Every dramaturg develops their own set of tools over time—frameworks for thinking, questions for exploring, resources for researching. But what if we could share these tools more intentionally? What if we could build collective toolkits for common dramaturgical challenges?
What is a Dramaturgy Toolkit?
A dramaturgy toolkit is a curated collection of resources, questions, exercises, and frameworks designed to address a specific aspect of theatrical work. Unlike a general reference, a toolkit is:
- Focused: Addresses a specific challenge or area of practice
- Practical: Contains actionable tools and approaches
- Flexible: Adaptable to different contexts and productions
- Shareable: Designed for community use and adaptation
Why Build Toolkits?
Collective Intelligence
No single dramaturg has all the answers. By building toolkits together, we pool our collective knowledge and experience.
Efficiency
Why reinvent the wheel for every production? Toolkits provide starting points that save time and energy.
Education
Toolkits can help emerging dramaturgs learn from the practices of more experienced practitioners.
Innovation
When we make our methods visible, others can build on them, adapt them, and create new approaches.
What Might a Toolkit Contain?
Essential Questions
Core questions that help focus exploration:
- What's at stake in this moment?
- Who holds power in this scene?
- What's not being said?
- How does this choice serve the story we're telling?
Frameworks and Models
Analytical tools for understanding structure, character, or theme:
- Story arc diagrams
- Character relationship maps
- Thematic analysis grids
- Structural breakdowns
Exercises and Activities
Practical activities for rehearsal or development:
- Viewpoints explorations
- Etudes for investigating character
- Table work formats
- Feedback structures
Resource Lists
Curated collections of:
- Recommended readings
- Relevant podcasts and videos
- Useful databases and archives
- Expert consultants and organizations
Templates and Formats
Reproducible documents:
- Research packet templates
- Production notes formats
- Program essay structures
- Post-show discussion guides
Example Toolkits
Here are some areas where toolkits might be especially useful:
Adaptation Toolkit
For working on adaptations of novels, films, or other source material:
- Questions about fidelity vs. interpretation
- Exercises for identifying theatrical essence
- Structural frameworks for adaptation
- Legal and rights considerations
Devising Toolkit
For collaborative creation processes:
- Generative exercises
- Documentation methods
- Decision-making frameworks
- Authorship and credit structures
Equity and Inclusion Toolkit
For thoughtfully approaching representation:
- Community consultation frameworks
- Power dynamics analysis
- Authentic casting considerations
- Accessibility planning resources
Touring Toolkit
For productions that travel:
- Adaptation strategies for different spaces
- Community engagement approaches
- Technical considerations checklist
- Sustainability practices
Building Your Own Toolkits
Want to create a toolkit? Here's how to start:
- Identify a Need: What challenge do you encounter repeatedly?
- Collect Your Tools: What approaches, questions, or resources have helped you?
- Organize and Refine: How can you make these tools accessible to others?
- Test and Iterate: Try your toolkit on a project and refine based on what works
- Share and Gather Feedback: Let others use it and learn from their experiences
The Living Toolkit
The best toolkits are never finished. They evolve as:
- New approaches emerge
- Contexts change
- Practitioners contribute their own tools
- Feedback reveals what works and what doesn't
Think of toolkits as living documents, open to revision and expansion.
Sharing Toolkits
Toolkits are most valuable when shared. Consider:
- Open-source licensing that allows adaptation
- Clear attribution of sources and contributors
- Formats that are easy to copy and customize
- Platforms that allow community contribution
Beyond Individual Practice
When we build and share toolkits, we're doing more than improving our individual practices—we're building collective capacity and strengthening the field of dramaturgy as a whole.
Every toolkit is an invitation to collaboration, a gift to the community, and a contribution to the evolving practice of dramaturgy.
Start Small
You don't need to build a comprehensive toolkit from scratch. Start with:
- A list of questions you always ask
- Three exercises that consistently work for you
- A handful of your most-used resources
- A template you've refined over multiple productions
Share it. See how others use it. Let it grow.
The work of dramaturgy is richer when we learn from and build with each other.