International Theatre Conference: Directing and Authorship in Western Drama

Panel Four
Friday, October 24th, 4:15-5:45pm

Dr. Greg Doran, St. Mary's U
Abstract: Interpretation and Meaning: Textual Theory and the Director

Few art or literary forms are as collaborative as theatre. A playwright must rely on a production team to bring his or her work to an audience, so the play is often subject to many differing opinions. Within the production team, it is the director's responsibility to act as sole interpreter of the text. As sole interpreter, therefore, the director should strive to be as faithful to the original intention of the text as possible. I believe the use of scholarly editions and bibliographic theory can assist a director to present a more faithful representation of the text.

For example, a director's understanding of a text can be enchanced by a scholarly edition that charts the development of the text. Whether the scholarly edition follows the scientific theory, put forward by Gregg and Bowers, or the socialized theory of McGann, is unimportant because the edition will provide the director will a wealth of information to inform his or her interpretation. From a scholarly edition, a director can see what does and does not change during the play's development. While a playwright may alter style and structure, there is usually a central idea or theme that remains constant. A scholarly edition will provide the director with an insight into that constant idea or theme, which will affect the director's understanding and interpretation of the text. The more information available to the director, the clearer her or his interpretation of the text.

As well, a director could also return to early drafts of a text that were excised due to external political influences that altered the play's original intention. By restoring scenes or speeches from an earlier draft, the director may be moving the text closer to its original intention. Therefore, I believe that the use of scholarly editions and textual theories will help directors to be better interpreters of dramatic texts.