"A play which no theater will produce, and no audience will care to see."
-- Wolfgang Borchert, The Outside Man (1946)
Kevin Doyle (IE/US) is a writer and director of theatre, film, and interdisciplinary performance working between the European Union and his native New York. He grew up next to a New York prison and lives in the shadow of unnecessary sports stadiums. He has authored over 20 plays and solo performances presented in twelve countries and translated into Danish, French, Romanian, and Swedish. Doyle has won several honors for his work including: a Saari Residence Fellowship in Finland, the Thornton Wilder Fellowship at The MacDowell Colony, USArtists International Award from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, and as Artist-in-Residence at The Watermill Center. Doyle conceived, wrote, designed, and directed the interdisciplinary theatre project "W.M.D. (just the low points)," which examined American intelligence failures prior to the Iraq War. It premiered at The Game Is Up! Festival in the Vooruit Arts Centre (Gent) prior to a national tour of Belgium and The Netherlands.
Doyle's plays have been presented in New York at the Ontological Theater, Brick Theater, chashama, HERE Arts Center, 3LD Art & Technology Center, and multiple productions at the OBIE Award-winning Ice Factory Festival at the Ohio Theatre. His full-length play examining the history of genocide in the modern era - "when after all, it was you and me (or the genocide play)" - was Shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, England.
His theatre, film, and interdisciplinary work has received support in the form of multiple grants from the Puffin Foundation, the Svenska Instituet (Stockholm), the Mayer Foundation, CEC ArtsLink, East End Arts Council, IETM (Brussels), the Dramatists Guild Foundation, the Drama League of New York, PEN America Writers' Emergency Fund, Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant Program, Carnegie Fund for Authors, The Fund for Croatian Arts and Cultural Exchange, and the Greenwall Foundation, among others.
Doyle is the writer and creator of two original historical drama series in development for American television – THE EQUALITY STATE (set in 1869 Wyoming Territory, when women were first granted the right to vote) -- and THE CENSUS TAKERS (set in Reconstruction Era Georgia during the 1870 U.S. Census, the first to count African-Americans as full citizens and the last census administered by U.S. Marshalls). Doyle is currently writing his first book, TSETEN -- a novella about a lost dog he befriended in Nepal, that follows Tssten's adventures on the streets of Kathmandu.
His theatre and performance work is regularly reviewed in The New York Times and has received coverage in Variety, Time Out New York, Backstage, The Brooklyn Rail, The Irish Times, Village Voice, New York Sun, De Morgen, De Standaard, American Theatre Magazine, PBS, Bornholms Tidende, and Denmark's TV2. His essays on the arts and politics have been published in Belgium, France, Denmark, Finland, Scotland, and since 2016, as a contributing writer at Diggit Magazine in The Netherlands.
Doyle's interdisciplinary project, THE AЯTS, a theatrical deconstruction on the history of the National Endowment for the Arts, explores what future role the public funding for the arts may possess in the United States. It received the inaugural IMPACT Residency Award from the Drama League of New York and LaGuardia Performing Arts Center to develop the project. THE AЯTS premiered at the TONY Award-winning La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club to launch their 2018-2019 season.
His ongoing interdisciplinary theatre project, TRIANGLE / TAZREEN, explores the international garments industry by contrasting the experiences of workers who survived the 2012 Tazreen Factory Fire in Bangladesh with descendants of workers who died in the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Doyle recently returned to Bangladesh to resume rehearsals with six Tazreen survivors, supported by a grant from the Global Connections IN THE LAB program funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Theatre Communications Group.
Since 2020, Doyle has served three sessions as a Playwright-in-Residence at The Bornholms Teater in Rønne, Denmark where he researched and created several new plays and interdisciplinary performances. This includes the play "8:46" in June 2020; the world premiere of "SVANEKE" in September 2021, followed by a national tour of Denmark in 2022; and the world premiere of "TURIST" in February 2024. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Doyle has visited the war-torn country twice for extended periods in 2023-2024. He traveled extensively to research a new play about the first war crimes trial held in Ukraine - "the space between the plum trees" - while also researching cultural policies in the destroyed city of Mariupol and their innovative approaches to the public funding of the arts that existed before the war.
