Dramaturgs &: In conversation with Playwrights

The fourth installment in this series, DRAMATURGS & PLAYWRIGHTS, examines the playwright-dramaturg relationship within the context of new writing development, and delves into the expectations and misconceptions surrounding this relationship. What might a playwright seek in a dramaturg that is different from the contributions of other dramaturgical collaborators? In what ways are dramaturgical conversations distinct from script consultations? How important is it for a playwright and dramaturg to connect through shared identity? As the writing evolves, how do the playwright and dramaturg negotiate what is needed for each moment?

For the first time, DRAMATURGS & will be held virtually, inviting practitioners worldwide to engage in a thought-provoking exchange of ideas. Our international panel features Annie Jin Wang (US), Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder (UK), and Joel Tan (Singapore), with facilitation by Juliet Chia (Singapore).

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DRAMATURGS & is a new capsule series of roundtable conversations centering the work of and relationship between dramaturgs and their artistic collaborators. Dramaturgical thinking and application is integral in the work of all artists, yet a dramaturg’s role affords a dedicated lens that can expand and challenge artistic decisions. In cosy and candid sessions, we aim to unpack the relational, intricate and often invisible work of dramaturgs in creative processes and within artistic teams.

[NOTE: A recommended donation amount of $5 is encouraged to support the conduct of this roundtable conversation. However, if you are unable to make a donation, please write to info@centre42.sg to register for this event. Please note that donations are non-refundable. ]

BIOGRAPHIES

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JULIET CHIA freelances as a dramaturg and consultant. She has over two decades of experience spanning theatre, dance, opera and other multidisciplinary forms. Her expertise includes dramaturgy, new work development, lighting design, production management and artistic producing.

Throughout her career, Juliet has created work with international artists and companies including Target Margin Theatre, La MaMa, Kristin Marting, Alex Timbers, Taylor Mac, and Young Jean Lee. She was a member of the HERE Artist Residency Program and a recipient of the Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship and the US NEA/TCG Career Development Program for Designers. She has also held staff positions at Esplanade - Theatres by the Bay, Singapore Arts Festival, Glimmerglass Opera, the Guggenheim Museum, and was previously Deputy Artistic Director at Singapore Repertory Theatre where she served as in-house producer and dramaturg.

Juliet enjoys helping practitioners from all disciplines think more deeply about what they do and how they do it. Her current practice involves collaborations with artists and creatives as well as the application of dramaturgical thinking in the work of administrators, producers and organisations.

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ANNIE JIN WANG is a first-generation Chinese American dramaturg for new plays, musicals, and opera. From new play development to revitalizing classic texts for today’s audiences, Annie’s body of work primarily investigates constructs of race, gender, and citizenship through a compassionate and critical lens. She works closely with generative artists at all stages of their practice to articulate their fullest vision, and encourages inquiry-based artistic processes that are healthy, fearless, and joyful.

As a dramaturg, Annie has supported new projects in development at Beth Morrison Projects, NYC PAC, Rattlestick Theatre, The O’Neill National Musical Theatre Conference, Musical Theatre Factory, East West Players, Yangtze Rep, The Civilians, CHUANG Stage, Theater Mu, and the Croatian National Theatre. As a generative artist, her work has been developed with Soho Rep, Target Margin Theater, Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company, Fresh Ground Pepper, PlayGround-NY, and Wellesley College.

Annie currently serves as the Associate Director for Artistic Programming at PlayCo, the Artistic Associate at Theater Mu, guest faculty at BerkleeNYC, and adjunct faculty at Marymount Manhattan College. MFA: Columbia University School of the Arts; BAs: Wellesley College.

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HANNAH TYRRELL-PINDER trained as a director at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and is Joint Artistic Director of Box of Tricks. Directing credits for Box of Tricks include: Danesha (theatre and schools tour), Winter Tales (Arden School of Theatre), Last Quiz Night on Earth (rural tour), SparkPlug (national tour, shortlisted for Alfred Fagon Award 2018, broadcast on Sky Arts 2021), Narvik (national tour, nominated Best New Play MTAs, winner Best New Play UK Theatre Awards 2017), In Doggerland (national tour), Word:Play/NWxSW (Regional Tour), Picture a City (Everyword 2012, Liverpool Playhouse), London Tales (Waterloo East and Nu:Write Festival, Zagreb), Head/Heart (national tour). Other directing includes: FADE (The Lowry and Leeds Playhouse), God Save My Northern Soul (53two), Macbeth (University of Staffordshire), Game (ALRA North).

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JOEL TAN is a playwright based between London and Singapore. In Singapore, recent productions of his plays include Tartuffe (Wildrice, 2022), Cafe (Wildrice, 2020), and Tango (Pangdemonium, 2017). Recent UK projects include No Particular Order (Theatre503, 2022) which was shortlisted for Theatre 503's 2018 Playwriting Award, Living Archive (Royal Court, 2022), Inside/Outside (Orange Tree Theatre, 2021), and the audio play Ghosts in the Blood (Audible originals for LAMDA, 2021). He is under commission with the Royal Court, Headlong Theatre, and the Almeida Theatre. Joel was part of Theatre 503’s 2019/2020 residency scheme the 503 Five, the Royal Court writers’ programme 2021, and was an associate artist with the London-based Chinese Arts Now Festival and Singapore’s Checkpoint Theatre. He is a Creative Associate with Centre 42's New Writing Development Programme, and leads the programme's Professional Development Residency for playwrights.