The Drama Surgery is a facilitated writing group of no more than six playwrights and theatre-makers working on new material or adaptation. The programme is for writers who are actively working on an existing draft of a new script and would like support while developing their ideas. The sessions offer practical dramaturgical support and motivation and deal with writer’s issues as they arise as well
as working through practical exercises. The sessions also help participants to develop the world of their play as well as interrogating technical elements such as character journey and narrative structure. The group is encouraged to support and constructively critique each other’s work (using Liz Lerman’s Critical Response process). Where possible actors are brought in towards the end of the process to workshop developing scenes “on the floor”. Her awards for new writing include the Hugh Leonard Bursary and the Eamon Keane Full-Length Play Award for SNAKELIGHT, the Stewart Parker/BBC Northern Ireland Drama Award for THE OTHER SIDE, an Ondas (Spanish Media) Award for her radio play A DAY IN THE LIFE OF KITTY SWAY and a Fringe First in Edinburgh for ROMANTIC FRICTION. Michelle holds a Masters degree in dramaturgy from Goldsmiths College, London. She has facilitated creative and dramatic writing classes for several organisations including the Gaiety School of Acting and Big Smoke Writing Factory. As a dramaturg Michelle specialises in supporting emerging playwrights and has worked with Big Telly Theatre Co., Northern Ireland, the Dublin Fringe Festival and Fishamble Theatre Company’s New Play Clinic. She also facilitates her own DramaSurgery sessions for groups of up to four writers at first or second draft. Michelle is a member of the Writer’s Guild of Ireland and the Dramaturgs’ Network. In 2011/2012 Michelle was theatre artist in residence at the Civic Theatre, Tallaght.
