Execution in 2011

The activities of the 4^th edition of the How to Understand Theatre educational programme took place from 9 to 12 May. There were 46 students of Nitra secondary schools and humanities university students (Music Department at the Pedagogic Faculty of Constantine the Philosopher University, Golianova Grammar School, Grammar School Párovská 1 and Nitra Private Conservatoire) taking part in the project. They were dealing with the production of Tennessee William’s The Glass Menagerie, directed by Svetozár Sprušanský at the Andrej Bagar Theatre. 

Comparing with previous years, the production’s creators were more deeply included into individual parts of the programme.  Not only did they talk with the students, they were also lecturing the creative plays. The order of the activities had changed: the students firstly made the creative plays, only then they performed the rest of the activities. The discussion with the actors was planned only after the viewing of the performance. The students were shown the Andrej Bagar Theatre’s space and were enabled to discover the real backstage.

The programme of individual activities of the How to Understand Theatre project with the production of The Glass Menagerie

thursday 28 April 2011, 2.00 pm, Andrej Bagar Theatre, room no. 351

an introductory meeting with the students – partakers of the project, introduction of the project, time schedule, giving out the dramatic text of the production and material to the production

monday 9 May 2011, Andrej Bagar Theatre, Foyer, rooms no. 351 and no. 144

9.00 am – 2.00 pm – creative plays which enabled the students to experience the creative process of individual parts of the production: directing and editing workshop (lecturer: Svetozár Sprušanský), acting workshop (lecturer: Iveta Ditte Jurčová), stage design workshop (lecturers: Diana Strauszová, Dorota Cigánková)

2.30 pm – 3.30 pm – showing of the Andrej Bagar Theatre’s spaces

tuesday 10 May 2011, Andrej Bagar Theatre, room no. 351

2.00 pm – 4.30 pm – an analysis of the theme, conceptions and dramatic text of the production (lecturer: Svetozár Sprušanský – director of the production)

wendesday 11 May 2011, Andrej Bagar Theatre, room no. 351, Studio

4.00 pm – 6.00 pm – a meeting with stage designer Diana Strauszová and costume designer Dorota Cigánková

6.30 pm – 8.30 pm – viewing of the production of The Glass Menagerie

8.30 pm – 10.00 pm – a discussion with the creators and actors

thursday 12 May 2011, Andrej Bagar Theatre, room no. 351

2.00 pm – 4.00 pm – a discussion with theatre critics about the production (lecturers: Miroslav Dacho, Miroslav Zwiefelhofer)

Once the activities had been over we were interested about the opinion of the students concerning the programme. Inter alia, we asked them in a small opinion poll how they would evaluate individual activities of the How to Understand Theatre project (creative plays, analysis of the dramatic text, viewing the performance, discussion with the creators and actors, discussion with theatre critics about the production) and which one of them was the most interesting for them and why.

Selected answers:

"The most interesting part was the analysis of the dramatic text – I liked the spirited director who uncovered to us what is hidden under the lid, the details I had never realised before. I also liked the debate with the stage designer because I am interested in this kind of job and, of course, I was excited by the performance and the actors."

"I think this project quite positively and it would be a real contribution if there were more such projects. I liked all the activities we had gone through, it is great experience for those who want to make theatre professionally in future."

"The most interesting for me were the creative plays because we learnt a lot about particular components of the production, and the performance as such."

"I consider all the components very good – I was most attracted by the discussion with the stage designers."