Mert Dilek is a writer and creative development professional for both stage and screen.
He is currently a Creative Associate at the Arcola Theatre and serves on the Reading Panel at the National Theatre in London. He also scouts new work in the UK and the US for stage productions and screen adaptations elsewhere, cooperating with award-winning creative teams to facilitate the development of scripts across languages and cultural contexts.
In 2025, Mert took part in MIDPOINT Institute’s Series Launch as a Development Executive and also led the development of three film projects at Slovak Pop Up. Previously, he was affiliated with the Netflix Adaptation Lab, where he co-developed a series for Netflix Turkey.
His credits as a playwright include The Dreamer (Zorlu Performing Arts Center), The Velveteen Rabbit (as songwriter; UNIQ Hall), and 1923 (Zorlu Performing Arts Center). His critical writing has appeared in leading journalistic and scholarly publications, including The Stage, The Arts Desk, Modern Drama, and Theatre Journal.
In conjunction with his creative and developmental practice, Mert teaches dramaturgy and dramatic criticism at the University of Cambridge, where he received his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in English. He holds a B.A. in English and Political Science from Yale University.