Výrazové tendencie súčasného pouličného divadla
Expressive Tendencies in the Contemporary street Theatre

Summary/Abstract: The paper is a brief prolegomena to an extensive research of the phenomenon of street theatre. The author takes a number of positions on the subject of his study. He discloses the strategies for mapping the present street theatre culture with regard to the currently most prevailing manifestations in contemporary Slovakia. He reflects the particular expressive tendencies within contemporary street theatre and strongly distinguishes its factual specifications. In the conclusion, the author presents more explicit concept of how to determine the nature of this type of theatre and outlines relevant, possible typology. At the same time, he also points out the individual functions of the present street theatre in Slovakia. Poetics of the contemporary street theatre in the domestic context quite differs from street production made for a sole purpose. In the current staging practice, street theatre can be in Slovakia many things, which is often a major problem in the final mapping and understanding of the issue. Sometimes any outdoor open-air presentation bears the label of street theatre, although it completely lacks the attributes ascribed to this type of theatre. Street theatre in Slovakia has many variants and therefore is mostly mixed with non-theatrical theatricality, with show and other street attractions that the very street theatricality not just overlaps but, unfortunately, sometimes completely replace. The presence of such street theatre is actually in Slovak conditions rare, unique, nourished only by a few initiatives, theatre companies and events. As a result, it creates a coherent colour of street ‚spectacle‘, which is sometimes seen on the surface as a revitalized, re-recognized theatrical form developed in the sporadic but constant spirit. „Open air theatre“ or „outdoor theatre“ has its specific conditions for the existence on the cultural map of theatre, its right to exist in the context of domestic theatrical culture. Similarly, it follows fixed, unwritten laws, language, aesthetics and even the original expressive tendencies, which clearly enrich and even inspire the overall culture of theatre.

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