Dramaturgie Open Call
OPEN CALL:
RESPONSE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Strategies of teaching practical dramaturgy of contemporary performance - Part 2
Symposium
January 23rd & 24th 2026, Leipzig
PDF Open Call Response and Responsibility
"Supposing no one asked a question. What would be the answer." (Gertrude Stein, Useful Knowledge)
The symposium around the notions of “response and responsibility” looks at the strategies of applied dramaturgy teachers in a rapidly changing world. Dramaturgy teachers train students in critical and creative abilities. As theatre schools send new generations into the field, the demand for artistic risk and openness to emerging themes has never been more urgent.
What kind of flexibility is required from tomorrow’s dramaturges? What kind of ethics? Which strategies have we developed to encourage ourselves and our students and to interrupt any sort of self-fulfilling dynamics? How do we take responsibility, when we do not know what we are responding to?
For which theatres do we train dramaturges? What are the current and foreseeable future employment opportunities and what artistic demands do we pursue in our training programmes at the various locations?
The first issue of the symposium on teaching contemporary dramaturgy in Prague 2025 was entitled “between presence and meaning”, which raised fundamental questions about dramaturgical practice. The different contributions from all over Europe and beyond made it clear that dramaturgy, as a responsive artistic practice, recognises a variety of different approaches that are regionally specific.
The exchange about the different practices, approaches and methods of teaching will be presented and deepened in the second issue of the symposium in Leipzig in January 2026. We will consider how regional cultural perspectives, theatre-making practices, production conditions, and networks are shaped by—and respond to—specific political and economic contexts. Last but not least, the symposium will provide an opportunity to think together about strategies for responding to the current rapid changes in the theatre and cultural landscape, and how we can act in solidarity and develop resilience.
This symposium aims to provide a platform for teachers of practical dramaturgy to exchange good practices, bad experiences and unresolvable problems connected to teaching practical dramaturgy; to talk about specific practical tasks, as well as organisation of individual courses. The sessions will consist of short 15 min max presentations of methods and strategy demonstrations that will provide a basis for discussion.
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Send your proposal (200 words max abstract of the presentation and 200 words max bio) to response@hmt-leipzig.de before September 15th 2025. You will be notified by October 15th 2025.
There is no fee for the symposium. We cannot provide financial support for participants. Only invitation letters.
The symposium will be part of an Erasmus-Blended Intensive Program (BIP) from January 20th to 24th for teachers and students of dramaturgy. The BIP participation enables to apply for Erasmus-mobility funding at your local institution also for students. Students get 3 credit points (ECTS) for the BIP. If the dramaturgy department of your academy is interested in joining the BIP please contact us before June 8th for further information.
The symposium is organized by Residenz Schauspiel Leipzig and Hochschule für Musik und Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Leipzig in collaboration with the KALD department / Prague Performing Arts Academy and DAS Theatre/Amsterdam University of the Arts.
Conveners: Thomas Frank and Dr. Dag Kemser
Additional committee: doc. Miguel Melgares, doc. MgA. Sodja Zupanc-Lotker, and MgA. Mgr. Marta Ljubková, Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Annette Storr, Prof. Dr. Christian Pischel