Date/Time
Date(s) - Monday 16 Nov - Saturday 21 Nov, 2026
All Day
Location
Moniack Mhor, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire, IV4 7HT
Create characters and stories to listen to
This is an exciting course designed for those who want to focus on writing audio dramas with well developed characters and stories. Sebastian and Sarah will guide you through some practical tips to help you create a character from scratch and set them into a well-structured story. We will examine some of the common stumbling blocks that can stand in the way of creating original work. Over the week, we will also work together to create a short audio drama.
If you want to truly immerse yourself in creating a character for audio, you can also attend Sebastian’s online masterclass ahead of this course. Both can be taken on their own or together for a deep dive into character development. If you are interested in attending both this residential course and the online Masterclass, get in touch with us at info@moniackmhor.org.uk for a small discount off your residential place.
Tutors
Sebastian Baczkiewicz was the first writer in residence at the BBC and amongst his many original radio plays are the award-winning series Pilgrim, Elsinore and The 5000. Sebastian was also one of the core team of writers for the flagship series Home Front. He is currently under commission to write the original screenplay for Nelio Biedermann’s acclaimed novel Lazar.
Sarah Hehir writes for TV, radio and stage. She won the inaugural BBC Writer’s Prize with her radio drama Bang Up and now is a regular writer for the long-running soap The Archers. Audio commissions include Wild Garlic (South Downs National Park/Applause Rural Touring) and Ghost of the Sky (Outside It Is Beautiful). Her poetry has been selected for journals including Acumen, Bare Fiction and Confluence. Sarah’s plays on themes of social justice have been performed nationally and internationally: Child Z (Southwark Playhouse), Zero Down (Theatre503, Edinburgh Fringe), The Shadow Garden (Kosovo National Tour, 2023), Man or Bear (Edinburgh Fringe 2026).
Guest reader
Katie Hims’ stage work includes The Trial of Josie K (The Unicorn Theatre), Variations (National Theatre Connections) and Billy the Girl (Clean Break at Soho Theatre.) Katie was lead writer on the BBC Radio 4 series Home Front for five seasons. Other radio includes Black Eyed Girls (BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Original Drama), Lost Property (BBC Audio Drama Award for Best Original Drama) and Waterloo Station (Writer’s Guild Award Best Original Radio Drama.) She is currently developing an original television series for Poison Pen/ITV. She regularly writes for BBC Radio 4’s The Archers.
Fees
The full fee for this course is £745. This includes your accommodation in a single room with shared bathroom, all meals, hot drinks and snacks from Monday afternoon until Saturday morning, and your tuition. For more information about the format and practicalities of our courses, tutored courses, and retreats, please visit our About the Residential Courses & Retreats page.
A limited number of en-suite rooms are available, which can be booked in advance for a £50 surcharge. We will also reserve an en-suite room for anyone who may need it due to a medical condition. This will be offered out as an upgrade nearer the course start date if it is not needed.
A small single room with a skylight is available at a discounted price of £720. Please note this room does not have an ordinary window, only a small skylight.
Two non-residential places are available on this course at the price of £440. This includes all meals, hot drinks and snacks from Monday afternoon until Saturday morning, and your tuition. You will not be assigned a room, but you will be able to access communal spaces and evening events throughout the week. You will not be able to stay overnight at the Centre. Read our non-residential frequently asked questions for more information.
A deposit is required to secure your place, which is non-refundable after a 14-day cooling-off period. The remainder of the course fee is due six weeks before the course begins. Please read our Terms & Conditions for full details about our cancellation policy. If you would like to pay the full amount in advance, please email info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Bursaries are always available, and you also have the option to pay in instalments. If you have any problems paying online, or wish to discuss paying in instalments or applying for financial help, or would simply like assistance, please contact us by emailing info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Access
Please let us know in your booking form if you have any access requirements, for example a ground floor bedroom and/or access to a step-free accessible shower room. We also reserve one en-suite bedroom per course for anyone who may need this due to a medical condition.
We have a limited number of twin rooms available on site. If you need to book a twin room for access reasons, please book a standard single room and mention in the comments box that you will need a twin room.
For more information about access to our courses, please visit our Access page.
Terms and Conditions
Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking.