Dramaturgy Papers
Dramaturgy Papers
Dramaturgy Papers
d'n Fellowship 2024
The dramaturgs’ network (d’n) is delighted to announce the winner of its inaugural Fellowship, and a public gathering in November in celebration.
The Fellowship is a £500 prize for an emerging or mid-career dramaturg, working professionally in a new writing and/or collaborative context. It has been awarded to Flo Dessau, a London-based dramaturg who supports early-career playwrights to make bold and original work exploring questions of heritage, gender and grief.
Flo was selected by a judging panel comprising Suzanne Bell (Dramaturg at the Royal Exchange Theatre), Pooja Ghai (artistic director, Tamasha Theatre Company), Kaite O’Reilly (playwright and dramaturg) and Sarah Sigal (writer, dramaturg and d’n board member).
Pooja Ghai commented: “Flo supports work that looks through a diverse lens with perspectives broader than the Eurocentric lens/form that is our default in the UK. It’s exciting and necessary to support and enable our writers and theatre-makers to be brave, bold and imaginative.”
Flo will join the d'n for a celebratory gathering and public discussion on a topic of her choosing on the evening of Tuesday 26 November at the Unicorn Theatre in London. The event and discussion, titled Dramaturgies of Translation, will be wheelchair accessible and BSL interpreted, and all are welcome to join!
For more details and to RSVP, click here!
The d’n Fellowship Award has been generously supported by Nick Hern Books and Sir David Hare, among others. It is intended to support the development not only of the winner’s practice, but of the entire field of dramaturgy.
d'n Fellowship winner 2024
Flo Dessau
To be awarded the dramaturg's network’s Fellowship is a phenomenal pleasure. I am thrilled at this vote of confidence in my work. I hope to make some exciting discoveries about my practice and to develop my work: creatively, collaboratively and geographically!
Flo Dessau is a dramaturg from London, supporting early career playwrights to develop new work. Collaboration is at the core of her dramaturgical practice: supporting writers to make bold and original work. Recent projects have explored questions of heritage, gender and grief. Flo is also a seasoned script reader; for the Royal Court, the Bush and Actors Touring Company.
To learn more about Flo's work, visit her website here.
dramaturgies of translation:
a public discussion
Flo has collaborated with members of the d’n board to shape a public gathering in celebration of the Fellowship, which will take place from 6–8pm on Tuesday 26 November, at the Unicorn Theatre, London SE1. Central to the gathering will be a long-table discussion on Dramaturgies of Translation. This space is wheelchair accessible, the discussion will be BSL interpreted, and all are welcome to join the table to contribute.
For more information and to book your free ticket, see below. We hope to see you there!
the 2024 shortlist
The shortlist reflects the breadth of work that dramaturgs do in the UK. This work often goes unseen and dramaturgs often shy away from public exposure in their support for the artists with whom they are working but this Fellowship enables us to celebrate and highlight this work.
Suzanne Bell (judge)
Rio Matchett
Rio is the New Work and Learning Producer at the Leeds Playhouse, and leads the MA in Dramaturgy at Leeds Conservatoire. As a writer, Rio was recently shortlisted for the Fitzcarraldo Essay Prize. She gained her PhD in queer theory from the University of Liverpool in 2022.
It's an honour to be on this shortlist! I believe passionately in the power of dramaturgy to facilitate aesthetic, political and industry change, and it's so wonderful to see that endeavour recognised by awards such as this.
Stephen Bailey
Stephen is Artistic Lead of Vital Xposure and a director, maker and dramaturg who frequently explores the role of disability and neurodivergence in storytelling. He was the RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award winner of 2022. Recent credits include Surfacing (director and dramaturg), The Real and Imagined History of the Elephant Man (director and access dramaturg) and It's a Motherf**king Pleasure (creative producer).
I'm delighted and flattered to be nominated and deeply grateful to Tom Powell for a wonderful, long-standing working relationship which has seen both of us grow as artists and friends.
Pamela Farrugia
Pamela Farrugia is a freelance dramaturg, facilitator and director based in London. She trained at East 15 Acting School on BA World Performance and has recently graduated from the MA Dramaturgy course at Birkbeck, University of London.
She is the co-founder of PHab Theatre, a female-led dramaturgical collective and works as a Participation Assistant at Tramshed Arts, Woolwich.
This is PHab! I'm grateful to be shortlisted.
Fatima Serghini
Fatima Serghini is a dedicated dramaturg specialising in new writing. She has worked extensively with emerging playwrights, helping to develop fresh and inclusive voices in theatre. With a background in theatre writers’ room (Stockroom), Fatima is passionate about creating innovative, thought-provoking new work that challenges and inspires audiences.
I am incredibly honoured to be shortlisted for the inaugural fellowship award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone with whom I’ve had the pleasure to collaborate. I am excited to continue pushing the boundaries of new writing and am grateful for this opportunity to be celebrated alongside such talented peers.
Kate Golledge
Kate is a director and dramaturg specialising in musical theatre, and in making commercial work for family audiences. She is currently leading the creativity on Disney: The Castle, an immersive experience where the music of Disney
comes to life. Kate is Head of New Work for the National Youth Music Theatre and Consultant Dramaturg for i.e. Productions.
I'm absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for the dramaturgs' network Fellowship. It's an incredible honour to be recognized for the work that goes into championing writers and supporting them to tell their stories. Dramaturgy continually inspires and challenges me, and I'm excited to be part of such a thoughtful and dynamic community.
full list of nominees
Although the judges came to a shortlist of six, they were keen to recognise the passion and gratitude expressed in every nomination.
You can read a quote from these for every nominee and see the full list of nominated dramaturgs below.
The winner and shortlist of the d'n Fellowship was decided by a judging panel made up of:
judges panel
pooja ghai
Artistic Director, Tamasha Theatre Company
sarah sigal
writer, dramaturg and d'n board member
suzanne bell
Dramaturg at the Royal Exchange Theatre
kaite o'reilly
playwright and dramaturg
Information about the initial announcement and criteria for the Fellowship nominations can be found here.
The d'n Fellowship is currently the only award in the United Kingdom that is given to a dramaturg.
In recognition of the central role of dramaturgy to theatre and performance activity in the UK, we invite donations to help cover the costs of the award and the live event. We welcome donations big and small!
Donate using PayPal
With thanks to our generous sponsors, including David Hare and Nick Hern Books
