Traditional Stage Technologies 1

Display Schedule

Subject guarantor

Jan ŠTĚPÁNEK

Name of lecturer(s)

Jan ŠTĚPÁNEK

Contents

During the workshop with Belgian artist Jerome Maeckelbergh, students will work on creating functional theatre machines inspired by traditional Baroque practices. This is by no means a mere reconstruction of historical practices, but rather an inspiration for contemporary work. The production will be designed to maximise future use so that the objects created can be reused in a sustainable way.

First day:

a. Slide presentation of the different theatre heritage techniques, how they have been used in the past, how they are rigged and controlled by drums.

b. Layout of an “under-stage” of 3cm deep. Set-up of an alternative fly tower, including drums.

c. Division of the participants into 3 to 5 groups to take care of different techniques.

Second day:

a. Finding out how to transfer the historical rigging into an “under-stage” of 3cm deep; and this for each different technology.

b. If trusses available, also experiments with different fly techniques.

Third day:

a. Continuation of installing and experimenting.

b. Demonstration of each group their work to the other participants, explaining their findings including possible problems encountered.

Fourth day:

a. Discussion on how to make a kind of public performance (script) including the use of the different technologies learned.

b. Building up and rehearse what has been decided.

Fifth day:

a. Morning: continuation rehearsal.

b. Afternoon: public presentation of the performance.

c. After performance: public may come “on stage” for a “hands on”, supported by each respective group.

d. Breaking of the workshop setup and bring it to stockage.

Learning outcomes

The purpose of the ten-day workshop is to provide a theoretical and practical introduction to the historical technologies of stage machinery used from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the end of the 19th century.

Participants will progressively gain hands-on experience with the design, manufacture and operating principles of traditional stage technologies/machinery in a realistic full functional scale, which are powered solely by human power using physical processes and tools. Participants will also learn about realistic alternatives for the use of these traditional historical multi-functional, stage technologies that are inexpensive in terms of cost and energy and can subsequently functionally replace/complement current stage technologies in non-theatre spaces.

The aim of the two-part workshop is to simultaneously instruct DAMU teachers so that the resulting technologies can be used as teaching aids in future curricula and also be used in international workshops, e.g. during the upcoming PQ.

Prerequisites and other requirements

None.

Literature

None.

Evaluation methods and criteria

90% attendance

Further information

This course is an elective for all students of this school

Schedule for winter semester 2023/2024:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2023/2024:

The subject is a part of the following study plans

• Scenography - Theatrical Scenography in EN (M. A.) (optional subject)
• Scenography - Theatre Scenography (M.A.) (optional subject)
• Scenography - Production Design in EN (M.A.) (optional subject)
• Scenography - Film Scenography (M.A.) (optional subject)
• Scenography - Costume and Mask (M.A.) (optional subject)
• Alternative and puppet theatre (M.A.) (optional subject)
• Directing of Devised and Object Theatre (optional subject)