Doyle is indebted to the Ukrainian artist, Daria Pugachova, not only for her dialogue and support during his time in Ukraine, but for the opportunity to assist her in realizing her groundbreaking and urgently relevant performance-installation CITIES OF WAR -- presented at the U.N. International Court of Justice in The Hague (NL) on September 27, 2023.
Doyle wishes to thank his mentor and friend, the French dramatist Michel Vinaver (1927-2022), for his sustained dialogue, support, and encouragement during their 20-year dialogue and correspondence.
Awards
2022 Art Prospect Network Residency. CEC ArtsLink. New York, NY. (Kazakhstan, host nation)
2018 Saari Invited Artist Fellowship. Kone Foundation. Mynämäki, Finland.
2018 Global Connections IN THE LAB Grant Award. Andrew W. Mellon Foundation /
Theatre Communications Group. New York, NY. (Bangladesh, host nation)
2018 Lauréats Spectacle Vivant. Artist Residency. Cité internationale des arts. Paris, France.
2017 Global Cultural Fellowship. Institute for International Cultural Relations.
University of Edinburgh. Scotland, United Kingdom.
2017 Shortlist. Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting. Royal Exchange Theatre. Manchester, UK.
2017 IMPACT Residency Award. Laguardia Performing Arts Center. New York, NY.
2016 Bicentennial Exchange Fund Award. Swedish Institute. Stockholm, Sweden.
2016 Artist Fellowship. Asian Cultural Council. New York, NY. (Bangladesh, host nation)
2016 ArtsLink Project Award. CEC ArtsLink. New York, NY. (Croatia, host nation)
2016 Honorable Mention. 2016 Saroyan/Paul Playwriting Prize for Human Rights. Armenian Dramatic Arts Alliance and William Saroyan Foundation. Los Angeles, California.
2014 Saari Residence Fellowship. Kone Foundation. Mynämäki, Finland.
2013 Swing Space Award. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. New York, NY.
2013 Emerging Leaders Fellowship. Association Performing Arts Presenters. Washington, DC.
2012 Cultural Exchange Fund Award. APAP/Andrew Mellon FDN. Washington, D.C.
2009 US Artists International Award. Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. Baltimore, MD.
2009 Swing Space Award. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. New York, NY.
2008 Thornton Wilder Fellowship. The MacDowell Colony. Peterborough, NH.
2007 Performance Development Award. N.E.A. / chashama. New York, NY.
2005 Space Grant Award. BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange. Brooklyn, NY.
2002 Fellowship Stipend. Theatre Department. City University of New York, Brooklyn College.
2000 Best Essay Award in the Humanities. State University of New York, Purchase College.
Premieres
2024 TURIST - Bornholms Teater. Rønne, Denmark. Jens Boutrup, director. (**)
2021 SVANEKE - Bornholms Teater. Rønne, Denmark. Jens Boutrup, director. (**)
2018 THE AЯTS - La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club. New York, NY. (*)
2017 PMURT - Vooruit Arts Center. Gent, Belgium. (**)
2017 KONZUM | CONSUME - KNAP Center for Culture. Zagreb, Croatia. (**)
2013 not from canada - Monty Kultuurfaktorij. Antwerpen, Belgium. (*)
2010 ATM or this is [not] new york - Monty Kultuurfaktorij. Antwerpen, Belgium. (*)
2009 Behind The Bullseye - Ontological Theater. New York, NY. (*)
2009 W.M.D. (just the low points) - Game Is Up! Festival. Vooruit. Gent, Belgium. (*)
2007 Les années amputées (French translation/production). Les nuages en pantalon. Québec City, Canada. Jean-Philippe Joubert, director.
2006 FOX (y) FRIENDS - TALR Festival at HERE Arts Center. New York, NY. (*)
2005 The Position - Ice Factory Festival at the Ohio Theatre. New York, NY. (*)
2004 Compression of a Casualty - Re-Orient Festival, California. Laura Hope, director.
2004 Styrofoam - Trilogy Theatre. New York, NY. Brian Snapp, director.
Commissions
2023 TURIST - Bornholms Teater. Rønne, Denmark.
2020 SVANEKE - Bornholms Teater. Rønne, Denmark.
2017 PMURT - Kunstencentrum Vooruit. Gent, Belgium.
2010 ATM or this is [not] new york - Monty Kultuurfaktorij. Antwerpen, Belgium.
Readings / Workshops
2020 “8:46” - Bornholms Teater. Rønne, Denmark.
