A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods. Apart from the larger factories, workshops were the only places of production in the days before industrialisation. In transport industries, workshops can be distinguished from garages, which are primarily used for storage, servicing and minor repairs. Workshops are generally used for more substantial repairs on vehicles. A workshop is also a gathering or training session which may be several days in length. It emphasizes problem-solving, hands-on training, and requires the involvement of the participants. Often Symposium, a lecture or a meeting can become a workshop when it is accompanied by a practical demonstration. A workshop in theater is a part of the creative process of playwriting when a playwright first hears actors read his/her play followed by a period of criticism. The word is sometimes used as a verb in this context. Theatrical workshops are often closed to the public and are funded by either the playwright or by a sponsor, such as a theater company. Compensation to the actors is typically food and/or payment. The next step in play development is typically a rewriting followed by a public reading, but this may be skipped and entered into rehearsal if it is felt a public reading is unnecessary. A writers workshop is a meeting of writers, for the purpose of honing their craft and possible networking. Specific topics may be discussed (such as technique, or marketing written works), and new works may be presented for critiquing by peers, or more experienced persons.
