“I hear that... but” w/ Bethany Henry Gemmell

2025-12-29

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On today’s episode, I’m joined by writer Bethany Henry Gemmell for a special end-of-year conversation. It felt like the perfect way to close out the final episode of 2026—thoughtful, generous, and deeply inspiring. This marks Bethany’s second time on the podcast (or, as I like to call it, the Chai Room), and it was such a joy to reconnect. In this episode, we dive deep into the dramaturgical process, with Bethany leading the conversation around working as dramaturg on the second audio series of Chai with Rai,

On today’s episode, I’m joined by writer Bethany Henry Gemmell for a special end-of-year conversation. It felt like the perfect way to close out the final episode of 2026—thoughtful, generous, and deeply inspiring. This marks Bethany’s second time on the podcast (or, as I like to call it, the Chai Room), and it was such a joy to reconnect.

In this episode, we dive deep into the dramaturgical process, with Bethany leading the conversation around working as dramaturg on the second audio series of Chai with Rai, An Ode: Reframing the Classics, now streaming on Patreon. We also explore the “grass is greener” mindset, Bethany’s upcoming projects—including a new play and a new novel—and then shares valuable advice for emerging playwrights, freelance creatives, and dramaturgs.

You’ll also hear a snippet from Catherine, the short story Bethany wrote for the very first storytelling series, Symphonies of Beaded Threads.

Bethany's bio:

Bethany (they/he) is a Northern playwright. They explore themes exploring family, our relationship to media, and humanity's capability to be good and evil. Examples include being a co-writer for Royal Court Theatre's Listen Local project in 2019, 'WOLF' at Theatre503 in 2023, and 'well, you could be a guy (non-binary edition)' for Baron Court Theatre's Queering the Canon Festival in 2023. Their most recent project was 'The Trial of Thomas Greene' at Hope Mill Theatre for Qweerdog Shorts/Hope 200 Festival in 2025. They were selected for Young Vic's inaugural 2022/23 Creators Program, Soho Theatre's 2023/24 Writers' Lab, and for Nottingham Playhouse's Amplify Program in 2025. Their audio-duologue 'Catherine', dedicated to and involving their mum, is now featured in the Chai With Rai exhibition at the London LGBTQ+ Community Centre.

They have provided dramaturgical support for community companies like Neurospace Theatre and Wild Forest Theatre from 2020 to 2023. Now, they're developing their dramaturgical skills by supporting artists for An Ode: Reframing the Classics.

Topics Breakdown:

"Grass is always greener on the other side" mentality.
Starving artist vs life experience and the success metrics we place on ourselves.
Evolution of personal artistic storytelling.
Playwriting with and through ADHD playwriting.
Exploring time and thoughts as a playwright.
Dramaturgy process for An Ode: Reframing the Classics.
Reflecting on the Chai with Rai's Summer exhibition 20245 in London/
Theatre 503 Rapid Writers response to Stray Dogs by Theo Chester.
The Royal Court Theatre’s Listen Local Program.
Dramaturgy process / advice for emerging talent.