ABSTRACT
Who takes the role of dramaturg in a devised work and what does that role encompass? Artists such as Eugenio Barba, Charles Mee, and Pina Bausch, along with companies such as SITI and Dell’Arte, are prime considerations for exploring this topic, as are universities that offer coursework in devising. The definition of devised theatre that I am using is a collaborative effort by a group that is involved in creating the script and staging, from inspiration to performance. In many devised theatre companies the director brings in the idea and guides the process for the entire ensemble. Scholars Tina Bicat and Chris Baldwin discuss this process in their book Devised and Collaborative Theatre: A Practical Quide. They also describe a different approach: “Often the company who work together regularly are so familiar with each other’s creative process that no one really knows where the idea starts.” 1 This type of devising project allows everyone and anyone to make proposals, there is no specific division of roles. In both cases, how does dramaturgy fit into a devising process? When we consider famous proponents of devising or dramaturgy we discover a variety of stances that include elements of similarity. In the devising process, is the role of dramaturg that of a production dramaturg or new play dramaturg? Is the role of dramaturg delegated, separated, combined, or converged, and does it matter?
