Communication in Theatre Directing and Performance: From Rehears ...

processes are harnessed. This is followed by a discussion on theatrical collaboration.

The development of the methodology is reported in chapter 3, detailing the rationale, development of the original protocols and symbols used, the initial pilot study, and how this was refined subsequently. The chapter also covers issues of interjudge concordance in relation to the validity of the specially devised observation protocols.

In chapter 4, the first study of an operatic company and its rehearsals is explained in terms of the company profile, the logistics of rehearsal data collection, and how these data were processed in generating the statistical analyses and main outcomes.

Chapters 5 and 6 follow the same format for studies 2 and 3, the former an observation of Director 2 for a second operatic production and the latter a return to Director 1 in another production. Both of these studies produced modifications to the template protocols.

Chapter 7 focuses on a detailed examination of the three sets of interviews that were conducted, drawing out important points made in them and highlighting regularly recurring themes.

Comparisons between the three fieldwork studies are discussed in chapter 8, along with questions and implications that arise, including those referring to directorial profiling.

Chapter 9 discusses the overall conclusions from the project, potential applications for the data, and further lines of future research.

1.5. Ethical Issues

Given my previous position as a senior teacher in charge of staff support, I had already gained extensive experience in matters of confidentiality. This included knowledge of extremely private, often medical or familial, information that the staff member did not want generally known within the school community. It, therefore, became usual for me to keep my counsel, respecting the sensitivity of staff members’ personal knowledge.

This current research, however, touches on more difficult territory.