2019 The Amputated Years - MASSIA. Jan Ritsema Working Group. Massiaru, Estonia.
2018 Autopsy of Laysan Albatross for Dramatic Purposes - Seaside Rep Theatre. Seaside, FL.
2017 when after all, it was you and me - Royal Exchange Theatre. Manchester, England.
2017 THE AЯTS - LaGuardia Performing Arts Center. September 13-30, 2017. Queens, NY.
2015 when after all, it was you and me - Monty Kultuurfaktorij. Antwerpen, Belgium.
2012 katabasis - The Living Theatre. New York, NY. (**)
2012 these words [a study in lying] - Danscentrum Syd. Malmö, Sweden. (**)
2008 W.M.D. (just the low points) - Ice Factory Festival. Ohio Theatre. New York, NY.
Other Selected Productions
2023 "Cities Of War" by Daria Pugachova - United Nations International Court of Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands. (Kevin Doyle, director)
2022 SVANEKE - national tour of Denmark. Team Teatret (Herning); Bornholms Teater (Rønne); Svanekegaarden (Svaneke); Teater Momentum (Odense); Teater Vestvolden (Copenhagen); Teater Katapult (Aarhus). October 31 to November 17, 2022. (**)
2020 Les années amputées - Théâtre Périscope. Les nuages en pantalon. October 21-30, 2020. Jean-Philippe Joubert, director. Québec City, Canada.
2018 PMURT - Dixon Place. May 11, 2018. New York, NY. - US premiere (**)
2016 THUIS: The First Season of Frank - w/ Boris Van den Eynden. Live Works Vol. 4. Centrale Fies. July 23-25, 2016 Dro, Italy. (Kevin Doyle, director) - world premiere.
2013 these words are written on my body by Kajsa Sandström. MDT. March 18-20, 2013. Stockholm, Sweden. (Kevin Doyle, director/designer) - world premiere.
2012 The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard. Franklin Stage Company. Franklin, NY. (Kevin Doyle, director)
2011 Americans n’ Indians by Matthieu Sys. 3LD Art & Technology Center. Aug. 20-23, 2011. New York, NY. (Kevin Doyle, director)
2011 The Position - Godot Teatru. Apr 7-Dec 8, 2011. D. Popa, director. Bucharest, Romania.
2009 Compression of a Casualty - ReOrient Festival. Golden Thread Theatre Company.
Nov. 19 - Dec. 13, 2009. Mark Routhier, director. San Francisco, CA.
2009 W.M.D. (just the low points) - De Baile. Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (*)
2009 W.M.D. (just the low points) - Monty Kultuurfaktorij. Antwerpen, Belgium. (*)
2009 W.M.D. (just the low points) - Beursschouwburg. Brussels, Belgium. (*)
2009 W.M.D. (just the low points) - De Braakland. Leuven, Belgium. (*)
2008 Compression of a Casualty - Moving Arts Company. Lyric Hyperion Theatre. Michael Shutt, director. June 4-28, 2008. Los Angeles, CA.
2003 11 september 2001 by Michel Vinaver - Medicine Show Theatre. New York, NY. (Kevin Doyle, director) - US premiere.
(*) = playwright/director (**) = solo performance/playwright
Residencies
2023 Playwright-in-Residence. Bornholms Teater. Rønne, Denmark.
2021 Svanekegaarden / Bornholms Teater. Svaneke, Denmark / Rønne, Denmark.
2019 Back Apartment Residency. CEC ArtsLink. Saint Petersburg, Russia.
2019 The Anderson Center. Minneapolis, MN.
2018 Escape To Create. Seaside, Florida.
2018 Back Apartment Residency Fellowship. CEC ArtsLink. Saint Petersburg, Russia.
2017 ARC Residency. Romainmôtier, Switzerland. (w/ The University of Lausanne)
2017 Regina Barnes Fellowship for Social Justice. Mesa Refuge. Point Reyes, CA.
2016 Hill House at the Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology. East Jordan, MI.
2016 Jentel Foundation. Banner, WY.
2016 ARC Residency. Romainmôtier, Switzerland. (w/ Swiss Institute of Technology Zurich)
2015 IMPACT15 Active Ingredients. PACT-Zollverein. Essen, Germany.
2014 Playa. Summer Lake, OR.
2014 Willapa Bay AiR. Oysterville, WA.
2014 Escape To Create. Seaside, FL.
2014 Director's Project Residency. The Drama League of New York.
2013 Corporation of Yaddo. Saratoga Springs, NY.
2012 Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts. Saratoga, WY.
