Dramaturgical Practice: 'My Two Blankets" Creative Development 1 & 2

Dramaturgical Practice: 'My Two Blankets" Creative Development 1 & 2

From 24th to 28th of June 2024 David Fenton undertook professional dramaturgical practice in collaboration with key creatives of Shake and Stir Theatre who were adapting “My Two Blankets” into a touring theatre work, originally written by Irena Kobald, adapted for the stage by Shake and Stir Co-Artistic Director Nelly Lee. The dramaturgical practice proved essential as the work involved a true story of a Sudanese girl who was befriended by a local Toowoomba based girl – who then proceeds to teach her English. The blanket operates as a metaphor for the comfort of the refugees original language and the adoption of a new blanket of language in a foreign land. The work has been translated into 32 languages and was first written in 2008. The first draft proved deeply problematic as there was no equal language exchange through peer learning in the book or subsequent first draft. As such, the work’s colonial politics were not addressed. Rigorous dramaturgical analysis and provocations throughout the creative development week alerted the creative team to the necessity of a de-colonial gesture necessary in the adaptation of the story for audience in 2024 and onwards.

In the second creative Development in November 2024, the collaboration began consulting the Yazidi refugee community in Toowoomba (an indigenous population specific to Norther Iraq), who will form part of the de-colonial gesture and authenticity of the adaption – increasing the artist’s and the company's capacity and cultural awareness with stakeholders. The dramaturgical practice brings new rigour of cultural awareness and capacity building specifically to the project and this industry partner. The vigour in which the artists pursued the cultural consultation with the Yazidi is evidence that the dramaturgical provocation generated action. The outcome is a second draft which was developed for November which was highly influenced by the authenticity of narrated voices from the Yazidi refugee community in Toowoomba. This draft was presented in Creative Development and was received well by significant funding representatives from Arts Queensland, The Empire Theatre Toowoomba and the Arts on Tour (a sate touring provider in Qld).