World Theatre Future and Past

Quick Facts

What: The beautiful city of Prague has inspired art from the time of the Holy Roman Empire through Nazi occupation, Communist regimes, and is now recognized as a global center of innovative performance. Writers, painters, architects, and performers have been inspired by and left their marks on this vibrant city for generations. Students in this program will experience a wide variety of performance styles, including experimental and interdisciplinary performance art at the Prague Quadrennial, Black Light Theatre performance, the Czech National Ballet's performance of Onegin, and a puppet festival in Liberec. Additionally, students will see firsthand historically significant and groundbreaking architecture, including Frank Gehry's Dancing House, the intact Baroque theatre in Cesky Krumlov, and the famous Prague Castle -- the largest ancient castle in the world. 

Where: Prague, Czech Republic

When: May 31 - June 22, 2023

Cost: $5,100*
*Non-Sewanee students pay an additional $300 application fee

Program Directors: Faculty Director: Professor Jennifer K. Matthews, Sewanee Theatre Department | Assistant Director: Sarah Lacy Hamilton

How to Apply: Visit this link

---

Program Overview

Academics

Students will receive 4 credits for the following course:

• THTR 238 - Performance Tradition + Innovation in Central Europe
  Using the Prague Quadrennial Festival as a touchstone, students will experience groundbreaking experimental performances from around the world, with an emphasis in innovative design. Explore the future of the art by attending contemporary, cutting edge performances by global artists at the festival, while grounded in the historic roots of Central European theatre by touring historic theatres to study their architecture, innovative stage engineering, and leading visionary practitioners. Workshops and attending live performances will enhance understanding of both historic and contemporary performance practices. This course meets requirements for a G2 and G7 designation. 

excursions

• Materinka puppet festival in Liberec
• World-renowned art nouveau Mucha Museum
• Karlstein Castle, holder of the treasury of the Holy Roman Empire
• Bone Church in Kutna Hora
• Terezin Memorial and Ghetto Museum, where Jewish artists of all ages continued to create art, theatre, and music in spite of their imprisonment by the Nazis
• Vysehrad National Cemetery, where famous artists such as Antonin Dvorak are buried

 

The World Theatre Future and past Experience in Students' own Words

• The beauty, history, and community of Prague made it a very welcoming home. The PQ Festival was unlike anything in the US, introducing me to the diversity of global theater with boundary-pushing work that opened my eyes to what's possible.

• The World Theatre Future & Past program was an incredibly meaningful experience that left me with a much deeper, more nuanced understanding of performance as a concept. Beyond that, it gifted me with perspective, allowing me to recognize that the very definition of performance is different all over the world.