Playwright Nathan Queely Dennis joins us on Close-Up Culture to discuss his debut play, Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz.
Your debut play, Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz, received widespread acclaim. How has your journey from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to the Royal Court influenced your creative process?
I don’t think my creative process has changed much, It was a very self-affirming process from start to finish, Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz was written without much input or support from anyone else so it was really about believing in myself and the journey on the play has taught me to really trust my instincts.
What aspects of new writing do you feel are often overlooked, and how can initiatives like the Ambassador PEEL Playwriting Challenge address this?
It feels like there’s less opportunity for new writers to try different things out of their comfort zone and explore their craft and actually have their work performed. I think the great thing with the Ambassador PEEL Playwriting Challenge is that you’re writing for a specific venue that many writers maybe haven’t even thought of writing for. I think there’s a lot of potential for interesting stories and voices to come from that and most importantly your play will get performed!
As a writer involved in both theatre and television, how do you navigate the differences in storytelling for each medium?
At times it feels like two different brains but for me I always think of character and audience and that is a universal throughline that serves in both theatre and television. It’s a bit of a different journey but I try and make sure the end goal is always consistent.
How do you approach writing for different audiences, particularly in environments like cruise ships where the audience demographic might vary?
I think stories that can serve as universal stories work best but that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to compromise on the story you want to tell. As humans we all have empathy and can relate to many different emotions and I think the best way to be truly universal is through specificity. The characters, the place, the journey. The more specific, the more universal.
What role does mentorship and community play in shaping emerging playwrights, and how do you see your role in supporting new voices?
It’s really important to have peers and relationships, writing can be quite a lonely thing to do so to have a person, or group of people to turn to can really help. For me personally, I always try to be as open and honest whenever people speak to me, I meet a lot of writers I don’t know and I’m always interested in what they’re working on or up to. So whether I become apart of their community or vice versa or just answer a question I try and do my best to be there for others. To quote high school musical, we’re all in this together
Having worked with major theatres like the Royal Court, what advice would you offer to a playwright submitting their work for the first time?
I’d say try not to worry or concern yourself about impressing other people, just make sure the story you want to tell is being told in the way you want it to.
What elements of a play make it stand out to you as a judge, and what are you looking for in submissions for this challenge?
I think the voice of a writer, being immersed in a world only that specific writer can build. Something that can take me where they want to take me and can make me feel any type of emotion in a way I hadn’t considered.
How do you manage creative blocks or challenges while writing, and what keeps you motivated?
I usually take any blocks as a sign that I need a break or I’m not ready at that specific moment, which is absolutely fine. I try not to empower the idea of a creative/writers block and more so view it as an opportunity to do something else that can feed me creatively.
What keeps me motivated is I think I always have a sort of chip on my shoulder that drives me and pushes me. I don’t know when it got there and I don’t know when it will leave but for now I’m glad its there.
The Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz show was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe. Are there specific elements of your early career that you think shaped this success?
I spent a lot of time in Birmingham hanging out, talking and collaborating with other creatives and artists from the city. Whether it be open mic nights, poetry nights, scratch sharings, press nights, comedy clubs, art exhibitions etc. I think that specific time in my life really shaped my creative voice.
Why should those apply for the prize?
This is such a unique opportunity to have your work performed, whilst it also empowers you to refine your craft and be dynamic, expansive and explorative in how you tell your story. I think it’s an opportunity that hasn’t been around before and if you have a story you want to tell I wholeheartedly encourage anyone reading this to apply.
7. What elements of a play make it stand out to you as a judge, and what are you looking for in submissions for this challenge?I think the voice of a writer, being immersed in a world only that speci)c writer can build. Something that can take me where they want to take me and can make me feel any type of emoon in a way I hadn’t considered.8. How do you manage creave blocks or challenges while wring, and what keeps you movated?I usually take any blocks as a sign that I need a break or I’m not ready at that speci)c moment, which is absolutely )ne. I try not to empower the idea of a creave/writers block and more so view it as an opportunity to do something else that can feed me creavely.What keeps me movated is I think I always have a sort of chip on my shoulder that drives me and pushes me. I don’t know when it got there and I don’t know when it will leave but for now I’m glad its there.9. The Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz show was a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe. Are there speci)c elements of your early career that you think shaped this success?I spent a lot of me in Birmingham hanging out, talking and collaborang with other creaves and arsts from the city. Whether it be open mic nights, poetry nights, scratch sharings, press nights, comedy clubs, art exhibions etc. I think that speci)c me in my life really shaped my creave voice.10. Why should those apply for the prize?This is such a unique opportunity to have your work performed, whilst it also empowers you to re)ne your cra2 and be dynamic, expansive and explorave in how you tell your story. I think it’s an opportunity that hasn’t been around before and if you have a story you want to tell I wholeheartedly encourage anyone reading this to apply.