Once the play has taken shape, it's time for the other half of theatre - the audience! As dramaturg, you are not only liaison between the text and the production, but then the production and the outside world, which can be initiated at various stages throughout the process. For all types, there are interviews and articles in theatre periodicals and journals that provide examples on what has worked for others.
Some types of engagement include...
- Program notes - Some productions will allow for a dramaturg's note to be included in the program, which can serve as an opportunity to talk about the process and desired impact/significance of the work. These can also provide a space to talk about important historical context, especially when such knowledge is integral to understanding the plot of the show.
- Lobby displays - For dramaturgs with some artisanship, visual aids for the audience to interact with before and after the performance can be a potent way of sparking engagement and further discussion. These can be posters, diagrams, educational passages, physical models of the stage or costumes, or any number of other supplemental materials.
- Hosting talkbacks - After certain performances, the production might invite you to facilitate a conversation between the company and the audience, with a mix of questions from the audience and from yourself. As such, it helps to prepare some open-ended questions that take the emotions of the end of the show into account.
Additionally, feel free to coordinate with your production's marketing team to talk about community outreach opportunities - collaborations with local organizations, guest speakers, fundraising shout-outs, and so on.
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