SLAVE LABOUR. Theatro Technis. Directed by Gwenan Bain. Produced by Saw It Here First Productions. Performed by Meg Lake, Rosy Fordham and Harry George. Photo captured by Natalya Micic.
Seen on BBC2'S 'The Dark Shadow of Murder'.
About
I am a professional playwright, dramaturg and theatre arts tutor/practitioner. I hold a PGCE teaching degree, alongside years of experience writing for stage, screen and radio. My work has been seen on such stages as The Southwark Playhouse, Queens Theatre Hornchurch, Stratford Circus Theatre, The Pleasance, Old Red Lion, Hope Theatre, Applecart Arts, Tristan Bates, Leicester Square Theatre, The Bread & Roses and National Theatre Studios. The National Theatre and The Bush Theatre have highly praised and encouraged my writing. Alongside my work for stage, I have written pieces for BBC Radio Essex and my writing has been featured in the BBC2 documentary 'The Dark Shadow of Murder'. I have been part of an ITV mentorship programme and developed a TV pilot that caught the attention of Dancing Ledge Productions (producers of BBC's 'The Responder' with Martin Freeman).
Most recently, two of my plays made it into the top 35 plays of the 2023 Papatango Playwriting Award and my latest play 'WET CEMENT' gained Arts Council Funding and received incredible feedback from both audiences and critics:
Wet Cement is a Class Act for Neurodivergent Struggles. – The Havering Daily
Review: Wet Cement, Queens Theatre Hornchurch - Everything Theatre (everything-theatre.co.uk)
As a dramaturg/creative writing tutor I have worked for such highly respected institutions as Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Mrs. C's Collective, Applecart Arts and on behalf of such theatres as The Space Theatre. I have previously reviewed productions for the Off West-End awards ('The Offies) and taught theatre arts in almost every sector of education and within community environments. I have worked with individuals of varied age, ability and background, including those with additional educational needs.
I offer industry standard dramaturgical support at non-industry standard rates. My work is thorough, insightful and reflective of the current creative climate. I have written detailed reports on hundreds of plays and helped many writers to hone their craft. This includes screen writers and I have helped develop many films ahead of production. The latest being 'SCAM' by Alison Rayner, which can be seen on Amazon Prime:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt19849436/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Please see 'Dramaturgy' for further information on what I offer and to read testimonies from writers who have previously acquired my services.
Below you will find my full resume, detailing my training, experience and qualifications, alongside other supporting material documenting my work within the industry.
Thank you for reading and please get in touch if you have any other questions!
Writing Reel
Previous Work
Don't just take my word for it!
Testimonies on my writing
“It's a lovely piece (except when it isn't wanting to be) - a strong set-up, with some nicely drawn characters and a compelling relationship between Clive and Devin”- Playwright and screen writer Vinay Patel (An Adventure, True Brits, Doctor Who).
"Wet Cement is astute class commentary. Danny is exactly the kind of man dehumanised by society, and the writing does a tremendous job of humanising him with thought and tenderness… A beautiful story of redemption and friendship.”– Bush Theatre
"Darrel Draper’s writing sensitively weaves the lives of the two characters together, through the difficult transitions and acceptance of their past experiences and without preaching" - Everything Theatre
“The characters are richly painted and three-dimensional. The play offers a subtle and artful raising of dramatic stakes, the subtext is uneasy and carries danger to it. This is a skilfully written two hander, which shows real promise.”– National Theatre
"The characters are well created and distinctive, the relationships feel real, connected and are affecting and the level of detail is finely observed giving real authenticity and humanity to the piece. A deeply humane and empathetic look at the lives of a group of people on the margins of society. Your dialogue was well-observed and believable and you handle exposition subtly, with care and a lovely sense of how seemingly-small events can cut deep wounds into ordinary people's lives”. -Papatango Playwriting Prize 2020.
"It's clear that Darrel is not circumspect in presenting plays that allow the audience to reflect and think about real life situations as well as possible scenarios. I for one feel honoured that we were able to stage one of his plays"- Elene Hadjidaniel, Saw It Here First.
“A thoroughly enjoyable play to read with well realised characters. The dialogue was consistently excellent, the individuality of the characters was outstanding. The pacing was excellent and the plot was driving and compelling. This is a very promising play” - Rhys Hayes, ETPEP Award 2020.
“A fab play. A real slice of London life with all the colour and character you could ask for” -Mike Carter, The Space theatre.
Anything else.....
If you'd like to read some of my writing, are interested in other services or just have a general query, please email: