This conference will focus on the transnational and intercultural
aspects of Early Modern drama with a special interest in the
theatrical relations between Eastern and Western Europe, and
the role of the Venetian (and Italian) dramatic diaspora in shaping
trans-European drama. A decade and a half after the ending of
political divisions between Eastern and Western Europe, scholars
of Early Modern drama have still not advanced very far in the
serious work of representing the full picture of how early modern
theater--plays, playwrights, players, theatergrams, genres and
theories--travelled and reshaped the theatrical culture of Europe
into a complex transcultural form. Nor have scholars developed
sufficient theoretical and historical frameworks to discuss the
differing kinds of influences, intertextualities, intercultural
dialogues and transcultural performance practices created by
the international character of early modern drama. Our conference
aims to undertake both these tasks.
We welcome papers from scholars in comparative literature as
well as from scholars in specific language traditions, for we
assume that true interdisciplinary work will emerge best from
collaboration among scholars who are deeply rooted in national
literary traditions. All papers, however, should address the
questions of the conference and consider how plays and players
crossed borders, why and with what effects, whether aesthetic,
dramatic, political or social. Papers may take up theoretical
topics of relevance or consider such diverse subjects as translation,
the role of audiences, the symbolic and real role of geography,
the significance of utopian or aesthetic spaces in differing
contexts, historical phenomenology, the authority of performance,
or the links between drama and ideology.
As a research collaborative especially interested in performance
practices, we also welcome papers and presentations from theatre
professionals, dramaturgs and scholars on the performance of
early modern plays, including contemporary (20th-21st century)
stagings of those plays; or on early modern performance of scripted
or unscripted drama.
We will welcome papers on the performance in Eastern Europe
of early modern drama, including the work of comic performers
like traveling commedia troupes in the 16th-17th centuries, but
also the reception and interpretation of canonical dramatic figures
like Shakespeare, Moličre, or Lope. In addition, papers on the
influence of Eastern European theatre on Western theatrical traditions
both in the early modern period, and in the present, with a focus
on the work of modern directors and actors whose interpretations
of early modern plays have helped shaped the modernist and postmodern
theatre, will form a relevant part of our inquiry.
List of Confirmed Speakers
Richard Andrews, Professor of Italian (Emeritus), Leeds University
Christian M Billing, Senior Lecturer, Department of Drama,
University of Hull
Pamela Brown, Assoc. Prof. of English, University of Connecticut
Bianca F.-C. Calabresi, Haarlow-Cotsen Fellow, Society of
Fellows in the Liberal Arts, Princeton University
Petr Christov, Charles University and Masaryk University,
Prague
Pavel Drabek, Masaryk University, Prague
Donald Hedrick, Professor of English, Kansas State University
Robert Henke, Prof. of Comparative Literature and Drama,
Washington University in St Louis
Jean Howard, Professor of English, Columbia University (as
respondent)
Magdalena Jackova, Charles University
M. A. (Peg) Katritzky, Wilkes Research Fellow in Theatre
Studies, Department of Literature, The Open University (U.K.)
Jacques Lezra, Professor of English and Spanish, University
of Wisconsin-Madison
Eric Nicholson, Italian and Comparative Drama, University
of Syracuse abroad, Florence, Italy
Shormishtha Panja, Professor and Chair of English, University
of Delhi
Martin Prochazka, Professor of English, Charles University
Alena Sarkissian, Prof. of English, Charles University
David Schalkwyk, Prof of English and Dean, University of
Cape Town, South Africa
Jane Tylus, Professor of Italian, New York University
Melissa Walter, Visiting Assistant Prof. in English, University
of Oregon
Susanne Wofford, Professor of English and Director of the
Center for the Humanities, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ema Vyroubalova, PhD Student, Stanford University
Clare McManus, Roehampton University, London, as respondent
Directions and Travel Information
Airport Shuttles (CEDAZ) and Airport Taxis operate at fixed rates.
Rates for CEDAZ Airport Shuttles: 480 CZK (24 USD, 17 EUR, 11.40 GBP) for one to four persons going to one hotel or boarding house in the city centre; 960 CZK (48 USD, 34 EUR, 22.80 GBP) for five to eight persons going to one destination in the city centre.
Scheduled Shuttle Bus (CEDAZ) service operating between 6:00 and 21:00 every thirty minutes connects the airport with the city centre (V Celnici street) and stops at the Subway/Underground (Metro) A line station Dejvicka. The fare is 90 CZK (4.50 USD, 3.20 EUR, 2.15 GBP), or 60 CZK (3 USD, 2.20 EUR, 1.45 GBP) to the Dejvicka Metro station.
