“Write the play that only you could have written” - Lin Coghlan Playwright/Dramaturg
Dramaturgy
Philip Osment, Lin Coghlan and Carl Miller have been my mentors as well as opened my mind to the playwright’s toolbox. Workshops and publications by the late Stephen Jeffreys & Noel Greig continue to nourish me as does seeing, reading, and acting in plays by diverse contemporary and classic writers- Anna Deveare Smith, Gurpreet Bhatti, Lynne Nottage, Tanika Gupta, August Wilson, Lorca (The list goes on).
I am not an expert but offer my lived experience when working as a dramaturg. To date this has been on debut and early works. I approach learning craft as ongoing development with a beginner’s mind.
My job as dramaturg is as a mentor and guide, helping playwrights to navigate the terrain of the plays they want to write, as well as boosting confidence and enabling them to bring their full selves to their work in all its complexity. I understand the fragility of writers of colour-as the industry and gate keepers can derail our creative journey at any stage, by crushing our voices from a lack of understanding.
I am a signatory to an open letter by writers of colour which is a ‘provocation, request and invitation for us to think critically about the Eurocentric tradition and about the assumptions, power structures and priorities which exist unchallenged within that tradition’.
Writers I have supported include Ayub Khan-Din, East is East, Emteaz Hussain Sweet Cider and Blood, Satinder Chohan.Lotus Beauty, Avaes Mohammed, Zindabad, Ishy Din, Snookered, Nyla Levy, Does my bomb look big in this?, Tuyen Do, Summer Rolls and Dorcas Seb, Buttercup.
Kite Photo by Anurag Challa on Unsplash
Buttercup
‘Working with Sudha brought on a wonderful pair of new and intricate eyes into my writing process. I was pushed to delve deeper in the internal subtexts of my characters and was able to build beautiful bridges in between the relationships my protagonist had. I really appreciated Sudha’s ability to delicately challenge my writing without imposing on my creativity.’ - Dorcas Seb, writer
‘It was brilliant to work with Sudha. She had such a good understanding of what Buttercup needed to move forwards. She tuned in so easily to the characters and the world, absorbed its essence, but always stretched us in terms of structure. It felt so organic - a really inspiring collaborative experience!’ - Julia Samuels- co founder 20 stories High and director of Buttercup.
Our new film Buttercup, commissioned by @BBC Arts, is being aired on 14th April on BBC 4 at 10:40pm.
Based on an original idea by Associate Producer Odile Mukete, written and performed by Dorcas Seb directed by Julia Samuels, produced by Jennifer Monks and Leanne Jones, Executive Produced by Natasha Dack Ojumu, Nikki Parrott and Julia Samuels. Buttercup is a 20 Stories High and Tigerlily Productions co-production.
Buttercup is the story of a young woman strong enough to finally make herself heard. A story of solidarity and survival. She is live streaming an informal spoken word gig to her online followers. As she takes the mic, she desperately hopes that her audience will include the one person who needs to hear her truth: her mother.
Available to watch on BBC iPlayer from 10.40pm this Wednesday.
CONTENT WARNING
Buttercup is based around a character’s experience of Child Sexual Abuse. Although the character is fictional, her story is based on research that includes people’s lived experiences. Some viewers may find this piece triggering due to this content. Suitable for ages 13 plus.
Summer Rolls
Summer Rolls by critically-acclaimed actress Tuyen Do (National Theatre's The Great Wave) is a sweeping family saga that examines the Nguyen family’s life in Britain. This marks a seminal moment as the first British Vietnamese play to be staged in the United Kingdom. Performed at the Park Theatre, London.
“Sudha has mentored me throughout the process of writing my debut play Summer Rolls, from its first inception to the full production. I can say unequivocally that the play would not have existed without her guiding hand. As a dramaturg, she is insightful, kind, and her knowledge of the craft is deep and far reaching. Sudha looks deeply at the artist. Who they are and what they are trying to say. She works instinctively and sees the nuggets of gold that you yourself may not be able to see. She speaks from the heart. I was truly blessed to have worked with her and I would recommend any emerging artist to.” - Tuyen Do
By the book from Amazon UK
Does My Bomb Look Big in This?
With fierce wit and disarming honesty, DOES MY BOMB LOOK BIG IN THIS? cleverly unveils a human story behind the headlines and questions how close or far we are from multicultural harmony.
“Sudha is a Dramaturg brimming with brilliant insights and suggestions- every set of notes she sent me helped my script develop and shift MASSIVELY! My play would not be the play it is today without Sudha's significant creative input! Her instincts with character, story and staging are on point from her years of experience, and I felt totally supported throughout the process. Sudha is a hugely talented and generous artist!” -Nyla Levy, writer
Video filmed and edited: Matt Hargraves Music for film: Conrad Kira
I have also worked as a dramaturg on devised work such and Travelling Light’s Ali Baba & the Forty Thieves, directed by Sally Cookson.
I was invited to give a keynote speech for dramaturgs’ network in 2019 at the Kenneth Tynan Award ceremony.
