Welcome to our Introduction to Monologues workshop. This workshop was written by creative practitioner and Old Vic Education Associate mezze eade. Over the course of this workshop, you will explore what a monologue is, how to find a stimulus for your monologue and you’ll have a go at writing and performing a monologue of your own. Before you begin, you’ll need a pen and paper or a computer to make notes through the workshop.

The workshop is broken down into sections so you can complete it in your own time and at your own pace. If you get stuck and need any assistance you can contact us at education@oldvictheatre.com. Remember, this workshop isn’t about getting things right – it’s about your artistic ideas. Good luck, and have fun.

A monologue can happen within a play but can also be a play in itself. A monologue is performed by one person or a single voice and is usually written in first person present tense. In a monologue, the character is communicating to someone and:

• the listener might be visible, invisible, or could be the audience.
• there is a necessity or urgency for the character to share a piece or pieces of information.
• the character may or may not be aware of this need to reveal the information.