Thesis title: L'esordio della drammaturgia femminile nel kabuki: contributi e trasformazioni fuori e dentro il teatro
This dissertation reconstructs the emergence of female playwriting in Japanese kabuki theatre from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, situating it within the cultural transformations that accompanied the transition from the Meiji period to the early Shōwa era. The study adopts a historical cultural approach combined with textual analysis of dramatic works, highlighting the ways in which female authors intervened in the representational forms of kabuki.
The analysis examines the evolution of kabuki in relation to processes of modernisation and contact with Western theatrical culture, with particular attention to changes in stage conventions and dramaturgical practices. Within this framework, the case studies of Hasegawa Shigure, Okada Yachiyo, and Kimura Tomiko are explored, highlighting new forms of writing that contributed to the redefinition of the kabuki repertoire.
Overall, the research highlights the role of female dramaturgy in the transformation of early twentieth century Japanese theatre, underlining the contribution of female authors to the redefinition of kabuki through dramatic production and its stage circulation.