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
Links
This is a list of other websites with information about dramaturgy.
If you think an important and reliable site is missing, we would love to hear from you.
You can contact us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted by Hanna at 20:41 in Links
Director’s Toolkit
Working with a dramaturg: a director’s toolkit
We have put together a brief toolkit for directors or producers who are about to embark on their first collaboration with a dramaturg.
It includes tips put together from the experience of both directors and dramaturgs and is hopefully helpful in how to set up the collaboration and how to get the most out of working with a dramaturg.
We welcome your own tips, experiences and suggestions.
Working with a Dramaturg - a Director’s Toolkit
By Frauke Franz, John Keefe, Hanna Slättne and Katalin Trencsényi
This document is put together to help directors and companies who would like to involve a dramaturg in their production processes for the first time and who are not sure where to start,
and how to get the best out of the collaboration.
The document is based on the experiences of professional dramaturgs and directors. We hope it will help you enjoy an exciting and inspiring process, whilst avoiding some common difficulties
inevitable when entering into a new type of working relationship.
Every collaboration is different and nothing can nor should be set in stone. What follows is an outline of ideas and suggestions of processes for the collaboration of dramaturg and director. We would really enjoy hearing your feedback on how we can improve it for the future.
Posted by Hanna at 14:56 in Resources
Our Aims
The aims of the network and a brief summary of how we work towards them.
The Dramaturgs’ Network has four broad aims which direct our activities:
Aim 1 - To provide a network of support, shared ideas, knowledge and resources for British theatre practitioners functioning in the roles of dramaturg, literary managers or educational professionals involved in dramaturgical practices.
Aim 2 – To explore the role, function and contributions of dramaturgs in the theatre process through practice, debate and collaborations.
Aim 3 – To cultivate, develop and disseminate current dramaturgical practices.
Aim 4 - To promote collaborative work practices involving dramaturgs by providing support and information to theatre practitioners and organisations engaging dramaturgs.
Posted by Hanna at 12:18 in dramaturgs'network
Contact us
Here you will find information on how to contact us about:
- Membership
- Events
- If you need a dramaturg
- Any questions
Posted by Hanna at 12:16 in dramaturgs'network
Books on dramaturgy and the dramaturg
Booklist; books on dramaturgy and the role of the dramaturg
This book list is compiled through recommendations from our members.
Please feel free to recommend other books through the comment function and we can keep adding to the list.
Posted by Hanna at 11:10 in Resources
The dramaturg in British theatre
Thoughts on the dramaturg in British theatre
prepared for the symposium on the 18th of March
by Ben Payne
First of all, an apology. I should have been with you in person today. Clare Pamment from the Dramaturgy Network has asked me to say a few things about the network and, I think, about how the dramaturg can be a force for change. I hope these thoughts are of interest to you and helpful to how you think about the network. The first thing I want to say about the network is that it is much needed and long overdue. So three cheers for you for setting it up. Long may it prosper.
You may have discovered that if you tell Europeans that you are a dramaturg they usually know what you are talking about. Edifyingly, they sometimes even have the good grace to look impressed. Tell someone from this country that this is what you are and you are more likely to be greeted with puzzled looks, mild derision or the question “fine, but what’s your real job?” Of course, it beats immediately being dragged outside and strung up from the nearest lamp-post but as, any patriot with a shaky grasp of British history will tell you, we don’t do things like that in this country anyway ...”
Posted by Hanna at 18:48 in Articles
The Dramaturgs’ Network Inaugural Symposium 2002
REPORT FROM THE NETWORK’S INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM ON 18 MARCH 2002 AT THE ALBERY THEATRE, LONDON
by David Lane
Welcome to the first Dramaturgs Network newsletter. As many of you know, our first symposium was held recently at the Albery Theatre in London, attended by a wide range of professional representatives from theatres and creative organisations from London and beyond. The symposium was intended to be not only a forum for a debate concerning the dramaturg’s role in the theatre making process but also a chance for the Network to receive constructive feedback from our future collaborators and members. It was a rare opportunity to gather dramaturgs, academics, directors, writers and literary managers together to share their opinions on dramaturgy in an intellectually stimulating environment.
Posted by Hanna at 18:17 in Conference Reports