2012 Wooda Farm (Bursary + Residency). Cornwall, England.
2012 Danscentrum Syd (w/ choreographer Kajsa Sandstrom). Malmo, Sweden.
2012 Fundación Valparaiso. Mojácar, Spain.
2011 Subtopia (w/ film director Delphine Dhilly). Norsberg, Sweden.
2011 Edward F. Albee Foundation. Montauk, NY.
2010 The Residency at chashama. National Endowment for the Arts/chashama. New York.
2010 Artist-in-Residence. Performance Project at University Settlement. New York, NY.
2010 Corporation of Yaddo. Saratoga Springs, NY.
2010 Artist-in-Residence. The Watermill Center. Southampton, New York.
2010 Resident Artist. Mabou Mines/Suite Program. Mabou Mines. New York, NY.
Grants
2022 Turnéteater / Danish Arts Foundation Grant for touring of "SVANEKE". Ballerup, Denmark.
2021 Bridge Fund COVID-19 Grant Award. Foundation for Contemporary Arts. New York.
2020 COVID-19 Emergency Grant Award. Foundation for Contemporary Arts. New York.
2018 Project Grant Award (THE AЯTS). Puffin Foundation. Teaneck, NJ.
2017 Emergency Grant Award (THE AЯTS). Foundation for Contemporary Arts. New York.
2017 PEN Writers’ Emergency Fund Award. PEN America. New York, NY.
2016 Kesselring Grant Award. The Dramatists’ Guild Fund. New York, NY.
2016 Grant Award. The Mayer Foundation. New York, NY.
2016 Grant Award. Carnegie Fund for Authors. New York, NY.
2016 Grant Award. Authors League Fund. The Authors League of America. New York, NY.
2015 Travel Grant. IETM/international network for contemporary arts. Brussels, Belgium.
2012 Travel Grant. IETM/international network for contemporary arts. Brussels, Belgium.
2010 Project Grant Award (ATM or this is not new york). Puffin Foundation. Teaneck, NJ.
2009 Project Grant Award (Behind The Bullseye). Puffin Foundation. Teaneck, NJ.
2009 Emergency Grant Award (Behind The Bullseye). Foundation for Contemporary Arts. New York, NY.
2009 Project Grant Award. Greenwall Foundation (via Ontological Theater). New York, NY.
2008 Strategic Opportunity Stipend. NYFA / East End Arts Council. New York, NY.
2008 Project Grant Award + Residency (W.M.D. just the low points). Puffin Room. New York, NY.
2007 Strategic Opportunity Stipend. NYFA / East End Arts Council. New York, NY.
Website design - Kevin Doyle
All writing and project descriptions on this website are Copyright Kevin Doyle, unless noted otherwise.
All photos and video on this website are credit and Copyright Kevin Doyle, unless otherwise indicated.
Photos/video of Kevin Doyle (U.K.) credit: The Other Richard
Photos/video of Kevin Doyle (Finland) credit: Otto Väätäinen
Photos of Kevin Doyle (Denmark) credit:
Jacob Jepsen (2020-2021) & Joar Cirkola (2022-2023)
Photos of Kevin Doyle (Ukraine) credit:
Daria Pugachova (2023) & Chris Klawitter (2024)
LEGAL NOTICE:
All my writing, my photos, and my videos/films featured on this website are all Copyright © Kevin Doyle. The displaying of my works does not grant any visitor to my website the permission to download, store, use, distribute, copy, transmit, adapt, excerpt, market, pitch, or sell any aspect of my works, or any existing (or future) unauthorized derivative works of my work. Visitors to this website are on notice that location tracking is enabled -- and that any illegal downloads of my works will record your IP address and geolocation automatically. I reserve the right to take all actions necessary to protect my intellectual property rights and this legal notice is written without any waiver of my rights, claims, defenses or remedies, all of which are hereby expressly reserved.
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kevindoyle729 [at] protonmail [dot] ch