Dramaturgical Work in the Role-Creation Process: A Study of Character Building in Five Realist Theater Performances

Abstract

This article stems from observations of the challenges actors face in portraying characters in realist-style, tragedy-genre plays. These observations reveal a gap between the actors' understanding of the characters in the script and their performance execution on stage. This gap arises from the fact that some actors merely memorize the dialogue without first understanding and deeply exploring the character's dimensions. The purpose of this article is to bridge the gap between dramaturgical findings and the methodological solutions that can be offered to actors. This is pursued by identifying and formulating the specific role of the dramaturg as a process companion for actors; and, more broadly, by formulating dramaturgical work as a supporting tool for analyzing, understanding, and comprehensively building a character. This article employs a qualitative method with a case study approach, written based on the practice of mentoring five acting processes. The scripts examined are all realist in style and tragic in genre. The research findings indicate that three types of dramaturgical work assist in character building and role creation, namely: 1)diagnostic work; 2)structural work; and 3)contextual work, which operate synergistically and complement one another. The conclusion of this study suggests that a dramaturg can be employed as a process companion for actors, particularly in relation to the understanding that dramaturgical work can strengthen the acting paradigm from “merely memorizing dialogue” to “bringing the character to life.”