DRAMATURGY
A common thread that links all of my work in theatre is dramaturgy. Whether it be artist development, directing or adapting - dramaturgy is at the heart of it all.
Dramaturgy is one of those terms that has many meanings and often gets misunderstood. So, for the sake of clarity, I view dramaturgy as the process of telling a story as effectively as possible on stage. It is about allowing the writer’s or maker’s story to be as clear and as truthful as possible.
As a dramaturg, I will be there to ask questions, to make observations and to gently challenging your work. This is all to help focus your ideas and fully understand the piece you are developing or rehearsing. My focus is always on helping you communicate your story as effectively as possible. In other words, my job is to help you write the play you want to write.
I offer a Writers Coaching Package for writers looking for a dramaturg to work with them on developing their play.
I am also available as a dramaturg in the room to directors and companies during R&D and rehearsals. If you’re interested or want to discuss a potential project, do get in touch or book in a 'virtual coffee'.
WRITER COACHING
Is this any good? How can I make it better? Where do I begin when looking to get it performed?
If those questions sound familiar then you're in the right place!
Through my coaching you'll not only have someone to read your work and provide feedback, you'll also have someone to help you articulate and focus your ideas. As well as exploring your creative ideas, we'll look at how to take your project forward, so you can make the first steps towards getting it on stage.
I bring together my skills as a director and as an adaptor of multiple novels for the stage, as well as my experience within artist development. Over the years, I have worked with a wide variety of artists exploring and challenging aspects of their creative practice. I've worked with artists who specialise in everything from hip-hop dance and contemporary opera to immersive audio-visual experiences and children's theatre. So, whatever your project or idea - I'm here to help!
Below are details of my one-on-one coaching packages.
WRITER COACHING PACKAGE
The specific areas that we cover in this package will be personalised to your particular needs but common areas that we cover include:
-
Narrative structure
-
Clarity for audiences
-
Defining specific focus of the story
-
Character development and journey
-
Defining theatrical style
-
Time management
-
Freeing you to be brave and write the play you really want to write
-
Advice on possible funding sources
-
Advice on next steps for producing the play
-
Recommended theatres to talk to for further support/programming
COMPLETE PACKAGE
This package is about giving you meaningful support to develop your script and empower you to take control of your script's future life.
As part of this package you will receive:
-
2 x 1-on-1 Zoom coaching sessions with me.
-
Personalised feedback and writing prompts based on your work.
-
Email coaching for 3 months. We can keep in touch between and after our sessions via email, so you can ask questions and check your progress.
These sessions are completely individualised and give you the opportunity to put your writing and creativity centre stage. The aim is to give you confidence in your work and to help you prioritise your creative ambitions.
If you want to discuss this coaching package further, I’m very happy to chat. Drop me an email via the link below and we'll arrange a time to chat.
MY EXPERIENCE
As a director and writer, I specialise in working with adaptations of literature, so the act of synthesising, structuring and focusing another author’s story or message is fundamental to the way that I work. For Cyphers Theatre Company, I have adapted Great Expectations, The Three Musketeers and Orlando. I have also worked on several other adaptations for a number of companies, including: The Diary of a Madman, Northanger Abbey, and Alice In Wonderland.
With the Barbican Centre in London, I have worked for many years on their Open Lab programme. In this project artists are given a week of space in the Pit Theatre to develop their creative ideas and practice. During these weeks, I am in the room throughout, acting as an outside eye, providing stimulus, challenging ideas and generally supporting the work of that artist. This has introduced me to a wide variety of art forms and means that I have experience as a dramaturg for many disciplines, from hip-hop dance and immersive experiences, to opera and children’s theatre projects.
I also regularly work with new writing. I have directed countless extracts for new writing nights! All of these have been a fantastic opportunity to meet and support writers in the development of their scripts. In many cases, this has led to more lasting collaborations, in which I have supported the development of their work and even gone on to direct the full productions.
For more on my directing experience, see my directing page.