The Current Dramaturge Requirements in Sri Lankan Theatre

Abstract

This study focuses on the current dramaturgical requirements in Sri Lankan theatre. The renaissance in Europe caused the birth of new facets not only in science and technology but also in techniques, crafts, and various artistic professions including theatre. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing introduced the professional dramaturge in the 18th century in Germany. Many experts define dramaturge as investigative literary texts engaged in drama, providing new definitions and describing the depth of the drama script to the actors and actresses. The broad presence of dramaturge in Sri Lanka is explored in this study. However, it is not mentioned anywhere in Sri Lanka. Yet, in the university when the students presented the Greek playwright Sophocles’ “Trojan Women”, much of the work done by the Director is relevant to the profession of dramaturge. The focus of the present study is to find out the reasons for the lack of dramaturges in the country, namely professional dramaturges. The researcher found information of dramaturges through the Internet and library. Information was also gathered from five famous Sri Lankan theatre directors via interviews about their profession. Although there are different and more advanced fields related to theatre in western countries, they are not found in Sri Lanka. In fact, Sri Lankan theatre has not developed at a professional level. The reason for this may be the ignorance of dramatists and the lack of sources and books in strategies and techniques used in theatre in Sri Lanka.