Crossing borders: studies about history of theatres. The case of Leipzig as an example of a methodological perspective

In German theatre studies (Theaterwissenschaft), the History of Theatre is generally considered a less important field. Initially, Theaterwissenschaft was identified almost completely with the History of the Theatre, but only as a mere reconstruction of representations of the past. For that reason, it was considered a positivist discipline, whose task was collection and aggregation of data. Both an attitude of stubbornness, which considered the eighteenth century as a starting point of historical reflection on the theatre, and a consequent identification of theatre as drama were among the peculiarities of Theaterwissenschaft. Rudolf Münz (1931-2008), one of the most important scholar in theatre studies, believed that a radical change of mentality was necessary. The historical research from Leipzig, in its present configuration, derives from that radical change of mentality. One of its methodological principles is the cognitive tool of Theatergefüge, which this paper will gradually illustrate through the context of its creation processes and its applications. For the following reflection, the social and historical relations connected to the city of Leipzig during the XVIII century will be a case study, in order to explain the connection between theatre concept and methodology and the way this connection appeared