Note: all participants planning to use Airport Shuttles and Scheduled Shuttle Bus should proceed to the CEDAZ ticket counter in the Arrival Lounges of both Terminals of the Prague Airport. The counter is open from 7:00 to 22:00.
Municipal Transport Bus 119, running approximately every fifteen minutes, connects the airport with the station Dejvicka of the Underground (Metro), line A.
Tickets
Transferrable Municipal Transport tickets (valid for 60 minutes on all routes operated by Prague Municipal Trasport) are available for 20 Czech crowns (1 USD, 0.75 EUR, 0.50 GBP) at tobacconists, street kiosks and from the vending machines at the Prague Airport and at all stations of the Subway/Underground (Metro).
ATM machines providing local currency (koruna, CZK) are located in the Airport Arrival Lounges and in the vicinity of the conference venue and of both Guest Houses. They accept all major credit cards.
Directions and Options
Airport Shuttles and Taxis are convenient for the participants staying at both Guest Houses.
Guest House A Charles University Guest House
(Rektoratni hotel UK)
Celetna 14
110 00 Prague 1
phone: (+420) 224491256 Caution: Since the Guest House is located in a pedestrian precinct, taxis and shuttles cannot stop in front of the house. They will take you to the end of Tynska ulicka and you will have to walk about 150-200 yards. The access to the house is through a hallway in which a tourist information centre is located. At night the guests are requested to ring the bell on the main door.
[Detailed internet map of the area]
Guest House B The School of Music and Performing Arts (AMU) Guest House
(Ubytovaci zarizeni AMU)
Trziste 18
118 00 Prague 1
phone: (+420) 257530404 Caution: Since the AMU Guest House is located opposite the U.S. Embassy in a special security zone, taxis and shuttles cannot drive beyond the police checkpoint located approximately 100 meters from the Guest House. Pedestrians have a free admittance beyond this point and are never stopped by the police. [Detailed internet map of the area]
Municipal Transport Participants staying at Guest House A (Charles University Guest House)
take bus 119 from the airport to Dejvicka (terminus), then the Underground (Metro A) to Staromestska (3 stops), and then walk along the Kaprova street, cross the Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti) and follow the Celetna Street. The Guest House will be on their right. The access is through a hallway in which a tourist information centre is located. At night the guests are requested to ring the bell on the main door. Walking distance approximately 500 yards. [Detailed internet map of the area] Participants staying at Guest House B (AMU Guest House)
Take bus 119 from the Airport to Dejvicka (terminus), then the Underground (Metro A) to Malostranska (two stops) and then trams 22, 23, 12 or 20 to Malostranske namesti (one stop). (After getting off follow the tramlines in the same direction and then take the first street turning to the right. The Guest House is on the right-hand side of the street. Walking distance 200 metres. [Detailed internet map of the area]
THE VENUE AND HOW TO REACH IT
The conference venue (Charles University, Faculty of Arts / Filozoficka fakulta, Jana Palacha 2, 116 38 Prague 1, Rooms No. 104 and 111, first floor) is located within a walking distance from both Guest Houses.
From Guest House A (Charles University Guest House)
Follow the Celetna Street to the Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti), cross it to the Kaprova Street. The Faculty of Arts building is at the end of the Kaprova, to the right from the entrance to Metro A station Staromestska. Walking time 10 minutes. [Detailed internet map of the area]
From Guest House B (AMU Guest House)
You can either walk, turning left to the Malostranske square, then right to the Mostecka street, crossing Charles Bridge (Karluv most), and then turning to the left to Krizovnicka street and follow the tramlines to Jana Palacha Square. The Faculty of Arts building will be on your right. Walking time 15 min (a major tourist route).
Or you can take trams 22, 23, 12 or 20 from Malostranske namesti to Malostranska Metro A station and from there go by tram 18 or Metro A (one stop) to Staromestska, or walk across Manesuv Bridge (10 minutes). [Detailed internet map of the area]
The access to Rooms 104 and 111 will be marked by arrows. On May 16, Room 104 will be open for conference registration from 5 PM.
Internet maps of other locations in Prague can be downloaded from supermapy.centrum.cz.
Caution: Beware of pickpockets on all services of Prague Municipal Transport and all public places frequented by tourists. Never carry all your money, cards and documents in one place.
