Devoted & Disgruntled 14: What are we going to do about theatre and the performing arts?

The unconventional convention for everyone who loves, makes and lives theatre and the performing arts

D&D is an opportunity for arts people at every point in their careers, from audiences to artists, CEOs to FOH staff, grassroots groups to seasoned professionals, to come together and focus on the question what are we going to do about theatre and the performing arts? This three-day event uses an Open Space format, meaning that attendees set the agenda themselves - anyone can call a session, bringing the issues and topics they want to discuss to the floor.

Phelim McDermott, Co-Artistic Director of Improbable:

It feels like in the past year there has been a huge amount of change for theatre and the performing arts. Amidst the seismic political change in the world, we now have new Artistic Directors starting their tenures, we have been scrutinizing  our traditional working practices and are working on more transparency, better environments, being kinder. How is this going, for you and for Theatre? What are we doing well? What could we do better? What can we share? What connections can we make? I believe that meeting together in Open Space is the best way to start our year, set our goals, have authentic, meaningful conversations, make better and make theatre better. Come and be part of it.

Phelim McDermott's full invitation can be read here

James Dacre, Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate:

I’ve never known a time where our industry - or the cultural life of Northampton - has more to gain from the kind of open discussions, debates, and displays of solidarity and collective problem solving that Devoted & Disgruntled can provoke, helping all who attend to start to envision the kind of future we want for our industry, our communities and ourselves. A future that doesn’t just focus upon the cultural life of Britain's biggest cities but upon making art everywhere, for everyone. 

James Dacre's full invitation can be read here

You can post your own invitations to this event below in the comments, or on your own platforms and social media. It's a chance to read why other people are coming, what experiences they've had before, and what important topics they'd like to discuss this year. Let's start the conversation now.

Book tickets via the Royal & Derngate Box Office here

or on 01604   624811

More information on Open Space can be found here.

Essential event information and FAQs for all participants can be found here:

Event Information - including timings for the day, information on tickets, and FAQs (a word-version of the document can be found here, for text-to-speech software)

This information will be updated closer to the event. If you have any specific questions, please get in touch via [email protected] or 0208 240 4556.

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Young People's Bursary

We are once again delighted to be able to offer a bursary for young people aged 16-25, who otherwise might struggle financially to attend the weekend. The bursary fund was set up by D&D attendees in previous years, to encourage more young people, youth theatre members, school and university students to attend. This year we have a total of £1000 to give away thanks to a grant from the John Thaw Foundation and donations from the attendees of last year’s D&D. 

To apply, all you have to do is write us a short email or a letter, telling us how much it will cost you to come to D&D 14. Please list what those individual costs are (and how you’ve found them out e.g. a link to train prices on the National Rail website), and how much you think you need from us to make it possible for you to come. Don’t forget to include your contact details too.

We will consider applications from 13-16 year olds if they are accompanied by a parent/carer or teacher with parent/carer’s written approval. You’ll need to provide proof of supervision along with the rest of your application, as well as contact details for your parent or carer.

Your application needs to reach us by 9am on Monday 10 December 2018. We will let you know if your application has been successful by Monday 17 December 2018. Email: [email protected]. Write: Improbable, West Wing, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA.

Golden Tickets

We want to make D&D available to everyone. Can you buy a Golden Ticket for £10 and help someone else to attend?  Each Golden Ticket that is donated by you will be used to offer free and subsidised tickets to other attendees. Golden Tickets can be added to your order via the Royal & Derngate Box Office.

In partnership with Royal & Derngate, Northampton. Supported by the John Thaw Foundation.