Debbie Hannan writes and directs new work for stage and screen. They are currently Associate Director at the National Theatre of Scotland. From January to July 2022, they were the Acting Artistic Director of Stockroom. They are represented by Independent Talent, and trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and as Trainee Director at the Royal Court. She recently directed and co-wrote a short film for Film 4 which previewed at London Film Festival, and is co-writing a TV treatment for Fable. Previous credits as director include The Panopticon (NTS), Exodus (NTS), The Ugly One (The Tron), Sound of the Underground (Royal Court), Salty Irina (Paines Plough), Lord and his God (Citizens Theatre), The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart (Royal Exchange), Faun (Cardboard Citizens), Nights at the Circus (Theatre Paradok). As writer, Vinyl Idol (Play Pie Pint) and SHAME (Pleasance), and as Associate Director, Our Ladies of Perpetual Succour (NTS) and Constellations (Donmar/West End).

The Musical Theatre Writing Residency is a two-week international programme for emerging and established book writers, composers, and lyricists from the UK, India, and the United States.

The residency has been devised by Andrew Panton, Artistic Director of Dundee Rep Theatre, and will include facilitated sessions with Dramaturg Jeanie O’Hare (formerly Director of New Work Development at The Public Theater), Music Supervisor James McKeon (Musical Director: Moulin Rouge! The Musical, London), Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director of Goodspeed Musicals, Connecticut and David Greig, Artistic Director of Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh. Shonagh Murray joins as Associate Musical Supervisor, with Imogen Stirling, supported by Playwright Studio Scotland, joining as Associate Dramaturg.

The creatives will also benefit from networking opportunities and workshop sessions, both in-person and digital, with industry-leading writers, composers, producers, directors, and other theatre practitioners – including Tony® Award-winning director John Doyle, Tony® and Grammy® Award-winning producer Mara Isaacs, Tony® Award-winning producer Rashad V. Chambers, and more.

Presented by Cove Park and Dundee Rep Theatre in partnership with Capital Theatres, Citizens Theatre, Macrobert Arts Centre, National Centre for the Performing Arts – Mumbai, National Theatre of Scotland, Octopus Theatricals – New York City, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, and Traverse Theatre. Associate partners include A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Playwrights’ Studio Scotland, and Tron Theatre.