Ursula Werdenberg
Ursula Werdenberg is a freelance dramaturg for theatre, opera and dance. Since 2007 she is a Secretary General of the Swiss Center of the ITI and since 2008 a Secretary of the International Playwrights’ Forum (IPF). From 1973 to 2005 she has worked as a production dramaturge in Switzerland, Germany and Austria with choreographers (Spoerli, van Cauwenbergh, Wherlock), theatre and opera directors (Delnon, Volker Hesse) and many playwrights (Forte, Kohout, Ionesco). She wrote succesful plays and adaptations for children and was a jury member for several international competitions for contemporary playwrights and theatre festivals.
In her contribution we will meet a Brief resumé of the most important tasks for a dramaturg working in a Municipal or State Theatre (vision and planing the season as a leading dramaturg and member of the Artistic Board of a theatre, being responsible of the artistic profile of the house).
Description of production dramaturgy for a theatre production:
- choosing the cast: director, stage and costume designer and the team of production as well as casting the actors for the play together with the director
- preparing theoretical research materials for the director and the production crew
- developing the conception/goal of the performance together with the director, stage and costume designer
- preparing the textversion (shortening/deleting) together with the director
- viewing the rehearsals, afterwards discussing the work in progress with the director, later beeing the partner of the director while discussing the results of the rehearsals with the actors
- accompanying/attending the process of the production as a personal critical artistic partner of the director from the start of the production until the opening night
- producing/editing a program booklet and being responsible for it
- introducing the audience to the play prior to the performance
- Moderation of public discussions with the audience and the actors after the performance
- giving interviews (radio, television and print media)
- being the artistic partner for the whole production team involved