Books on dramaturgy and the dramaturg

Booklist; books on dramaturgy and the role of the dramaturg
This book list is compiled through recommendations from our members.
Please feel free to recommend other books through the comment function and we can keep adding to the list. 

Dramaturgy: A Revolution in Theatre
Mary Luckhurst
Cambridge University Press 2006
ISBN 0 521 84963 2
The first major in depth look at how dramaturgy has developed in the UK.

Between the Lines: The Process of Dramaturgy
Judith Rudakoff and Lynn M Thomson
Playwrights Canada Press 2002
ISBN 0 88754 622 6
US and Canadian dramaturgs in conversation about their work, thoughts and experiences.

Poetics
Aristotle in a translation by Kenneth McLeish
Nich Hern Books; Dramatic Context series 1998
ISBN 1 85459 333 1
Should need no introduction. Still one of the best tracts about theatre, its constituent parts and its role in society in a easy to use edition and translation.

The Production Notebooks: Theatre in Process Volume 1
Edited by Mark Bly
Theatre Communications Group 1996
ISBN 1 55936 110 7
The dramaturg’s production report on the process, the ideas and the decisions taken during 4 major productions in the US not for profit theatres

Theatre as Sign-System: A semiotics of text and performance
Elaine Aston and George Savona
Routledge 1991
ISBN 0 415 04932 6
An accessible introduction to semiotics in theatre and getting the most out of the text in performance.

The Playwright as Rebel: Essays in Theatre History
Nicholas Dromgoole
Oberon Books 2001
ISBN 1 84002 147 0
Essays looking at plays through history and analysing their ideas and assumptions in their cultural and historical context

The Power of the Playwright’s Vision: Blueprints for the working writer
Gordon Farrell
Heinemann Drama
ISBN 0 325 00242 8
An introduction to structures used by some important dramatists through history and how they encapsulated the particular vision of the world on stage.

History of European Drama and Theatre
Erika Fischer- Lichte
Routledge 2002
ISBN 0-415 18060 0
A theatre history of European theatre from Greek Tragedy to 20th Century drama focussing on concepts of identity: political, religious, national, ethnic, class, gendered and individual

Dramaturgy in American Theatre; A Source Book
Susan Jonas, Geoffrey S. Proehl, Michael Lupu
Harcourt Brace College Publishers 1998
A major textbook in the field, it has fifty chapters contributed by many of the field’s leading practitioners.

Theory of the Modern Drama
Peter Szondi. Ed. and trans. Michael Hays.
Polity Press 1987
ISBN 0745603890
Theory of the Modern Drama’ is an analysis of the emergence and development of modern drama from the Renaissance to the present day. The book discusses the work of Ibsen, Chekhov, Strindberg, Satre, Brecht and Wilder, among others.

The Natyashastra
Bharata Muni
Natyashastra (roughly translated as the “science of drama") laid down the foundation for classical Sanskrit drama. It’s difficult to put an exact date to it, and scholars believe it may have been written anywhere between 200 BC to 200 AD. Traditionally, its authorship has been attributed to sage Bharata, but due to the unevenness in writing styles, some critics believe it to be the work of several hands. I did not find it published in English but did see an American introduction to it. The following websites could be a starting point if you want to find out more.
http://www.indiaheritage.com/perform/theater/natya.htm
http://narasimhan.com/SK/Culture/Art/thtr_sanskrit%20drama.htm

Posted by Hanna at 11:11 AM in Resources | Email this entry

Comments:

I would like to add: Theaterschrift 5-6. On dramaturgy. Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Vienna 1994.
A diverse collection of material linked to the subject of ‘dramaturgy’, including interviews with practionners.

Posted by  on  2006/05/19  at  06:19 AM | #

some days ago i got hold of a book in our uni library. it’s called “Dramaturgy - A revolution in theatre”. As far as i read i think it’s may be a good reference for dramaturgy and its history

Frauke: how can one get hold of the theaterschrift issues?

Posted by  on  2006/06/05  at  08:19 AM | #

They are out of print unfortunately - you do still get them through teh participating theatres (I guess that some university libraries might have them as well) and the British Library should have them. The participating theatres were: Felix, Amsterdam. Hebbel Theatre, Berlin. Kaaitheater, Brussel. Theater am Turm, Frankfurt. Wiener Festwochen, Vienna.
Your best bet should be the Kaaitheater as most of the others are now under new Artistic leadership. I got mine and some other issues in this series from there - they send via post although they were incredibly kind to me and brought them along when some of them came over to London for a visit…

Posted by  on  2006/06/05  at  11:45 AM | #

Thank you so much Frauke i will try Kaaitheater then or the British Libray

i hope you don’t have as much stress

Posted by  on  2006/06/05  at  12:49 PM | #

Hello
I am an M.A. student and writing a thesis on the role of the dramaturg in specifically visual theatre. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of some good books or articles on this topic, or tell me of some companies in the UK that use a dramaturg.
Thank you
Lizzy

Posted by  on  2007/02/09  at  03:18 PM | #

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