Histories of theatre II

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

Passing on the knowledge on world theatre (Asia, Africa, Europe, America, Australia) 

Presentation of the most important information on the development of European 19th and 20th century theatre and drama 

Transferring the knowledge on the development of US, Canadian, South American and Australian theatre and drama in the 19th and 20th centuries 

Presentation of the most important information on ancient and modern oriental theatre and drama 

Developing skills in observing the development of theatre technology and its influence on stage practices and drama 

Developing skills in finding relations between theatre and drama and their cultural context 

Providing students with theatre terminology in English 

Developing skills in using terminology of theatre studies in practice in English 

Developing skills in the use of secondary sources 

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

The most basic criterion is a sufficiently high level of language skills in English (at least B2 or C1) as well as basic knowledge on theatre and drama (secondary school level and histories of theatre from the ancient times until the 18th c.). 

Syllabus

Week 1: Indian theatre and drama; Sanskrit drama; question of dramatic genres; role of dance and music; architecture of the stage; modern drama and theatre 

 

Week 2: Theatre and drama in China; literary drama; staging; Beijing opera; staging conventions; Western drama in modern theatre

 

Week 3: Theatre and drama in Japan; Noh and Kabuki theatre; staging conventions; modern Japanese theatre 

 

Week 4: Theatre and drama in German-speaking countries in the 19th century

 

Week 5: French theatre in the 19th c.: conventions, stages, companies, lighting, realism and theatrical technology; emergence of the director 

 

Week 6: Russian and Polish theatre and drama in the 19th c.; theatres, conventions, realism 

 

Week 7: American and Canadian theatre in the 19th c.; British vs. American actors; actormanagers; the significance of Helena Modrzejwska on American stage; role of melodrama 

 

Week 8: British theatre and drama in the 19th c.; actor-managers; realism; role of Shakespeare; lavish shows 

 

Week 9: Spanish and Italian theatre in the 19th c. 

 

Week 10: Modern (20th c.) theatre in Europe: France, Italy and Spain; 

 

Week 11: Modern theatre in the 20th c. in Europe: German speaking countries, Scandinavia; the significance of Brecht; major Germanspeaking and Scandinavian stages 

 

Week 12: Modern theatre and drama in Poland and Russia; Stanislavsky, Grotowski and Kantor and their influence on theatre; Wyspiański’s vision of theatre 

 

Week 13: Theatre and drama in Britain; experimental (poetic) vs. realistic theatre/drama; In-YerFace theatre; major stages in Britain 

 

Week 14: Modern theatre and drama in the US, Canada and Australia; African theatre 

 

Week 15: Final test

Reading list

Brockett, Oscar G. and Franklin J. Hildy. 2014. History of the Theatre. 14th edition. Harlow: Pearson. 

Brown, John Russell (ed.) 1995. The Oxford Illustrated History of Theatre. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

Hartnol, Phyllis. 2012. The Theatre. A Concise History. Fourth edition. London: Thames and Hudson. 

Pavis, Patrice. 1998. Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts and Analysis. Toronto and Buffalo: University of Toronto Press. 

Wickham, Glynne. 2002. A History of the Theatre. Second edition. New York: Phaidon Press Inc. 

Zarrilli, Philip B. et al. 2010. Theatre Histories. An Introduction. 2nd edition. London – New York: Routledge.