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 commented: ‘I am thrilled at this vote of confidence in my work. I hope to use the prize to make some exciting discoveries about my practice and to develop my work: creatively, collaboratively – and geographically!’
Flo was selected by a judging panel comprising Pooja Ghai (artistic director, Tamasha Theatre Company), Suzanne Bell (Dramaturg at the Royal Exchange, Manchester), 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 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 event is a discussion about dramaturgies of translation. How does translation – whether across languages or mediums – affect the form, structure or cultural integrity of a work? It will use the long-table format designed by performance-maker Lois Weaver to invite ideas, knowledge and thinking to be shared by everyone in the room.
Three additional invited speakers will help steer the conversation: author and academic Margherita Laera, whose works include Theatre & Translation; director Sam Pritchard, who led the Royal Court’s International Programme until its closure in 2024; and one more to be announced.
Theatre makers from across the industry are welcome to join this vital discussion, which will be wheelchair accessible and BSL-interpreted.
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.
25 dramaturgs were nominated by their peers, and judge Suzanne Bell commented: “We were excited that a range of artists recognise the valuable contribution that the role of dramaturg can make to the creation of theatre.”
Although the judges made an initial shortlist of six, they were keen to recognise the passion and gratitude expressed in every nomination. All nominees will be celebrated on the d’n website, alongside winner Flo Dessau and the other five shortlisted nominees.
“We felt the nominated dramaturgs contributed hugely to supporting the diversity of stories, ‘voices’, and cultures which reach our stages – including queer, disabled, working-class and non-Western perspectives, which enriches the scene for everyone,” said judge Kaite O’Reilly.
Established in 2001, the dramaturgs’ network is the only organisation in the UK dedicated solely to supporting practitioners, developing and sharing the practice and theory of dramaturgy.
It is a volunteer-led organisation, with more than 100 members. It works to explore and
expand the theory and practice of dramaturgy in the UK, and advocate for dramaturgs in the
wider sector.
It aims to bring dramaturgs together, from different parts of the UK and the world, to share
experiences and working methods – to tackle the pressing issues of the day and their
interrogation through live arts.
Its members are seasoned professionals and people at the very start of their dramaturgy
career. They work in theatre, dance, cabaret, live arts and many more forms. They’re
freelance dramaturgs, literary managers, academics, theatre-makers, directors, writers.