Historically, the dramaturge is the person in the theatre who views the production with critical distance. A part of it, but also removed, the dramaturge continuously questions the production as a whole. He reflects on its needs, necessities and obstinacy but also on its practical constraints, regulated processes and automatisms. In a best-case scenario he relates the production back to the contexts in which it stands. In this way he embodies the demands of history, society and politics within the artistic process and, on the other hands, represents these to the outside world. In order to achieve this he needs – aside from specialist knowledge – above all the basic virtues of every researcher: he should be able to read, see, think, listen, write and have the courage to avail himself of his own intellect.

The Frankfurt Programme
With the class of 2012 the Masters Programme in Dramaturgy – a cooperation between various tertiary institutions, integrating theory and practice within the framework of the Hessian Theatre Academy – begins its second decade under new academic and artistic direction. Founded by Hans-Thies Lehmann in 2002, the concept of the programme was an answer to major upheavals in the theatre in the decade before. In the face of experimental forms that traversed the boundaries of the traditional areas of theatre, visual arts and audio-visual media and in view of new forms of music theatre, dance and performance, the tasks of dramaturgy had become more complex. The programme quickly became a successful model and many of its students were offered engagements even before their studies had ended. Graduates work in many city and state theatres as well as in the venues of independent production companies.
In view of the dramaturge’s rapidly changing job description, it is particularly important for the Frankfurt programme to convey content that prepares students not just for the theatre that already exists, but also for a future theatre still unknown to students and lecturers. Next to knowledge of the theatre as it actually exists, of its traditions and general framework, characteristics that a good dramaturge should posses include a social imagination, a knowledge of other possibilities, a sensitivity for the new and the unknown, the ability to articulate the new and the unknown, and the willingness to assert these in the face of the economic and political obstacles of enterprise and society. For this reason we place particular value on an international focus, tight networking with contemporary artistic practice in all areas of the theatre and neighbouring arts, and the promotion of autonomous scenic research and students’ independent academic-theoretical practice. 

Programme Content
The programme content of the Masters in Dramaturgy includes, amongst other things, the fundamental issues of dramaturgical practice and theory, artistic-practical work in scenic projects, workshops and theory-practice seminars, independent artistic, theoretical and organisational-curating work, the theory, history and analysis of the theatre in all of its variations and manifestations, the representation and critique of theatrical forms, theatre technology, production dramaturgy and insights into the fundamentals of theatre organisation (stage, contract and publishing law, theatre management, press and publicity work). 
The Masters Programme in Dramaturgy is a programme of the Chair of Theatre Studies at the Institute for Theatre, Film and Media Studies. At the same time it is part of the Hessian Theatre Academy, an academic and production association of programmes in Hessian tertiary institutions that provide theatre qualifications, and the most important Hessian city and state theatre. The tight connection between academic and practical theatre work arises due to the double positioning of the programme – on the one hand in the Institute for Theatre, Film and Media Studies and, on the other, in the Hessian Theatre Academy. This means that the Dramaturgy Programme already enables students to participate in exchange and cooperation with students from other theatre areas (Theatre Studies, Directing, Acting, Scenography) in seminars and concrete projects within the framework of their studies.

Eva Döhne
Institut für Theater-, Film- und Medienwissenschaft
Master-Studiengang Dramaturgie
Nobert-Wollheim-Platz 1
60629 Frankfurt am Main
E-mail: doehne@tfm.uni-frankfurt.de

• Notarised copy of tertiary degree diploma
• Curriculum vitae with academic background
• Letter of motivation that establishes why the applicant now would like to begin studies in  Dramaturgy
• Proof of interest in dramaturgical questions (e.g. in documentation of previous artistic or  theoretical work)
• The description of an artistic production that has impressed the applicant
• Proof of language skills (English and another foreign language)
• Certificate of German language skills if the first degree was obtained at an international higher education institution. See here for more information about the required German language skills.
• APS certificate for applicants from India, Vietnam and China (original)

The applications must be submitted by mail and by E-mail (dramaturgie@tfm.uni-frankfurt.de).

Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
Institut für Theater-, Film- und Medienwissenschaft
Koordination Master-Studiengang Dramaturgie
Nobert-Wollheim-Platz 1
D-60629 Frankfurt am Main