Modern Czech Theatre: Reflector and Conscience of a Nation (Studies in Theatre History and Culture)

The story of Czech theatre in the twentieth century involves generations of mesmerizing players and memorable productions. Beyond these artistic considerations, however, lies a larger story: a theatre that has resonated with the intense concerns of its audiences acquires a significance and a force beyond anything created by striking individual talents or random stage hits. Amid the variety of performances during the past hundred years, that basic and provocative reality has been repeatedly demonstrated, as Jarka Burian reveals in his extraordinary history of the dramatic world of Czech theatre. Following a brief historical background, Burian provides a chronological series of perspectives and observations on the evolving nature of Czech theatre productions during this century in relation to their similarly evolving social and political contexts. Once Czecho-slovak independence was achieved in 1918, a repeated interplay of theatre with political realities became the norm, sometimes stifling the creative urge but often producing even greater artistry. When playwright Vaclav Havel became president in 1990, this was but the latest and most celebrated example of the vital engagement between stage and society that has been a repeated condition of Czech theatre for the past two hundred years. Underlying all questions of the Czech theatre's relevance to its audience is the historically and culturally shaped relationship between the two. In Jarka Burian's skillful hands, it also becomes an extremely important touchstone for understanding the history of modern theatre within western culture. The story of Czech theatre in the 20th century involves generations of mesmerizing players and memorable productions. Beyond these artistic considerations, however, lies a larger story: a theatre that has resonated with the intense concerns of its audiences acquires a significance and a force beyond anything created by striking individual talents or random stage hits. Amid the variety of performances during the past 100 years, that basic and provocative reality has been repeatedly demonstrated, as Jarka Burian reveals in his history of the dramatic world of Czech theatre. Following a brief historical background, Burian provides a chronological series of perspectives and observations on the evolving nature of Czech theatre productions during this century in relation to their similarly evolving social and political contexts. Once Czechoslovak independence was achieved in 1918, a repeated interplay of theatre with political realities became the norm, sometimes stifling the creative urge but often producing even greater artistry. When playwright Vaclev Havel became president in 1990, this was but the latest and most celebrated example of the vital engagement between stage and society that has been a repeated condition of Czech theatre for the past 200 years. Underlying all questions of the Czech theatre's relevance to its audience is the historically and culturally shaped relationship between the two. In Jarka Burian's hands, it also becomes an extremely important touchstone for understanding the history of modern theatre within western culture. The story of Czech theatre in the twentieth century involves generations of mesmerizing players and memorable productions. Beyond these artistic considerations, however, lies a larger story: a theatre that has resonated with the intense concerns of its audiences acquires a significance and a force beyond anything created by striking individual talents or random stage hits. Amid the variety of performances during the past hundred years, that basic and provocative reality has been repeatedly demonstrated, as Jarka Burian reveals in his extraordinary history of the dramatic world of Czech theatre. Following a brief historical background, Burian provides a chronological series of perspectives and observations on the evolving nature of Czech theatre productions during this century in relation to their similarly evolving social and political contexts. Once Czechoslovak independence was achieved in 1918, a repeated interplay of theatre with political realities became the norm, sometimes stifling the creative urge but often producing even greater artistry. When playwright Václav Havel became president in 1990, this was but the latest and most celebrated example of the vital engagement between stage and society that has been a repeated condition of Czech theatre for the past two hundred years. In Jarka Burian's skillful hands, Modern Czech Theatre becomes an extremely important touchstone for understanding the history of modern theatre within western culture. 1. 1780-1900: Some Exposition Before The Main Action -- 2. 1900-1938: From The Turn Of The Century To Munich -- 3. Theatre During The Occupation And War Years -- 4. The Postwar Years And The 1950s -- 5. The Dynamic 1960s. Part One: Significant New Plays -- 6. The Dynamic 1960s. Part Two: Key Productions In New Studio Theatres And Elsewhere -- 7. August 1968: The Trauma And Its Aftermath -- 8. A Gradual Thawing In The 1980s -- 9. 1989: Annus Mirabilis For The Czechs And Their Theatre -- 10. Liberation And Its Pains: The First Year After The November Revolution -- 11. Czech Theatre Of The 1990s. Jarka M. Burian. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [245]-250) And Index. Following a brief historical background, this book provides a chronological series of perspectives and observations on the evolving nature of Czech theatre production during the 20th century, in relation to their similarly evolving social and political contexts.