Reviewing theatre

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

1. Acquainting students with types, characteristics and structures of theatre reviews
2. Developing students’ critical reflection on the nature of theatre review and its social and cultural function
3. Assessing the role and significance of the reviewer and theatre review in the history of theatre
4. Evaluating reviews of theatrical productions based on Shakespeare’s plays as a particularly important ‘type’ in Anglophone reviewing

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge of theatre history, basic knowledge of British and Irish drama and theatre, basic knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays and their stage adaptations. 

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to the course 

 

Week 2: How to write about theatre performance: the Pavis questionnaire  

 

Week 3: A general overview of theatre reviewing   

 

Week 4: An introdution to reviewing Shakespeare  

 

Week 5: History of reviewing 1  

 

Week 6: History of reviewing 2  

 

Week 7: A critic’s perspective 1  

 

Week 8: A critic’s perspective 2  

 

Week 9: Functions of reviewing 1  

 

Week 10: Functions of reviewing 2  

 

Week 11: Functions of reviewing 3  

 

Week 12: Reviewing Shakespeare in Anglophone culture 1  

 

Week 13: Reviewing Shakespeare in Anglophone culture 1  

 

Week 14: Reviewing Shakespeare in Anglophone culture 3  

 

Week 15: Reviewing theatre in Poland

Reading list

Edmonson, Paul, Paul Prescott and Erin Sullivan (eds.) 2013. A Year of Shakespeare. 

Re-living the World Shakespeare Festival. London: Bloomsbury. 

Prescott, Paul. 2013. Reviewing Shakespeare. Journalism and Performance from the 

Eighteenth Century to the Present. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Radosavljević, Duška (ed.) 2016. Theatre Criticism. Changing Landscapes. London – 

Oxford: Bloomsbury. 

 Ratajczakowa, Dobrochna. 2006. “Krytyka znawców i krytyka profanów”, in: W 

krysztale i w płomieniu. Studia i szkice o dramacie i teatrze. Tom 2. Wrocław: 

Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego, 581-587. 

Ratajczakowa, Dobrochna. 2006. “ Recenzent teatralny w poszukiwaniu formy”, in: 

W krysztale i w płomieniu. Studia i szkice o dramacie i teatrze. Tom 2. Wrocław: 

Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego, 664-680. 

Sławiński, Janusz. 1974. „Funkcje krytyki teatralnej”, in: Dzieło – Język – Tradycja. 

Warszaw