Words for the Theatre Four Essays on the Dramatic Text Focus on Dramaturgy Series

In Words for the Theatre, playwright David Colepursues a course of dramaturgical self-questioning on the part of a playwright, centred on the act of playwriting.

The book?s four essays each offer a dramaturgical perspective on a different aspect of the playwright?s practice: How does the playwright juggle the transcriptive and prescriptive aspects of their activity? Does the ultimate performance of a playtext in fact represent something to which all writing aspires? Does the playwright?s process of withdrawing to create their text echo a similar process in the theatre more widely? Finally, how can the playwright counter theatre?s pervasive leaning towards the ?mistake? of realism?

Suited to playwrights, teachers, and higher-level students, this volume of essays offers reflections on the questions that confront every playwright, from an author well-versed in supplying words for the theatre.

Preface: Words from a Playwright

Acknowledgments

ESSAY I: The Dramatic Text As Transcript and Prescription

ESSAY II: The Dramatic Text As Type of the Text

ESSAY III: The Theatre Wants to Go In

ESSAY IV: Theatre As an Event and Another Event; or, The Sorrows of Realism (Something like a manifesto)

Words for the Theatre

Index

David Cole is a playwright who has written two prior books of dramatic theory: The Theatrical Event and the Nathan Award-winning Acting as Reading. His plays may be found at www.davidcoleplaysandprose.com.