Dramaturg not Dramaturd.
Far too often when people ask me about my job I hesitate to do so. Unfortunately the title of dramaturg denotes ambivalence and confusion. The profession of a dramaturg seems to be best understood within academic circles and irrelevant to many emerging theatre makers. Through my own experience in communicating with people both within and outside the theatre scene, it has provoked an all or nothing response. People who are familiar with the job and the position of a dramaturg seem to feel the need to explain everything and anything in what can only be described as an effort to prove their intelligence and sophistication. On the other hand, people who are unaware of the dramaturg jokingly overlook the role of a dramaturg because they are too distracted by the acoustic similarity between dramaturg and dramaturd. The goal of this entry is to outline some of my thoughts as a dramaturg; why a dramaturg is an important entity to involve within the theatre, what a dramaturg does, and how a dramaturg could benefit you and your work. The dramaturg has been an important figure within the theatre industry for over 200 years, yet dramaturgs still seem to look like lonely children in a playground tearfully asking the other children ‘can I be involved?’.
The meanings of the word dramaturg and dramaturgy are unstable, sometimes bitterly so- ‘Few terms in contemporary theater practice have consistently occasioned more perplexity’- yet both words can be traced back to classical antiquity.
Mary Luckhurst, Dramaturgy: A Revolution in Theatre, (Cambridge University Press), pg. 5.
The above quote is from Luckhursts beautifully informative book Dramaturgy: A Revolution in Theatre. For anyone aiming to learn a bit more about what a dramaturg is and the dramaturg’s relationship with the process and production of dramaturgy this book is a must have. Luckhurst covers the etymology of the dramaturg from the Greek Lexicon to the dramaturg’s position in the contemporary theatre. As a dramaturg, Luckhurst helped me understand what the dramaturg’s position is within the theatre structure, where are they positioned and why.
The dramaturg operates within the middle of the external and internal creative process. The dramaturg is the artistic medium that seeks to maintain the quality of art being created, like a quality surveyor. They have an understanding of absolutely everything within the dramaturgy of a production, and are then the voice of reason that reminds the production what is achievable within the creative process and what may be obstructive to it. Unlike any other position within the theatre structure, the dramaturg has the privilege of witnessing the creative process from close proximity but with an objective opinion. Fine then, if we take that into consideration what the frig is a dramaturg!
A dramaturg is a mediator and translator that exists in a neutral artistic position within the theatre. They mediate between the text/artistic intent/ performance to the Production Company and audience. It is the entity that harmonises the theatre company’s efficacy to the audience, acting as a mediator. It acts as translator within the company or production through intense research and development of the piece of work. By this process they have the integrity and insight to pose questions and creative opinions to ensure that the text to be performed is congruous to the efficacy of the production company. Therefore, from this, we can define the dramaturg as an artistic mediator and translator. Another definition of the dramaturg that can be considered is what The Dramaturgs Network notes, how the position of a dramaturg is constantly being considered a ‘luxury and not a rooted position in the theatre industry’. This is due to the vague definition of a dramaturg, dramaturgs duties can easily described as the duties of the assistant director or a literary manager. But it is possible to refer to the term and practice of mise-en-scene and how this process is unique to the duties of the dramaturg. Unlike a director, a dramaturg researches the mise-en-scene of a piece of work both on and off the stage. And unlike a literary manager, the dramaturg must understand the artistic and practical work that is involved. Therefore a dramaturg is a practical artist like a mettre-en-scene. So what does this mythical creature do?
Being a dramaturg is an ongoing consistent process of development. A dramaturg must always know what is happening within the theatre industry, what theatre productions are running, what they are about, do they refer to any social or political issues of the day, and also issues other practitioners are discussing, new waves of theatre and theatre making. Therefore, a dramaturg must be subsumed with theatre and dramatic practice. To understand a bit more of what a dramaturg does it can be broken down into the following tasks, this is an example they can differ with other dramaturgs, 1. Research and development: understanding what the text/ performance is, where it stands in the current theatrical climate, analysing political, social, cultural etc. implications or messages. 2. Understanding the needs and desires of the writer, director, dancer, company, what are the problems they are facing, 3. Creating reports as to what can be improved, 4. Setting up and developing workshops to help the work being created, 5. Constant work and advice with the writer, 6. Liaises with all members on and off stage as to what should be created to convey the best performance.
One of the questions my professor posed to me while I was doing my Masters Degree was about defining a dramaturg. I asked him simply what is a dramaturg and he effortlessly replied ‘it depends on the context’. I obviously listened with tremendous frustration, but later realized he was completely right. A dramaturg’s role differs in relation to the artistic structure. For example, it can be divided into the following: new writing, translations, adaptions and multi disciplinary collaborations. A dramaturg can decide to have proficient skills in all contexts or can specify to hone their skills in on one or two of them. Mary Luckhurst beautifully calls a dramaturg a ‘script doctor’, a person who with the skills of an editor, the knowledge of a stage manager and the voice of a director. Here are some topics of interest to all artists where a dramaturg can help you and the success of your work.
1. Emerging artists/playwrights:- a dramaturg can help you find your voice and place as to where your work is best suited. They can help you frame your work into a cohesive structure and strategy; e.g. creating creative plans as to how you approach your work. Help you define and redefine you own personal style. Giving you a broad amount of information about the theatre industry and creating a strategy where you can produce your work.
2. Established companies and playwrights:- assisting the director with creative decisions, staging, costume, character development. The dramaturg provides continual dramaturgical analysis that captures and reviews the play in its entirety with research of the intended vision; e.g. a dramaturg here is a mediator between the artists and the stage.
3. Theatres or general artistic institutions:- they can be used to help programme the yearly events, with reference to audience development and/or creative development and expansion.
If you are an upcoming dramaturg, or are within the industry and want to become a dramaturg you need to contemplate the following. (I have been witnessing many upcoming theatre practitioners who decide to become a dramaturg because it’s basically like being a critic. It’s not!). A dramaturg encourages and assists the artist in the realisation of their vision. Don’t get it twisted, be truthful in your work not mindlessly flippant.
• What is a dramaturg? What would I do if I was a dramaturg? Get an understanding of the meaning of a dramaturg and then outline your overall aim as a dramaturg.
• What does a dramaturg have to be qualified or experienced in? You must understand the arduous amount of work that it entails to become a dramaturg.
• What is my aim or objective in choosing such a profession? For this question you can make a work mantra for yourself that you would like to follow, or an artistic policy and mission statement. This question is especially valuable when people ask you about you and your work.
• What is a dramaturg’s position to the process or structure of dramaturgy? This is a big question, so takes some time to answer it. Keep in mind what has been said briefly in this entry.
Research about what has been done previously by Dramaturgs, even into where the word dramaturg came from, where does it originate? Become familiar to what is happening currently with dramaturgs, what are they doing and talking about. And don’t forget to check out websites such as Dramaturgs Network, Ideas Tap, Culture Hive, The Stage, newspapers and other blogs made by dramaturgs. Stay tuned to this blog for more entries of interest and artistic outbursts. AND don’t forget: Never let anyone deter you from what you want to do in theatre land, if they don’t provide the same creativity and kindness, give them the ole ‘fuck you’.
If you could leave comments about your experiences I would love to hear them, good, bad or indifferent. Thank you for reading!
All rights reserved to Katie Poushpom, k.e.cleary. Robbers will be punished severely.
The Madwoman in the Theatre. 