British Comedy Guide

Writing characterful dialogue

Derry Girls. Image shows left to right: Michelle Mallon (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell), Erin Quinn (Saoirse-Monica Jackson). Credit: Hat Trick Productions

The vast majority of scripts contain dialogue. It's likely therefore that your (yes, you, reading this - your) script contains dialogue, too.

Now, of course, some actors are prone to ad libbing around, or paraphrasing, dialogue.

But the vast majority don't do this.

In almost all cases, what is written in the script is pretty much exactly what the performer will say.

It's crucial therefore that every character in your script speaks in a very specific way.

You should not be able to easily swap your characters' lines around - indeed, if you can do this, it means [i]your dialogue...

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Published: Friday 1st November 2024

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