About Me
I am a freelance dramaturg and script reader with over 20 years’ experience meeting, advising and working one to one with writers from a culturally diverse range of backgrounds. These include first time and emerging writers. mid-career and senior playwrights. The plays we have worked on together have toured nationally and played at London venues including Soho Theatre, Theatre503, Omnibus Theatre, Hampstead Theatre and Southwark Playhouse. Dramaturgical support can include research, meetings, written notes or full script reports as required and agreed. I also advise on script selection in competition and award settings. My core belief is that a more diverse and accessible theatre is better for everyone.
“Neil’s precision to detail with structure and story are excellent along with his intuitive understanding of what the piece is urgently trying to say no matter how foreign the theme is to him.”
Ambreen Razia, Writer and Actor
Services
Here’s a line or two about the services I provide, feel free to contact me.
Dramaturgy
Dramaturgical support via one to one meetings, research & development, written notes and / or full reports.
Script Reading
Bespoke coverage and reports including logline, synopses, commentary and recommendations.
Competition Reading
From early stage sifting to late stage full reporting according to guidelines.
Script Editing
If appropriate for late stage play development.
“Neil’s been the dramaturg on numerous of my plays, and they wouldn’t have reached the finish line without his unwavering support. He is challenging, generous, and open.”
Evan Placey – Writer
CV
Over 20 years’ experience working with first time, emerging, mid-career and senior playwrights. Click here to download my cv, constantly updated with the latest work on it.
“Neil’s understanding of story and character is exceptional, and there’s a sharp intelligence and generosity to his feedback, a kindness to his support and guidance, always a positive presence in a room enabling a creative and collaborative relationship to flourish.”
Kathryn O’Reilly, actor, writer and filmmaker
Blog
I don’t blog very often – but you will find occasional updates here.
The pandemic delayed a few projects which were ultimately produced in 2022 & 2023 including plays I worked as dramaturg on by Corey Bovell, Laura O’Keefe and Ric Renton. At the end of 2021 I was honoured to be[…]
2023
I have continued to work with writers through 2020 both as a freelance dramaturg and as New Writing Manager at Synergy Theatre Project. A short film by Ambreen Razia, commissions by Juliet Gilkes-Romero and Evan Placey and much more[…]
2021
Current projects are in progress with Laura O’Keefe, Kathryn O’Reilly and Ambreen Razia as well as continuing dramaturgy at Synergy Theatre Project where we are touring a new play for young people by Natalie Mitchell and presenting a new[…]
2019
At Synergy I’ve been working on a new commission with Hassan Abdulrazzak which has been going through an R&D phase at the National Theatre Studio. I am also working with Martin Askew on final rewrites of his new play[…]
2018
“Neil is generous, and his feedback is constructive, on point and always insightful. He is great at understanding your vision as a writer and then identifying ways to support your journey towards your goal.”
Joakin Daun – Playwright
Frequently Asked Questions
Dramaturgy is an unusual word, here’s its definition
What is Dramaturgy?
I am often asked this because the word is not in common use in the UK but I take it to translate as “play-making” or even playwriting. It is the process by which plays are made. The most important Dramaturg is the writer. The writer is engaging with the dramaturgical process as soon as they make a decision; write a line of dialogue or picture a stage image. Feedback, research, work shopping, readings and a whole range of activities that influence the Writer in making their choices also shape the process of Dramaturgy. In this sense, Directors, Literary Managers, Producers and friends and relatives are also Dramaturgs.
Why use a Dramaturg?
Engaging a Dramaturg to work with a writer is not essential but can be advantageous.
Here are some reasons:
1) Objectivity – the professional Dramaturg should approach a new play without an agenda in order to support the best possible realisation of that play. The Dramaturg does not carry the personal baggage that a friend or relative carries, is not bogged down in overseeing an entire production process like a Director and is not ruled by budget in the way that a Producer necessarily is.
2) Support – unhindered by other pressures close to the project the Dramaturg can focus on supporting the Writer.
3) A fresh perspective – the Dramaturg can act as a sounding board for the writer to test and discuss ideas or to explore problems that they are encountering in writing the play.
4) The Dramaturg is therefore in a good position to understand the Writer’s intention and concerned chiefly by whether the Writer is getting their intent across on the page. Only the Writer knows the play as they imagine it but it can be difficult for the Writer to see how their vision has changed on the page. The Dramaturg can help explore the gap between the Writer’s imagination and the work on the page and help the Writer find ways of bridging it. Will a Dramaturg write the play for the Writer? Personally, never. Although the Dramaturg’s role has parallels with that of the Editor I believe that the role should be consultative and that Writer must have final cut. In my years at the Royal Court Theatre I witnessed the “right to fail” principle and fully support it as a valuable foundation for writers to take risks, break rules and learn about their own work. As a Dramaturg I will argue my case with a Writer because I want to help the Writer achieve the best possible realisation of their play but if the Writer feels strongly about a particular choice that then they should be able to see it through.
What training is required to be a Dramaturg?
The same training that is required to be a Writer – none. Similarly to writing, experience is the best training. In my case I have worked in a new writing environment for over 20 years, seen hundreds of plays and understood the whole process involved in producing a new play. I have worked directly with new and young Writers, worked as a Dramaturg with emerging Writers and learned from senior Writers and theatre practitioners.
Please have a look at my CV for further information.
Isn’t Dramaturg spelt with an e at the end?
I’ve seen it spelt both ways and like the way Dramaturg sounds although a former colleague believes it should be pronounced Dramalurg, but please don’t send that to Wikipedia.
contact
Email is the best way to reach me but you can find my LinkedIn profile at