Russian Theatre and Performance
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide advanced knowledge in the field of drama and theatre studies and to strengthen skills in the analysis of dramatic texts and stage practices in the historical and cultural context of Russia, approached from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives. The course encourages reflection on the mutual influence between contemporary theatre and other languages of expression, focusing on different authors, periods or key issues such as interactions with other media, the balance between innovation and tradition, and the aesthetic, social and political implications.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the development of stage practices, expressive techniques, and the main methods of acting and directing in contemporary Russian theatre. They will also be introduced with some of the most significant reinterpretations of Russian classics presented by Russian and Italian directors in recent years.
Skills: Students will develop their ability to analyse and interpret dramatic texts and stage productions, to discuss and critically engage with course materials, and to apply the methods learnt to other examples. They will be able to place authors, movements and key works of the period studied in their historical context. Students will be able to use theatre studies vocabulary appropriately, to highlight similarities and differences between the texts, and to identify the main interpretive approaches of the productions analysed, linking them to their historical, political and social contexts. They will also be able to identify and examine the processes of the development of theatre in the digital space.
Skills: Students will develop their ability to analyse and interpret dramatic texts and stage productions, to discuss and critically engage with course materials, and to apply the methods learnt to other examples. They will be able to place authors, movements and key works of the period studied in their historical context. Students will be able to use theatre studies vocabulary appropriately, to highlight similarities and differences between the texts, and to identify the main interpretive approaches of the productions analysed, linking them to their historical, political and social contexts. They will also be able to identify and examine the processes of the development of theatre in the digital space.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is intended for students of the Master Degree in Theatre, Arts, Literatures. International Studies in Intermediality. The course is entitled "The Theatre of A. P. Chekhov: From the One-Act Plays to the Tetralogy" and is divided into the following three sections, which will be covered sequentially:
a) General outlines of the history of Russian theatre from its origins to the Moscow Art Theatre
b) Chekhov's dramaturgy: the one-act plays and the tetralogy
c) Chekhovian reinterpretations in contemporary Russian and European theatre
Students wishing to obtain 6 ECTS credits will follow the syllabus for Sections B and C. Students wishing to obtain 9 ECTS credits will follow the complete syllabus (Sections A, B, and C).
In Section A, the main stages in the development of Russian drama from the late seventeenth century to the 1880s will be examined. Contemporary stage productions of selected works will also be taken into consideration.
In Section B, the evolution of A. P. Chekhov's dramaturgy will be studied, from his one-act plays to the four major plays of his mature period: The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard.
In Section C, selected productions and interpretations of Chekhov's works in contemporary Russia and Europe will be analyzed.
The syllabus is valid until February 2028.
a) General outlines of the history of Russian theatre from its origins to the Moscow Art Theatre
b) Chekhov's dramaturgy: the one-act plays and the tetralogy
c) Chekhovian reinterpretations in contemporary Russian and European theatre
Students wishing to obtain 6 ECTS credits will follow the syllabus for Sections B and C. Students wishing to obtain 9 ECTS credits will follow the complete syllabus (Sections A, B, and C).
In Section A, the main stages in the development of Russian drama from the late seventeenth century to the 1880s will be examined. Contemporary stage productions of selected works will also be taken into consideration.
In Section B, the evolution of A. P. Chekhov's dramaturgy will be studied, from his one-act plays to the four major plays of his mature period: The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard.
In Section C, selected productions and interpretations of Chekhov's works in contemporary Russia and Europe will be analyzed.
The syllabus is valid until February 2028.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, which is held in Italian, the materials and the exam bibliography require specific skills in Russian history, use of terminology and critical analysis acquired in previous courses.
Teaching methods
During the course the following teaching methods will be employed: frontal lessons; reading and commenting on scenes from the scheduled works; viewing and commenting on documentaries, films and theatrical performances.
Teaching Resources
The course has a dedicated website on the Ariel online learning platform, where additional materials provided by the instructor are available. All materials uploaded to Ariel (critical essays, slides, videos) are mandatory for both attending and non-attending students. Failure to obtain and study these materials will result in failure of the examination.
The required reading materials for the different teaching units, together with the reference editions, are listed below.
Examination Syllabus for Attending Students
PLEASE NOTE: An attending student is defined as a student who has attended at least 75% of the classes and has actively participated in classroom discussions. Students whose participation is limited to passive attendance will not be considered attending students.
Part A
Required Reading
For Italian speakers/students: M. Caratozzolo, Storia del teatro russo, Le Monnier Università, Firenze-Milano, 2027 (extracts as indicated in Ariel)
For international students: A History of Russian Theatre, ed. by R. Leach and V. Borovsky, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999. Chapters: 3, 5, 11, 13, 14.
FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS OF RUSSIAN:
Н. Н. Евреинов, История русского театра с древнейших времён до 1917 года (History of Russian Theatre from Ancient Times to 1917), New York, 1955 (the file is available in the "Teaching Materials" section). Chapters: VI, VIII, IX.
One text of the student's choice from the following list, in any edition, except for Griboedov's play, for which the edition specified below must be used:
A. S. Pushkin, Boris Godunov
A. S. Griboedov, Woe from Wit (Marchese, 2017, translated by M. Caratozzolo)
N. V. Gogol, The Government Inspector
M. Yu. Lermontov, Masquerade
A. N. Ostrovsky, The Forest
Some texts that are difficult to obtain will be made available on the course Ariel page.
