Meet Val Dunn | Playwright

We had the good fortune of connecting with Val Dunn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Val, is there something you believe many others might not?
A lot of writerly advice tells young writers they have to write every day. Facing the blank page on a daily basis is a worthy ambition, but this rigid schedule fills me with panic and dread. Neither emotion is conducive to my creativity. So instead, I follow a broadened version of this advice: do something every day that nourishes your craft and/or supports your professional ambitions.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I write the plays I needed but couldn’t find growing up queer in rural Maryland. Sometimes these stories take the form of lush lesbian ghost stories; sometimes they are magical realism punk plays; occasionally, they are quiet ‘slice-of-lifes’ about rurality.

Connecting all of my work is an intense sense of place. In my richly atmospheric play worlds, setting becomes a kind of character in itself, influencing the drama that unfolds.

My plays are bighearted, ambitious, and usually (hopefully) funny.

I also create devised, participatory plays that blend low-brow comedy with high-brown political commentary. (Think: critiquing Johnny Depp’s film career through an anti-capitalist lens… but also with sword fights, drunken singalongs, and throwing things at random intervals.)

I’ve been writing plays for just under a decade. Azuka Theatre produced my first professional production (Carroll County Fix) about a year ago. Trustus Theatre is producing the world premiere of my play Down in the Holler next summer. I’ve self-produced plays at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Philadelphia Theatre Week, and Philly SoLow Fest. Currently, I’m an Eccles Centre Fellow at the British Library, doing research for a new play about the mythos of the American farmer.

The professional side of things is relentless and difficult. The artistic side isn’t much easier. I can’t remember who said it and I can’t remember the exact quote, but someone evidently wise once said something like, “You have to love the work more than you love being loved.” Many aspects of new play production rely on somebody else’s “yes”. I can’t control how other people view my work and whether or not they want to produce it. But I can work at my craft, writing plays because that’s what I want to do, for me.

That said, collaborating with other artists is my favorite part of playwriting. I love workshopping a new draft with actors. I love debating scenic choices with designers. I love discussing literally anything with directors and dramaturgs. And I love hearing how audiences respond to my plays in real time.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I currently split my time between two cities Philadelphia & Bristol, England. Both are amazing cities for food, culture, and progressive politics… so I feel pretty lucky!

For bevs, it has to be a pint at Bristol Beer Factory or a pitcher of margs at Jose Pistolas in Philly. Before I transitioned to writing full time, I worked at Federal Donuts. It’s become a bit of Philadelphia-must for tourists, but the hype about the hot & fresh donuts is deserved. In Bristol, Oowee Diner is my go-to hangover cure. They make mad tasty dirty burgers, and I have given them more money than I care to admit.

I’m an avid long-distance walker and city cycler — so gonna say the best thing to do in Bristol is walk around the harbor (or harbour, as it were). In Philly, I could cycle along the Schuylkill for miles.

While you’re in Philly, check out Azuka Theatre. They produce new plays about “outcasts and underdogs,” so their productions always resonate with the spirit of Philadelphia. I’m pretty new to the Bristol theatre scene, so you’ll have to let me know what I should see and how I can get involved.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Theatre is an intensely collaborative art form. My journey as a playwright is absolutely a testament to this fact. I’ve received support from so many people and organizations, but I have to shoutout the Foundry. Hosted by PlayPenn, the Foundry provides a three-year support system for emerging playwrights. I landed in the Foundry immediately after graduating from college, and the group really helped me get my footing in Philly theatre. I met and became friends with a cohort of fellow emerging playwrights as well as the established theatre professionals who mentored the program. Every other week, the Foundry met to read new pages and share feedback. This writers’ group made me accountable to my craft. Even when I doubted myself, I could always point to an upcoming Foundry meeting as proof that I had a playwriting commitment and therefore I was a playwright! Most importantly, the Foundry was a space where I learned that working professionally as an artist doesn’t have to be cutthroat. The support I received from my peers in the Foundry buoyed me through the tumultuous first few years working professionally.

Website: valdunn.com

Instagram: @valadunn

Image Credits
John Flak, Johanna Austin, Cass Meehan