So What Exactly is a Dramaturg?

by Anthony J. Piccione, Guest Editorial

So, what exactly is a dramaturg?

Many people who aren’t generally involved in theatre—and even some who are—frequently ask that question. In recent years, the involvement of a dramaturg has become far more common in theaters worldwide.

Some theatre people consider a dramaturg a fairly vague and unspecified role. It wasn’t until I worked as a dramaturg in an experimental theatre production at the college I attended that I learned more about the responsibilities associated with this position.

It might still be a foreign concept to many people who have never been in this position – especially those who might be considered “outsiders” in the theatre community. To anyone who is involved in theatre, I know it is especially worth knowing more about, as dramaturgs are becoming more prominent in the industry.

So, for those who may still be less familiar with this role in theatre, here is some background information on the responsibilities of a dramaturg in a full-scale theatrical production.

(I should note that some choose to write “dramaturge” rather than “dramaturg,” but as far as I know, there is no debate in the theatre community over whether or not the different ways of spelling it imply different meanings.)

According to the LMDA (Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas), dramaturgs “contextualize the world of a play; establish connections among the text, actors, and audience; offer opportunities for playwrights; generate projects and programs; and create conversations about plays in their communities”.

So, going off of this, it would seem that the dramaturg is the expert on the literary aspect of theatre—or, as those of us who actually work in theatre know it, drama—who works primarily on the script and makes sure it is ready to be used for the production.

However, in many productions, the dramaturg is also known to do a great deal of historical research, either to help the production team—namely the director—or to better understand the script as they analyze it. Knowing this, it would seem that the definition of what it means to be a dramaturg (or at least a good dramaturg) is a bit broader than that.

There has been some debate about the specifics of the dramaturg's role in the production process, despite this fairly broad definition I’ve presented here in this article with some help from LMDA. I’ve even heard of some people in theatre who have questioned whether this is much of a necessary role in the industry.

As someone who had experience being the dramaturg in a production earlier this year, I would argue that the dramaturg is not always a necessary role. However, having one involved in specific productions could be helpful.

For example, if the play is newer or less well-known, a dramaturg could help ensure that the show’s first production reaches its full potential. It is also worth considering the historical and literary knowledge of the rest of the production team—particularly when it comes to who is sitting in the director’s chair—when determining whether or not a dramaturg is needed to help improve production quality.

So, the dramaturg is still a new – and not always well-defined – position in theatre, and it can be especially helpful to have one for certain productions. Nonetheless, whether you think it is a necessary role or not, hopefully, this article gives you a somewhat better idea of what it means to be a dramaturg. That way, if you ever encounter one in rehearsal – or decide to become one yourself – you’ll have a better understanding of why you may, after all, “really need the dramaturg.”