Invisible Diaries
As a response to the situation in the theatre profession caused by the pandemic, the Dramaturgs’ Network is launching a new project: an online journal, Invisible Diaries, written by dramaturgs, starting from 7 April 2020.
Every week a different dramaturg will write the journal for seven days, which will be available here on the Dramaturgs’ Network’s website's Blog
The aim is to give a platform to dramaturgs, ‘the invisible people of the theatre-making process’, so the wider public can discover the people behind the role, and perhaps learn a bit about dramaturgy, whilst finding out how these theatre professionals are coping during the period of the pandemic.
With many theatre jobs affected by the closure of theatres and cancellations of projects, we hope that sharing these people’s thoughts with the wider public, these highly skilled theatre professionals, who can be invaluable when thinking about the larger picture (curating and macro-dramaturgy), and indispensable when keeping an eye on the details (micro-dramaturgy), won’t be forgotten when we emerge from the quarantine and will try to rebuild the theatre scene.
The Invisible Diaries project is curated by Katalin Trencsényi.
Editors: Sarah Sigal, Miranda Laurence, Tommo Fowler, and Katalin Trencsényi.
The blog is managed by Tommo Fowler.
#InvisibleDiaries
A note from the d'n Advisory Board concerning the pandemic
During these challenging times, freelance dramaturgs are among those people whose livelihood is seriously affected by the cancellation of work because of the pandemic. Below we have collated some important, industry-related information that you might find useful.
As far as the d'n is concerned, we will postpone our planned events until the autumn. However, the Working Groups will aim to carry on with the work online, and d'n members shall receive their Summer Newsletter in time.
In the meantime, if you are a UK-based dramaturg, it would help our work if you could fill in this questionnaire about your working life. The information gathered helps our work when campaigning for fair contracts and payments for dramaturgs. Thank you for taking the time.
Take good care!
The d'n Advisory Board
Links to useful information about your rights, payment, and mental health:
ACE - Coronavirus information (advice on funding and projects affected by the pandemic)
Arts Council of Northern Ireland - Coronavirus Advice
Arts Council Wales - Coronavirus update
ACE - Emergency measures and funding
BBC - What are your rights if working from home?
Creative Scotland - Covid-19 Advice
Equity - Coronavirus Advice
Equity - Statement on theatre closures
Free Resources for UK creatives
HM Treasury - BUDGET 2020: Support for those affected by COVID-19
Mental health: a listening care package for uncertain times
Petition: Basic Income for Everyone during the coronavirus crisis
Petition - UK Government and Parliament: Implement Universal Basic Income
SOLT - Support for Theatre Professionals during Coronavirus
Turn2us - a national charity helping people when times get tough
Renew your d'n membership / Join the d'n
The Dramaturgs' Network membership for 2020 costs £25/£15 (student concession) and is valid until the end of the calendar year. It gives you access to a forum of fellow-members to communicate with (exchange ideas, advertise your work, ask for help etc.). It entitles you to free or discounted tickets for d'n events, as well as job offers, industry news, information etc., but most of all: brings you together with like-minded professionals in the UK and beyond.
Your membership fee also supports our work: providing indispensable profession-related resources free of charge, as well as representing dramaturgs industry-wide, and working towards better contracts, payment and acknowledgement of the work of dramaturgs and literary managers.
If you would like to join the d'n, please click on the buttons below and fill in the membership form and the monitoring form (optional), then pay your membership fee.
We look forward to welcoming you to the network!
The winner of the Kenneth Tynan Award 2019 has been announced
The winner of the Kenneth Tynan Award 2019 is Suzanne Bell.
Suzanne Bell received the award for her passionate and committed support for new writing, for her tireless work with writers for many years at Manchester Royal Exchange and previously at the Liverpool Playhouse, and for her thoughtful and efficient administration of the Bruntwood Prize. Suzanne Bell has been working behind the scenes with consistency and rigour, championing writers, developing strategic and innovative means to enable playwrights to have their work read, developed, and platformed. Her contribution to making information, skills sharing, writing resources, and opportunities available for everyone is exemplary.
The winner was announced by Sudha Bhuchar at the Kenneth Tynan Award Ceremony at Soho Theatre on 17 November 2019. Congratulations!
Basic Contract and recommended fees for dramaturgs
Introducing a Basic Contract and recommended fees for dramaturgs in the UK is long overdue. It is high time to think about improving the working conditions and offering fair fees for these highly skilled experts across the industry.
The Dramaturgs' Network has been working on this since 2015, and we hope to be able to conclude our work in 2020. (You can read a report about our work in The Stage.)
In the meantime, the Working Group is preparing Guidelines for Dramaturgs who are offered freelance engagements. This will be available for d'n members only on the Members' Area of the d'n website by the end of April.
If you are a self-employed dramaturg working in the UK, it would help our work a lot if you could fill in the questionnaire below. The information we collect will enable the Dramaturgs' Network to hold collective data on the earnings and working lives of dramaturgs in the UK, which will assist with our representation of dramaturgs in all forms of theatre-making - and in particular, our campaign for better contracts, pay and recognition for the work of dramaturgs.
None of the questions is compulsory – but, the more questions you answer, the more work we can do on your behalf!
Thank you for taking the time.
Gallery
“The practice of dramaturgy never stands still. And neither should a dramaturg. A serious dramaturg needs to be constantly learning. A serious dramaturg needs to be keen to explore existing theories of dramaturgy. A serious dramaturg needs to be keen to investigate new ideas. A serious dramaturg needs to have their finger on the pulse of contemporary theatre practice. A serious dramaturg needs the Dramaturgs’ Network: because the Dramaturgs’ Network will always ensure that the continuing professional development of their members is paramount.”
(Paul Sirett)
“A significant landmark in the professionalization of dramaturgical functions was the founding of the Dramaturgs’ Network” - Mary Luckhurst
Your contribution is vital to our work - this enables us to further reach out and achieve our goal of being a hub of dramaturgy in the UK. Thank you for your support.
