Kenneth Tynan Award
KENNETH TYNAN AWARD FOR DRAMATURGY
The Dramaturgs’ Network is proud to launch the first award in the United Kingdom recognising excellence in the field of dramaturgy, named after the first British literary manager/ dramaturg, Kenneth Tynan.
This annual award is to be given to one outstanding theatre professional working in the field of dramaturgy, residing in the UK.
Nominations for the award can be made by Dramaturgs’ Network members only. The recipient will be chosen from the received nominations by the Award Panel (the panel includes Tracy Tynan, costume designer and Kenneth Tynan’s daughter).
The inaugural award ceremony was held as part of the DN10 Anniversary celebrations on Sunday 16th October 2011, at Southwark Playhouse, London.
The Kenneth Tynan Award recognises excellence in the field of dramaturgy. This annual award, recognises those professionals whose dramaturgical work has led to great achievements in theatre and/or dance. This includes, but is not limited to people who have:
· Discovered new talent or noteworthy writing.
· Helped a director to develop, fine tune and realise his/her concept.
· Helped a company to shape a new production.
· Matched the right play with the right translator.
· Curated a notable festival.
· Helped raise the standard of theatre and/or dance in the United Kingdom.
The Kenneth Tynan Award celebrates their work, and acknowledges the contribution these unheralded professionals have made. Every year the award will be presented to one theatre (or dance) professional in the United Kingdom, who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of dramaturgy (regardless of his/her job title). Applicants for the award are nominated by Dramaturgs’ Network members, and the winner will be chosen by the Kenneth Tynan Award Panel.
The winner of the award receives a certificate and a sum of £250.
(Photography: Julian Lloyd)
Posted by David S at 02:00 in Kenneth Tynan Award
Conference Reports
In this section we publish the reports from conferences run by The Dramaturgs’ Network, starting with the Pro-Sessional conference which took place at the SOHO Theatre in November 2007.
PRO-SESSIONAL , November 2007
Posted by Hanna at 10:44 in Conference Reports
Articles
In order for it to be easier to browse the articles which we have published through our newsletter we have separated out the most interesting ones.
They cover many different topics but as we are a network focussing on theatre practice most of the articles are reflecting on different types of practice in which the dramaturg is engaged.We are always interested to hear your thoughts on existing articles and if you have something you would like to submit to the website please contact us on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted by Hanna at 17:03 in Articles
Resources
This is one of the most exciting parts of the website and we hope it will continue to grow.
Here you can find The dramaturgs’network Tool Kit for directors working with a dramaturg for the first time, a booklist with recommended readings, a list of courses and other resources for working dramaturgs.We have taken the decision to share our knowledge and resources openly and welcome anyone else who would like to recommend or produce material which can be helpful to colleagues and students of dramaturgy.
Posted by Hanna at 16:21 in Resources
UK Dramaturgs
In this section we will focus on the specific information for those who wish to enter the profession, those who want to employ a dramaturg and those who are practitioners.
We have put together a list of suggested fees for the services of a dramaturg, provided a sample contract and a list of what UK dramaturgs might do as well as a list of courses which has some elements of dramaturgy within the curriculum.There may be further information and arguments about the role and practice of the dramaturg in the UK within some of the articles which you can find elsewhere on this site.
There is also some advice on how to contact a dramaturg through the network.
Posted by Hanna at 16:11 in UK Dramaturgs
Dramaturgy
We are often asked to define the role of the dramaturg and dramaturgy. Here we have gathered several different definitions from ourselves and other organisations.
Please feel free to contribute to this continual exploration!
Posted by Hanna at 15:52 in Dramaturgy
About the network
dramaturgs’network
The Dramaturgs’ Network is an organisation for UK theatre practitioners committed to developing dramaturgy and supporting practitioners’ development in the field. We are an informal network run by volunteer members of professionals committed to the role of the dramaturg being a production-based activity as well as a literary role in the UK.
We aim to provide support for theatre practitioners functioning in the role of dramaturg and literary manager and to share ideas, knowledge and resources. We explore and promote the role, function and contributions by dramaturgs and literary managers through practice, debate and collaborations.
Below you can find out more about the organisation, its members and how to join.
Posted by Hanna at 15:42 in dramaturgs'network
Welcome to the Dramaturgs’ Network’s website!
Welcome to the home of the Dramaturgs’ Network where you can find out about who we are and what dramaturgs do. You can also look at our upcoming events, find resources for your work or research and much more!
The Dramaturgs’ Network is an organisation for UK theatre practitioners committed to developing dramaturgy and supporting practitioners’ development in the field.
Founded in 2001, it is a volunteer arts organisation created to share ideas, knowledge, resources and skills in current dramaturgical practices.
The network aims to provide support for theatre makers functioning in the role of dramaturg and/or literary manager, and educational professionals involved in dramaturgical practice.
NOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome to the DN as we embark on our second decade!
We have ten years behind us, when we have made new friends, shared valuable experiences and achieved notable successes. From this ten year’s work an organisation has grown, which is friendly yet professional, and is acknowledged and supported by the theatre profession and other cultural organisations. We would like to build on this in the future.
The anniversary year celebrations (including 17 events organised by us!) are over, it’s back to our day to day work now. Our longer term plan is to solidify the DN financially, and carry on with the good work. We would like to deepen our relationships with some of our supporters as well as find new friends. As always, our work tries to respond to the needs of the profession.
The plan for 2012 is to carry on with our events – we are planning to have 12 this year. Alongside the discussions there are workshops planned as well. You can find out about them below.
In the autumn we are going to hold our second Kenneth Tynan Award – don’t forget to nominate a colleague this year!
Besides the regular events, two projects are going to stretch through this year (and next): the Methuen book project on new dramaturgy (in which 25 DN members are involved!), and a Best Practice project, to be launched by Hanna Slättne later this year.
We don’t want to be London-centric, and would love to see more events happening regionally, under the DN’s umbrella. These events have to be member initiated and organised. To enable DN members to do this, we have set out some guidelines. Please read the Action Group Guidelines document on our website, and get in touch with us, if you have a plan for a dramaturgy-related project to organise.
The driving force behind the DN is its members and their support. In these financially difficult times we rely on you even more. We are grateful for those who helped us last year, and hope that this year (one way or another) all of us are going to contribute to the going and growing of the DN.
In April we are planning to celebrate Kenneth Tynan’s birthday with a fundraising event. On 2nd April he would have been 85 years old, and an anniversary is always a great occasion to make delicious cakes. So we ask every DN member here and abroad to put down the fountain pen/iPad etc. the weekend before, take out your aprons and rolling pins, and let the Tynan Anniversary Bake fundraiser begin! Make your favourite cake, pie or biscuit, create an irresistible treat, and sell them to your friends, colleagues and neighbours. All money raised will be spent on the Kenneth Tynan Award 2012 – so you are helping us to put a big smile on this year’s award winner’s face.
In exchange for your support we have decided to increase the services that are available to DN members only. If things go according to plan with our website redevelopment, we would like to have members’ only pages there with information that can be helpful for your work or research. (Our longer term plan is to feature your CVs on our website.) Moreover, our events are going to be either free for DN members or you are going to have a concession.
We would love to hear from you: news about work, projects are always of interest to us. (You can contact us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address))
We hope that 2012 will bring you interesting projects, worth sharing and remembering!
I look forward to working with you this year,
Katalin Trencsényi
Posted by David S at 12:12 in Home
Navigate this site
How to find your way through this site:
dramaturgs’network - Information about the network, how to contact our members if you need a dramaturg and how to become a member.
Kenneth Tynan Award - Information about the Kenneth Tynan Award, Kenneth Tynan and the award nominations and announcements
Dramaturgy - Definitions of dramaturgy and the role of the dramaturg and other related information.
UK Dramaturgs - Information about studying or working as a dramaturg in the UK.
Conference Reports - Reports and images from Pro-Sessional 2007
Resources - Recommendations, contracts and recommended fees for dramaturgyservices.
Articles- Browse articles on dramaturgy and theatre practice.
Newsletters - Full newsletters in chronological order.
Links - To other sites and organisations of interest.
This site is interactive in several ways: you can add your comment after articles and some other posts and we have a discussion forum which is open to all. If you are a member of the network you can also communicate with other members through the forum.
If you have any problems finding your way through this site please let us know. Dramaturg the dramaturgs!
Posted by David S at 12:11 in Home
The Dramaturgs’ Network’s Newsletter
We have sent out our newsletter since 2002. It contains news and articles and also functions as a chronicle over the network’s activities and growth.
We aim to produce it quarterly but with our other work committments that can sometimes be difficult.
We keep the back issues here in pdf format but you can also browse some of the articles individually under the link articlesIf you would like to recieve our news letter please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
If you would like to send an article to be considered for inclusion please send it to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)The Editors
Posted by Hanna at 17:12 in Newsletters
Action Group Guidelines
The members of the Dramaturgs’ Network can organise events and create resources by working together in an Action Group.
The Dramaturgs’ Cafe is an example of a series of events organised by an Action Group. The Best Practice document is an example of a resource which was developed by an Action Group.
To find out more click on this link or download the document: How To Organise A Network Event
Organising a Network Event
Posted by Hanna S at 21:52 in dramaturgs'network
The Dramaturgy Papers
In this section you can find the speeches made by the presenter(s) and the winner(s) of the Kenneth Tynan Award. With this we want to establish the tradition of the “dramaturgy papers”.
Michael Billington’s Speech on Kenneth Tynan
Posted by David S at 11:27 in Kenneth Tynan Award, Dramaturgy papers
Kenneth Tynan Award 2011 Winner
LLOYD TROTT WINS THE INAUGURAL KENNETH TYNAN AWARD.
