Writers’ retreat returns following strong debut turnout in Scotland
Ignite the Spark Retreats, a screenwriting and playwright development program founded by filmmakers and writers Robin Bradford and John Strong, will hold its second annual retreat from Oct. 8 to 14, 2026, at Weston Park, a private estate in England.
The week-long program will take place at the 1,000-acre Weston Park estate in Weston-under-Lizard, located roughly 110 miles north of London. Organizers said registration for the retreat is now open through the company’s website.
The event follows the inaugural retreat held in October 2025 at Scotland’s Dunskey Estate, which organizers described as a strong success. According to Ignite the Spark Retreats, half of the previous participants have already registered for the 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.”
The retreat was created after Bradford and Strong met at a writing retreat and decided to develop a program that combined professional mentorship, creative collaboration, and immersive experiences in a secluded setting designed for writers.
Focus on collaboration and industry mentorship
The retreat is aimed at both emerging and experienced writers seeking guidance in screenplay development, an area organizers say often prevents projects from advancing beyond the early stages.
“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.”
Programming will include daily craft sessions led by mentors with experience in Hollywood and London’s West End theatre scene, along with workshops, flexible writing periods, and one-on-one meetings. Organizers said participants will have access to all mentors involved in the program, rather than being assigned a single advisor.
The curriculum also reflects the collaborative nature of screenwriting, with sessions focused on how actors interpret scripts and approach character development.
“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.”
Strong said many writers discover new approaches to dialogue and character work when they better understand performers’ expectations.
“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?”
The retreat will also examine emerging storytelling formats, including vertical filmmaking designed for mobile audiences. Organizers said the format offers independent writers additional opportunities outside the traditional studio system.
Actors, workshops and immersive creative environment
One of the program’s central features is its table read segment, during which professional actors perform scenes written by participants. The 2026 edition will expand the exercise by adding improvisational activities designed to help writers refine dialogue and character interactions.
“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.”
Beyond workshops and writing sessions, participants will stay for six nights in private rooms at the historic estate. The program includes meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients, estate walks, screenings, discussions, and optional evening activities such as gin tastings and billiards.
Bradford said the retreat’s structure is intentionally designed to encourage constructive feedback and long-term collaboration among participants.
“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.”
Organizers said applicants are individually evaluated before being accepted into the program, a process they believe is necessary to establish a productive creative environment.
“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, owned and maintained by a charitable foundation, will be reserved exclusively for retreat attendees during the event. The estate includes formal gardens, woodland paths, a maze, and approximately 30 private guest rooms.
Following the retreat, Bradford and Strong will also offer an optional extension trip to London, where participants can attend West End theatre productions and continue networking with fellow writers.