Research &

Publications

Emily a proficient researcher (PhD Otago), particularly in history-based theatre projects. Previous projects include working with Toitū Settlers Museum for Otepoti Theatre Lab’s 2022 Re:In:Act series and as the recipient of the 2023 Friends of the Hocken Collections Award to research and write Establishment, which was performed at the Ōtepoti Dunedin Southern Heritage Festival 2023. 

In 2023, Emily was the recipient of the Arts Access Aotearoa Whakahoa Kaitoi Te Puna Toi Arts for All Fellowship. For this she researched and wrote the resource Between the Lines, to help address gaps in accessibility for both neurodivergent (ND) playwrights, and in turn dramaturgs.

‘Opportunities and strategies for accommodating ND performers and audience are readily available, but not so much for playwrights and the script-development process. Much assumption and reliance are placed on ND playwrights’ literacy, writing ability, and independent motivation, and focus. Therefore, the focus of Between the Lines is to address gaps in accessibility for both neurodivergent playwrights, and in turn dramaturgs.’

Research Awards & Fellowships

Whakahoa Kaitoi Te Puna Toi Arts For All Fellowship in 2023

Friends of the Hocken Collections Award 2023.

Creative New Zealand Building Business Capability for Individual Practitioners Grant 2022

Geoffrey Milne Bursary. Australasian Drama Studies Association. 2014.

PhD Full Scholarship. University of Otago. 2014-2016.

Noni Wright Scholarship. Theatre Studies, University of Otago. 2013, 2014, 2015.

Published Works

Duncan, Emily. “Character Building.” Strong Subjects 2. Dunedin, NZ: Otago University Press. 2021.

Four monologues from In Our Shoes and Le Sujet Parle. 100 New Zealand Monologues for Youth. Wellington, NZ: Playmarket NZ Play Series. 2019.

Duncan, Emily. “Why I Wrote the Play I Wrote: Emily Duncan on Le Sujet Parle”. Playmarket Annual, 2019, pp. 17-19.

Duncan, Emily. “’In the Night Kitchen’: An Allegory for the Patient Experience?”. Corpus, 2 Sept. 2019.

Marshall, Jonathan W. and Emily Duncan. “Landscapes as Graveyards: Spectral Return and Performativity in the Contested landscape.” Australasian Drama Studies, 72, April 2018, pp. 66-99. https://bit.ly/2yP9ZzR

Duncan, Emily Tess. Waipiata: A Practice-Led Exploration of Heterotopic Playwriting. Doctoral Thesis. University of Otago. 2016.

Duncan, Emily. “Sounding a Sanatorium: The Waipiata Playscript”. Corpus, 7 Nov. 2016.

“Eloise in the Middle.” Here/Now: 8 Plays by Award-winning NZ Playwrights, Wellington: Playmarket. 2015, pp. 411-427.