The Dramaturg Designer Process

Rohaizad Suaidi, Dramaturg

Suaidi's definition of dramaturg: "To support the director and artistic team by providing information pertaining or relating to the script."

The role of the dramaturg begins long before the production rehearsals. The dramaturg meets with the production director to discuss the director's artistic vision of the play and how he could support and contribute to this vision. Suaidi says Kate Chisholm, director of Heartfield has chosen to direct the show using the techniques characteristic of epic theater. Suaidi researched and provided information on the writings of Bertolt Brecht, epic theater and Brechtian acting. The dramaturg also works closely with the artistic team and cast to help them better interpret the script. To assist the artistic team and cast, Suaidi conducted literary research on other German artists associated with the Dada movement in Berlin, such as Hanna Hock as well as information on political refugee and artistic exile during W.W.II.

Suaidi says a dramaturg should be well read in dramatic literature, theater history and general history. The role of dramaturg will vary from production to production - the director's vision of the play determines the role and responsibilities of the dramaturg, says Suaidi.