Amanda Dalton

Amanda Dalton is a poet, essayist and playwright specializing in theatre and radio drama. Her first poetry collection, How To Disappear (Bloodaxe 1999), was shortlisted for a Forward prize. Further collections, Stray and Fantastic Voyage (2024) are also published by Bloodaxe Books. Poetry pamphlets include an experimental poetry ‘sketchbook,’ 30 Poems In Thirty Days (Arc 2021) and Notes on Water (smith|doorstop 2022). For theatre and BBC Radio 4 and 3 she writes original drama, essays and adaptations including re-imaginings of the silent movies The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari and Nosferatu and dramatizations of classic fiction. Her theatre writing to date is for large scale outdoor and site-specific performance, and drama for young people, including several commissions with Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre.

Before embarking, in 2017, on a freelance career, Amanda has been a deputy head in comprehensive schools, Centre Director for the Arvon Foundation and Engagement Director at the Royal Exchange Theatre. Much of her career has been, and still is, focused on teaching, mentoring, work with diverse communities, and the curation and artistic leadership of innovative cross-artform projects. She frequently works in collaboration with other artists and artforms and is currently a visiting lecturer at Manchester University and MMU’s Writing School. She lives in Hebden Bridge where she especially enjoys the landscape and community.