Modellbuch

The term "Modellbuch" refers to a "model book" or theatrical record, a concept that evolved from the detailed promptbooks used in early 20th-century German theatre. Max Reinhardt, a prominent director, developed these extensive production plans to coordinate collaborators and incorporate research into rehearsals and performances. These plans went beyond traditional promptbooks, serving as a comprehensive record of a production's interpretive and staging ideas.1

Bertolt Brecht further developed this concept into the Modellbuch, which acted as a pattern for subsequent productions. This practice emphasized cooperation among directors, designers, dramaturges, and engineers, a departure from the more autocratic directorial styles of the time. The Modellbuch is a key element in understanding the collaborative and meticulously planned nature of modern theatrical production, particularly within the German theatre tradition.1