A Playwriting Masterclass with Gary Henderson
Within These Walls: Masterclasses at Shadbolt House
Writing in 3-D — From Idea to Stage
With Gary Henderson
Bring along an idea for a play — a character, a moment, a conflict — and explore how it might be shaped into a living, breathing piece of theatre. Henderson’s hands-on workshop will focus on discovering what makes your idea tick and bringing out its dramatic potential.
Event details
Date: Saturday, 14 March 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Ticket price: $30 / $25 (students, seniors, unwaged)
Series Offer: Book two workshops in the series for $55 ($45 concession)
You’ll need to bring writing gear - pen and paper, or device
Morning tea included. This is a small, in-person event. Numbers are strictly limited to ten.
Bookings: Please email tracey@goingwestfest.co.nz
Gary Henderson is an award-winning playwright, theatre director and teacher of writing for theatre based in Oratia, West Auckland. His plays have been produced widely in New Zealand and internationally, and he has worked with leading companies including Auckland Theatre Company, The Court Theatre, Taki Rua and Te Pou.
His recent work includes Things That Matter, commissioned and staged by Auckland Theatre Company in 2023. Alongside his own writing, Gary has mentored many emerging playwrights and continues to develop new work for the stage.
Gary's other plays include An Unseasonable Fall of Snow, Shepherd, Home Land, Peninsula, and Lines of Fire. Gary teaches a third-year undergraduate theatre writing course at Victoria University, and regularly develops projects for Unitec, South Seas Film School and Auckland University.
This workshop forms part of the Going West Festival’s 30th anniversary programme, marking Shadbolt House’s emergence as a writers’ residency and literary hub.
About Shadbolt House
Shadbolt House is the former home of Maurice Shadbolt and is currently being restored as a writers’ residency and literary hub in West Auckland. Within These Walls brings writers and readers together for conversations and craft workshops in an intimate setting.