Screenwriting and Playwriting Retreat to Return to English Estate for Second Annual Session

Born from a shared love of storytelling and a vision to create a truly transformative experience, Ignite the Spark Retreats is the brainchild of two accomplished screenwriters/filmmakers, Robin Bradford and John Strong. The pair met at a writing retreat and were inspired to take the best of that experience and elevate it, envisioning a retreat where creativity would flourish, ideas would take shape, and meaningful connections would be nourished.

Ignite the Sparks Retreats is delighted to announce its second annual retreat at the beautiful Weston Park. This thousand-acre private estate is located in Weston-under-Lizard, about 110 miles north of London. The retreat will take place from October 8 – 14, 2026. Registration is currently available at ignitethesparkretreats.com/2026-retreat.

Following the tremendous success of last October’s debut retreat at the Dunskey Estate in Scotland, 50% of participants have already re-enrolled for this upcoming session.

“We are so excited to welcome back many of last year’s attendees, and many new attendees as well,” says co-founder John Strong. “Ignite the Spark is a completely unique experience with the power to transform the lives and careers of our participants. From the access to incredible mentors, to the beautiful estate, to the community building, every aspect of the retreat is in service to the writers who join us.”

“Our 2025 attendees maintain their own group chat, with some continuing to meet in-person,” adds co-founder Robin Bradford. “They are still collaborating and sharing their input, organizing their own Zooms to continue the connection. We can’t wait to build the momentum further this October.”

Ignite the Spark Retreats is perfect for seasoned writers tired of writing endless drafts of scripts that never seem to go anywhere, for beginners who needs to stop thinking about writing and find the inspiration and knowledge to actually start writing today, and for everyone in-between.

“The majority of the 50,000+ screenplays registered each year are never developed because they go astray in the concept and development stage,” explains Strong. “At our retreat, talented industry professionals will help our participants with a script they’ve already begun, or help them to create the building blocks of a great screenplay from the ground up. And they’ll still have plenty of time to write and relax with other creatives at a spectacular property.”

Screenwriting, distinct from other forms of writing, is an inherently collaborative art form. Unlike novelists who answer solely to readers, screenwriters create for a diverse array of colleagues—directors, actors, cinematographers, and editors—each bringing their own interpretation to the material. This unique aspect of the craft necessitates specialized training to successfully engage with all these creative players.

“Writing a film demands significant time, energy, and resources," explains Bradford. "This means involving many different individuals. Mastering all these components is a challenge that takes time and dedication.”

This philosophy directly influences the retreat's curriculum, which includes insights on how actors evaluate scripts and what they seek in roles. Strong adds that writers of all experience levels are often astonished at how their approach to dialogue and character develops as they discover the specific needs of performers.

“Are you providing enough for them to work with?" Strong asks, referring to a concept shared by one of the mentors in the program. “Do the characters have a clear journey? Are there transformative moments?”

In addition, the retreat will explore emerging formats that present fresh opportunities for screenwriters, like vertical filmmaking—short, episodic content curated for mobile viewing. This format is an increasingly viable option for writers eager to pursue independent projects without the constraints of traditional studio development.

The October program features daily craft sessions led by mentors with experience from Hollywood and London’s West End, along with flexible afternoon writing hours and one-on-one meetings available with the full mentorship team. Unlike some programs that assign a single advisor to each participant, every registrant can connect with all mentors. A table read segment, where professional actors perform scenes written by participants, is also included in the program, and is being enhanced this year to incorporate improvisational activities.

“Hearing the words in your mind or reading them on the page is very different from having them articulated by a professional,” Bradford notes. “It can lead you in a new direction or reinforce what you are already doing.”

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Mentorship: Engaging morning lectures and interactive afternoon workshops by caring, experienced mentors, including one-on-one time.
   
• Time with Actors: Share meals, work out your scenes using improvisation, and have your work read in front of the group by professional actors.
   
• Accommodations: 6 nights in first-class private bedrooms at a historic English country estate. Will your spouse/partner be jealous? Then bring them along! (Special couples pricing available.)
   
• Meals: Fresh & delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners made with locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. (Dietary restrictions considered.)
   
• Daytime Activities: Afternoon walks through the estate’s parkland and formal gardens, relaxed picnics, and unstructured time for writing, reflection, or exploring the grounds on your own. Optional paid experiences may be available.
   
• Evening Activities: Film screening with critical discussion, art gallery, billiards, gin tasting (optional), send-off party and more…

The rigorous nature of this retreat requires that all participants are ready to offer, and to accept, sincere feedback. Creating that environment begins well before anyone arrives at the estate. Bradford and Strong evaluate applicants individually before confirming registrations, a process they consider crucial for establishing the trust necessary for candid creative input.

"We didn’t create this program just to make people feel good and give them a pat on the back," Bradford states. "We aim for individuals to learn and develop."

Weston Park, which is owned and maintained by a charitable foundation, will only be accessible to the retreat group during the event. The estate features a maze, formal gardens, woodland walks, and roughly thirty private guest rooms. Similar to last year’s retreat in Scotland, every meal includes a fine dining experience. Following the retreat, Strong and Bradford will lead an optional extension that will take participants to London for a few days of West End theatre.

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