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our story

Established in 2001, the Dramaturgs’ Network is the only organisation in the United Kingdom dedicated solely to supporting practitioners, developing and sharing the practice and theory of dramaturgy.

our aims

To provide a network of support, shared ideas, knowledge and resources for British theatre practitioners functioning in the role of dramaturg, literary manager or educational professionals involved in dramaturgical practices.

 

To explore the role, function and contributions of dramaturgs in the theatre process through practice, debate and collaborations.

 

To cultivate, develop and disseminate current dramaturgical practices.

 

To promote collaborative work practices involving dramaturgs by providing support and information to theatre practitioners and organisations engaging dramaturgs.

Dramaturgs' Picnic at Hampstead Heath, 2012.

we do this by...

  • Bringing together dramaturgs, literary managers, educational professionals, researchers and others with similar interests.

  • Providing support and sharing information and experiences on professional issues around our practice.

  • Providing support, accessible information, resources and advice to people wanting to find out about working with, employing or training dramaturgs.

  • Organising events for dramaturgs to promote continual professional development.

  • Continually striving to promote, cultivate and develop the role and the functions of the dramaturg in the UK.

  • Arranging symposia and workshops around all aspects on the theory and practice of dramaturgy.

  • Providing access to information and an interactive discussion forum on the internet.

  • Acting as a hub for collating relevant resources.

  • Collaborating with teaching and educational institutions where dramaturgy is taught.

  • Endeavouring to support members in finding work opportunities.

DN10 festival held at Southwark Playhouse, celebrating our tenth anniversary. Panel discussion with (L-R) Joseph Danan, Guillaume Pigé, Lloyd Trott, Rachel Ditor, Chris Campbell and Duška Radosavljević, 2011.

Find out more about our work in our organisation profile brochure.

major d'n events

  • Dramaturgy and Devising workshops at the Battersea Arts Centre (2002).

  • Masterclasses with the Young Vic Directors' Program (2003, 2010, 2011, 2013).

  • Seminars with the Directors' Guild (2003) and the Writers' Guild (2004).

  • Who Does What? - a conference on developing new work, organised in conjunction with the Literary Managers’ Forum and the LMDA (2005).

  • Pro-sessional - a conference at Soho Theatre (2007).

  • DN10 - celebrating dramaturgy
    The Dramaturgs' Network’s 10th-anniversary festival held at Southwark Playhouse (2011).

  • Dance dramaturgy masterclass with Hildegard de Vuyst (dramaturg, les ballets C de la B) (2012).

  • Kenneth Tynan Award (2011, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2021).

  • d'n15 - celebrating the Dramaturgs' Network's 15th anniversary with a day-long festival at the Arcola Theatre (2016).

  • Regular CPD and social events: d'n cafés (2010-2013), d'n labs (2012),Stammtisches (2017-2018), and annual dramaturgs' picnics.

  • Online lockdown Stammtisches (2020)

  • Invisible Diaries (2020)

  • International Dramaturgy Lab (2020-2021)

  • d'n20: Celebrating Dramaturgy (2021)

Fiona Sturgeon Shea, Philip Howard, Hanna Slättne and Nicola McCartney preparing for the Playwright Studio Scotland and d'n lab at the Edinburgh Fringe ,2012.

The organisation has extensive experience in delivering professional development activities.
Arts Council England

The d'n has also contributed to many other important dramaturgy-related events

Dance dramaturgy masterclass with Hildegard de Vuyst, 2012.

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