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
Upcoming Events
Feb 23 dn café - February
Disabling Dramaturgy & Opening Performance
Host: Mark Swetz
Guests: Luke Pell & Carissa Hope Lynch
Date: Thursday, 23 February
Time: 5.30 pm - 7.30 pm
Venue: Central School of Speech and Drama
62-64 Eton Avenue, London NW3 3HY
(nearest tube: Swiss Cottage)
The event is FREE.
Limited availability: 20 places only!
If you would like to attend the event, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with ‘February Café’ in the subject line.
First come, first served.
Mark Swetz is a director, dramaturg, producer and educator based in London. He is the co-director of Compañía Y in Madrid and London (http://www.yeca.org). His AHRC funded, practice based research at the Central School of Speech and Drama is on Blind Spectatorship. Mark has collaborated on over fifty original works for the stage and other media and most enjoys collaborative performance creation and new work. His professional credits include work at the American Conservatory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Theatre Artaud and Shotgun Players in the US, Círculo Bellas Artes, Teatro Pradillo and Sala Mirador in Spain, the Olympia, Project Arts and Andrew’s Lane in Ireland and Camden People’s Theatre, Tristan Bates, Pleasance and the White Bear in the UK. He has taught at university level in China, Spain, the UK and the US and has facilitated classes and workshops throughout Europe.
What is the d’n café?
The DN Café is a monthly open forum discussion and professional development event organised by the Dramaturgs’ Network.
What is new at the d’n café in 2012?
From 2012 on the Café is becoming more closely allied with the work of the Dramaturgs’ Network itself, hence the name change. This year’s Cafés will encompass a new, broader area of dramaturgy, rather than focusing solely on new dramaturgy.
From time to time, however, we’ll stop being ‘talking heads’ and instead of a discussion, we’ll learn about dramaturgy through workshops. The first workshop in 2012 is planned to be held in May.
From March onwards the events will be ticketed at £3 but will be free for DN members.
This year’s d’n café team is: Roe Lane, Yolanda Ferrato, Amanda Fromell, Eva Daníčková and Katalin Trencsényi.
The Cafés will still be a place for networking, and are open to professionals as well as anybody else with an interest in dramaturgy.
How does it work?
The network offers dramaturgs the opportunity to address and discuss various hot topics or key concerns with other fellow performance practitioners and researchers. Each month, part of the evening will involve a guest speaker facilitating a group discussion around a previously chosen theme within the framework of dramaturgy.
Who is it for?
The d’n café is open to all professional and student practitioners who are interested to take part in discussions surrounding dramaturgical practices. It is also open for directors, choreographers, designers and academics who would like to engage in discussions on dramaturgy. We also welcome professionals who are looking for dramaturgs for their projects.
Do I need to RSVP?
There is a limited number of seats available, therefore it is essential to RSVP if you would like to attend.
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 PM in Home |
