Comparative Dramaturgy as a way of teaching contemporary Practices

In 2017, the international M.A. in “Comparative Dramaturgy and Performance Research” (CDPR) was established as a double degree program for students and as a shared project of five European Universities and Academies (based in Brussels, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Paris and Oslo) closely related to the theory and practice of contemporary theatre and performance.<br/><br/>This project aims to stimulate transcultural perspectives both on performance studies and contemporary theatre practices, challenging established narratives on theatre history and contemporary performing arts which often take the context of the nation-state for granted or, the other way around, reduce the complexity of transcultural hybridization to postmodern globalisation.<br/><br/>The basic idea of the CDPR project is to – in light of an altered image of what it means to be a dramaturg – open up a new field that can be described as “Comparative Dramaturgy”. The idea has developed out of the broadened theatre concept in the past decades. But most importantly, CDPR tackles intercultural questions in the face of progressing globalisation and transnational aesthetics, aiming to understand the proximity of the other, often seen as threatening, as a chance. Our project aims to<br/>stimulate the cultural exchange of expertise and practices, with special attention to hybridisation processes. It responds to the increasing significance of international networks in the performing arts field and the growing importance of cross-border collaboration in the arts. In our contribution, we will share three new entries from the dictionary we are writing as a joint book project on contemporary, comparative dramaturgy.