Dramaturgical research is both an art and a science. It requires knowing where to look, what questions to ask, and—perhaps most importantly—how to share what you discover in ways that serve the creative process.

Start with the Big Questions

Before diving into research, clarify what you're looking for:

• What does this production need to know?
• What questions are the artists asking?
• What context will help the audience engage with the work?
• What might be missing from our collective understanding?

Good research begins with listening to what the creative team actually needs, not what you think they should know.

Types of Dramaturgical Research

Historical Context

When working on period plays, historical research can include:

• Social and political climate of the time
• Daily life and customs
• Visual references (architecture, fashion, objects)
• Language and dialect specifics

Cultural Context

For plays dealing with specific cultures or communities:

• Consulting with community members and experts
• Understanding power dynamics and representation
• Learning about traditions, rituals, and social structures
• Recognizing your own positionality and limitations

Textual Research

Digging into the text itself:

• Multiple translations (for plays in translation)
• Earlier drafts or versions
• The playwright's other works
• Critical interpretations and scholarly analysis

Production History

Understanding how a play has been staged before:

• Previous interpretations and approaches
• Design choices and staging solutions
• Reception and reviews
• What worked and what didn't

Where to Look

Primary Sources

• Archives and special collections
• Interviews with relevant individuals
• Site visits and direct observation
• Original documents and artifacts

Secondary Sources

• Academic books and articles
• Documentaries and films
• Journalism and criticism
• Curated online resources

Living Sources

• Subject matter experts
• Community consultants
• Artists who've worked on similar material
• Audience members from relevant communities

Organizing Your Research

The best research is useless if it's not accessible. Consider:

Creating Research Packets

• Organized by topic or question
• Include images, not just text
• Provide sources for further exploration
• Keep it concise—highlight the most relevant material

Visual Research Boards

• Pinterest boards or physical mood boards
• Organized visual references
• Color palettes, textures, and atmospheres
• Shareable with the entire creative team

Annotated Bibliographies

• Curated list of sources
• Brief descriptions of what each source offers
• Notes on relevance to specific production questions

Presenting Research

How you share research matters as much as what you share.

Timing

• Too early: Artists aren't ready to engage with it yet
• Too late: Decisions have already been made
• Just right: When questions are being actively explored

Format

• Visual learners: Images, diagrams, mood boards
• Text learners: Written summaries, articles, books
• Experiential learners: Site visits, workshops, demonstrations

Depth

• Not everyone needs the same level of detail
• Provide entry points for different levels of engagement
• Make it easy to go deeper for those who want to

Ethical Considerations

Research in theatre carries responsibilities:

Representing Communities

• Are we consulting with or extracting from communities?
• Who has authority to tell this story?
• How are we handling sensitive material?
• What responsibilities come with representation?

Intellectual Labor

• Crediting sources appropriately
• Compensating consultants and experts
• Recognizing that research is labor
• Being transparent about limitations

When Research Becomes Overwhelming

Sometimes research can paralyze rather than liberate. Warning signs:

• The creative team feels burdened by "getting it right"
• Historical accuracy trumps theatrical truth
• Research becomes a substitute for creative decision-making
• Too much information creates decision paralysis

Remember: The goal is to support creative exploration, not to constrain it.

Research as Ongoing Conversation

The best dramaturgical research isn't a one-time information dump—it's an ongoing conversation throughout the creative process. As the production evolves, new questions emerge, and your research should evolve too.

Stay curious. Stay responsive. And remember that sometimes the most valuable research insight is knowing what you don't need to know.

Tools and Resources

Some starting points for dramaturgical research:

• University and public libraries
• Digital archives and databases
• Museum collections
• Local historical societies
• Cultural organizations and community centers
• Academic journals in theatre and performance studies

The key is not just knowing where to look, but knowing how to transform what you find into something that serves the creative process.