVINE MUSE)
Screenwriter, Collaborative Storyteller, Ghostwriter, and Poet
I turn raw concepts into polished, production-ready scripts and compelling stories.
Contact me today; let's turn your ideas into a working masterpiece.
📞 +2348068277020 divinemuseinksandscripts97@gmail.com
NOTE: Picture were AI generated and the contact or name are not real.
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