Oliver Emanuel
Visiting Research Fellow, July - August 2022
Home Institution: University of St Andrews
Oliver Emanuel is an award-winning playwright based on the east coast of Scotland. Theatre includes: The 306: Trilogy – Dawn, Day & Dusk (Perth Theatre/ National Theatre of Scotland); Dragon (Vox Motus/National Theatre of Scotland); The Monstrous Heart, Traverse/Stephen Joseph Theatre; Flight, Vox Motus; Prom, Oran Mor/Traverse/Lemon Tree. Radio includes: Pale Fire, Lanny, The Tenderness of Boys, When The Pips Stop, The Truth About Hawaii, A History of Paper, Emile Zola: Blood Sex & Money, all BBC Radio 4. Awards include: Tinniswood Award 2019; Best Series at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2019; Herald Angel 2017; Best Adaptation at the BBC Audio Drama Awards 2016; The People’s Choice Victor Award at IPAY 2015; Best Show for Children at the UK Theatre Awards in 2014. Oliver is Reader of Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews where he founded the MLitt in Playwriting & Screenwriting.
Project title: Authorship - a play
The IASH Fellowship will allow me time to research and write the first draft of a new play concerning authorship and artificial intelligence. 'Authorship' is inspired by questions around creativity and what it means to be human when faced with the impending singularity. I hope to use my time at IASH to speak with experts at the AI department at the University of Edinburgh as well as work with the team at the Traverse Theatre to create a piece of theatre that answers one of the most urgent and intriguing questions of contemporary life: is it possible for AI to create art that moves us? And if it is, where does that leave humanity?