This dissertation is an exploration of the nature of playwriting, supported by an original full-length play. Researching playwriting can be problematic, as it is a balance between creativity and discipline, the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. Within the dissertation, we begin to understand which elements of playwriting theory are indispensable and which elements can be toyed with by the writer to create an original piece of work. Great value is placed on well-constructed premise and the development of character and dialogue in order to further plot. The play itself is a comedy set in a small town in North Yorkshire and examines family dynamics and shifting statuses within a family nucleus, centring round a major moral dilemma.