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definition of dramaturgy

The term dramaturgy refers to the art of theater. The one who stars in this form of creation is the playwright, that is, the person who makes dramas. In this sense, it must be remembered that the word drama in Greek means "I do". Thus, the playwright is the one who theatrically recreates an invented story, which can be a tragedy, a comedy, a drama, as well as a whole diversity of theatrical genres and sub-genres (vaudeville, zarzuela, opera, monologue, mime, etc.). In any case, dramaturgy is the art of representing a story on stage.

Elements of dramaturgy

The fundamental element of this art is the theatrical text. Although the history of the theater has been carried out properly on conventional stages, it should not be forgotten that the theatrical work has also been taken to film and television.

The plays are designed to be performed. In this sense, a theatrical text is incomplete, since it does not incorporate the elements of the scenography, such as the lighting, the costumes or the movement of the actors. On the other hand, the music and the decoration of a stage are also essential elements in any theatrical work.

The plot of a work must capture the attention of the public during its performance, for which a culminating moment is established every so often that directs the story towards its final outcome.

In a theatrical story the characters are created to be embodied by actors

In this way, the action that is told to the viewer is revealed by the dialogue between the actors and the figure of the narrator is not necessary.

In a theatrical text, instructions from the author usually appear in which they specify how the actors should act and these instructions or indications are known as annotations.

In short, the dramaturgy is made up of the following elements: the author or playwright, the text itself, the actors directed by a director and the scenography. And all this is designed to delight an audience.

Origin of the theater

The Greeks attended religious ceremonies in honor of their gods. During these ceremonies the Greeks consecrated the supernatural deeds of their gods and reproduced the lives of their mythological and legendary heroes. These stories had a moralizing component and began to be performed on stage to express the need to be loyal to the gods or the laws of the city. The first representations were made in honor of Dionysus and for this reason he is the patron saint of the theater.

Photo: iStock - Todd Keith

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