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Comment by National Theatre Wales on February 18, 2014 at 13:35

@Tim Price. Last year you just wanted us to send you to Berlin to explore dramaturgy.  You've upped the stakes!

Comment by National Theatre Wales on February 18, 2014 at 13:31

@Richad Huw Morgan I meant House UnAmerican Activities Committee.  House of UnAmerican Activities is probably the name of a Voguing group competing in an Socialist Drag Ball! 

Comment by Tim Price on February 18, 2014 at 13:31

What's the collective noun for dramaturgs? 

Comment by Tim Price on February 18, 2014 at 13:29

Yeah, think Kaite's points are great. And it all seems in the fine Welsh tradition of avoiding any kinds of concentrated power! I'd advocate for a group of 10-12 with a huge variety of people in that group. And then I'd like to see NTW invest some resources in training/de-training/upskilling/downskilling them for a year, alongside them nurturing a seed commission. NTW can open doors, and form partnerships with so many interesting international companies and institutions. On a programme like that, the idea of what a Welsh dramaturg is and how it is different could be discovered. I don't think we'll find the answer here. But on a programme like that we might. Basically I want you to send me to Brazil.  

Comment by National Theatre Wales on February 18, 2014 at 13:29

@Richard Huw Morgan - Register all sounds a bit House of Unamerican activities doesn't it!  

Comment by National Theatre Wales on February 18, 2014 at 13:25

@jaye swift. I tweeted the question 'what is a dramaturg' a year or so ago and got some great responses.  Keith Saha of 20 Stories High quoted Noel Greig; 'The writers' friend'. David Greig replied: 'Wright' = maker of vehicles. So, playwright makes the vehicle. Actor drives the vehicle. Director steers. Dramaturg is mechanic' But the harshest response was: "Dramaturg = someone who helps others to write a play without having to do all the messy legwork themselves” (Isn't that what we directors do!)  

Comment by Richard Huw Morgan on February 18, 2014 at 13:25

happy to be on the register if you think i might be useful to anybody

Comment by National Theatre Wales on February 18, 2014 at 13:18

Very useful responses so far guys, thank you.  I hear the point about variety.  Would having a 'bank' or 'register' of dramaturgs be a way forward?  I'm worried that without something like that we might end up always appointing the same people because they are the ones who have done the job for us successfully before (which of course is a good thing, but you know what I mean...)  I'd love also to have some group discussions about what dramaturgy is and what theatre writing can be - with dramaturgical hats on...

Comment by Richard Huw Morgan on February 18, 2014 at 8:09

Can only agree with Kaite, not least as her input is not just personal but the summation of the opinions of some major voices in the field. I've not been very active in this group recently as it seems to me to be primarily of interest to writers of plays, but would like to flag up that at various times in the past there has been vigorous discussion regarding the flexibility of the definition of 'writer', which, at times, I sometimes feel might embrace my practice.

This tailored support is of particular importance in relation to NTW which aims to produce a wide variety of forms of theatre. The appointment of one or two individuals, as opposed to an offer of case-by-case support would, I believe, indicate a preference for a particular type, or range, of work or aesthetics, rather than being an organisation responsive to the artistic ambitions of the Nation it is funded to represent.

Comment by Jaye L Swift on February 18, 2014 at 4:27

Never heard the word dramaturg until now LOL!

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