The Kenneth Tynan Award is the first award for dramaturgy in the United Kingdom. The award has been established to recognise the achievements of a profession that has been instrumental to the success of British theatre: that of the dramaturg, or literary manager.
The award was presented on Sunday, 16th October at 6pm at Southwark Playhouse as part of DN10, the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Dramaturgs’ Network. Michael Billington, theatre critic for The Guardian, presented the inaugural Kenneth Tynan award.
Acknowledging the excellence of their work in the field of dramaturgy the nominees for the inaugural award were: Ruth Little, Lloyd Trott and Katalin Trencsényi.
Ruth Little was nominated as a dramaturg who is “an inspiration to all theatre practitioners” and whose “quality of her insight and work is something to aspire to”.
Lloyd Trott was nominated for his “lifetime achievement and service to dramaturgy”.
Katalin Trencsényi was nominated for her “dedicated and tenacious leadership of the Dramaturgs’ Network”.
The winner of the Kenneth Tynan Award in 2011 for his “lifetime achievement and service to dramaturgy” is Lloyd Trott.
Congratulations!
Posted by David S at 12:16 in Kenneth Tynan Award
Kenneth Tynan Award 2012 Nominations
Nominations can be made by Dramaturgs’ Network members only. Each member can nominate one person only (excluding himself or herself).
Nominees can be theatre professionals working and residing in the United Kingdom (regardless of their job title).
Nominations can only be made in a written (typed) format, showing the name and contact details of the nominator, the name of the nominee and a brief description (max. one A4 size page) describing the nominee’s work, his/her contribution to the field of dramaturgy, and an explanation as to why the nominee deserves this award.
Please send your nominations to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The deadline for nominations for the 2012 Kenneth Tynan Award is Friday, 28th September 2012, 6pm BST.
Do you find a colleague’s work inspiring? Did you hear about somebody’s great project in the field of dramaturgy? Nominate him/her now!
We look forward to receiving of your nominations!
Posted by Hanna S at 20:31 in Kenneth Tynan Award
About Kenneth Tynan
The award is named after Kenneth Tynan (1927 – 1980), who was the first literary manager/dramaturg in the United Kingdom.
In 1963, giving up his role as a critic for The Observer, Kenneth Tynan joined Laurence Olivier at the National Theatre, as the theatre’s first literary manager. With this move the profession of the dramaturg was born in the United Kingdom.
“His appointment challenged traditional British management structures assigning artistic and managerial responsibility to actor-managers, and in post Tynan provided a model of literary management that continues to be appropriated and refashioned by theatre companies throughout the United Kingdom. (…) his impact on the theatre industry itself has been extraordinary.”
(Mary Luckhurst: Dramaturgy: A Revolution in Theatre, Cambridge University Press, 2006)
Tynan worked as a literary manager for the National Theatre for a decade (1963 – 1974). Following the dictum that a national theatre should deliver “a spectrum of world theatre” Tynan focused on “‘reviving classical drama, introducing foreign plays, presenting new plays, looking after recent plays of merit which otherwise might rust in oblivion” (Tom Stoppard) Also Tynan was not afraid to put “his own taste on the line, matchmaking between text and director and between author and muse.” (Tom Stoppard) He worked tirelessly in the rehearsal room, advised on programming, contributed to the development of new plays (Stoppard’s Jumpers for instance). He pushed Olivier into more adventurous selections, and persuaded him to play the title role in Shakespeare’s Othello (something the actor had always been reluctant to do, yet the role later earned him a great success). His work was central to the hight reputation of the National Theatre.
“The variety of the repertoire and the experimentation in its playing in these early years at the National owed a great deal to Tynan’s catholic tastes and his influence on Olivier: amongst many other achievements Tynan commissioned Robert Graves’ brilliant adaptation of Much Ado about Nothing for Franco Zeffirelli’s 1965 production and brought Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead from the fringe of the 1966 Edinburgh Festival to the stage of the National Theatre.”
(Source: the National Theatre’s website:
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/8843/history-of-the-nt/kenneth-tynan.html)
Tynan recognized the importance of clearly communicating the theatre’s artistic vision to the outside world. He played a huge role in “destroying the old system of censorship, formal and informal” as well as breaking down linguistic inhibitions on the stage and in print”. (Source: Paul Johnson: Intellectuals, 1988)
Clearly Tynan’s commitment and passion paid off. During his 10-year tenure at the National Theatre of the 79 plays that were staged, more than half were undisputed critical and box office hits. Thirty two of these were Tynan’s ideas; 20 were chosen with his collaboration.
Tynan’s work as a dramaturg was invaluable, and as such, he made an immeasurable contribution to British theatre.
Posted by Hanna S at 20:29 in Kenneth Tynan Award