Part B
Required Reading
A. P. Chekhov, One-Act Plays (only the following plays: On the High Road; The Harmfulness of Tobacco; The Bear; The Marriage Proposal; The Anniversary)
A. P. Chekhov, The Seagull
A. P. Chekhov, Uncle Vanya
A. P. Chekhov, Three Sisters
A. P. Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard
Audiovisual materials will be available on Ariel.
Mandatory Critical Readings for All Students (6 or 9 ECTS credits)
V. Strada, "Idea di Čechov," in Le veglie della ragione. Miti e figure della letteratura russa da Dostoevskij a Pasternak, Turin: Einaudi, 1997 (available on Ariel).
C. Balme, The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies, Cambridge University Press, 2008 (available online through Minerva): Introduction; Part 1: Elements of Theatre; Part 2: Text and Performance; Performance Analysis.
Part C
Materials for Part C (slides and videos) will be made available on Ariel.
Examination Syllabus for Non-Attending Students
The syllabus is the same as that for attending students, with the following additional requirements:
Additional Reading Requirements
Two texts (instead of one) from the following list:
A. S. Pushkin, Boris Godunov
A. S. Griboedov, Woe from Wit (Marchese, 2017, translated by M. Caratozzolo)
N. V. Gogol, The Government Inspector
M. Yu. Lermontov, Masquerade
A. N. Ostrovsky, The Forest
In addition:
For Italian speakers/students: M. Caratozzolo, Storia del teatro russo, Le Monnier Università, Firenze-Milano, 2027 (extracts as indicated in Ariel)
For international students: A History of Russian Theatre, ed. by R. Leach and V. Borovsky, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999. Chapters: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14.
FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS OF RUSSIAN:
Н. Н. Евреинов, История русского театра с древнейших времён до 1917 года (History of Russian Theatre from Ancient Times to 1917), New York, 1955 (the file is available in the "Teaching Materials" section). Chapters: I, II, VI, VIII, IX.
The required reading materials for the different teaching units, together with the reference editions, are listed below.
Examination Syllabus for Attending Students
PLEASE NOTE: An attending student is defined as a student who has attended at least 75% of the classes and has actively participated in classroom discussions. Students whose participation is limited to passive attendance will not be considered attending students.
Part A
Required Reading
For Italian speakers/students: M. Caratozzolo, Storia del teatro russo, Le Monnier Università, Firenze-Milano, 2027 (extracts as indicated in Ariel)
For international students: A History of Russian Theatre, ed. by R. Leach and V. Borovsky, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999. Chapters: 3, 5, 11, 13, 14.
FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS OF RUSSIAN:
Н. Н. Евреинов, История русского театра с древнейших времён до 1917 года (History of Russian Theatre from Ancient Times to 1917), New York, 1955 (the file is available in the "Teaching Materials" section). Chapters: VI, VIII, IX.
One text of the student's choice from the following list, in any edition, except for Griboedov's play, for which the edition specified below must be used:
A. S. Pushkin, Boris Godunov
A. S. Griboedov, Woe from Wit (Marchese, 2017, translated by M. Caratozzolo)
N. V. Gogol, The Government Inspector
M. Yu. Lermontov, Masquerade
A. N. Ostrovsky, The Forest
Some texts that are difficult to obtain will be made available on the course Ariel page.
Part B
Required Reading
A. P. Chekhov, One-Act Plays (only the following plays: On the High Road; The Harmfulness of Tobacco; The Bear; The Marriage Proposal; The Anniversary)
A. P. Chekhov, The Seagull
A. P. Chekhov, Uncle Vanya
A. P. Chekhov, Three Sisters
A. P. Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard
Audiovisual materials will be available on Ariel.
Mandatory Critical Readings for All Students (6 or 9 ECTS credits)
V. Strada, "Idea di Čechov," in Le veglie della ragione. Miti e figure della letteratura russa da Dostoevskij a Pasternak, Turin: Einaudi, 1997 (available on Ariel).
C. Balme, The Cambridge Introduction to Theatre Studies, Cambridge University Press, 2008 (available online through Minerva): Introduction; Part 1: Elements of Theatre; Part 2: Text and Performance; Performance Analysis.
Part C
Materials for Part C (slides and videos) will be made available on Ariel.
Examination Syllabus for Non-Attending Students
The syllabus is the same as that for attending students, with the following additional requirements:
Additional Reading Requirements
Two texts (instead of one) from the following list:
A. S. Pushkin, Boris Godunov
A. S. Griboedov, Woe from Wit (Marchese, 2017, translated by M. Caratozzolo)
N. V. Gogol, The Government Inspector
M. Yu. Lermontov, Masquerade
A. N. Ostrovsky, The Forest
In addition:
For Italian speakers/students: M. Caratozzolo, Storia del teatro russo, Le Monnier Università, Firenze-Milano, 2027 (extracts as indicated in Ariel)
For international students: A History of Russian Theatre, ed. by R. Leach and V. Borovsky, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1999. Chapters: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14.
FOR NATIVE SPEAKERS OF RUSSIAN:
Н. Н. Евреинов, История русского театра с древнейших времён до 1917 года (History of Russian Theatre from Ancient Times to 1917), New York, 1955 (the file is available in the "Teaching Materials" section). Chapters: I, II, VI, VIII, IX.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the teacher and the analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts taken from the works scheduled. The interview has a variable duration and takes place in Italian. Students of Lingue e letterature per la formazione, la critica e la traduzione will also have to demonstrate that they can read and translate at least two works n Russian among those indicated. The interview aims to check the knowledge of the texts read, the ability to contextualize authors and works and to use specific terminology, the ability to critically and personally reflect on the issues proposed. The final mark is expressed in thirtieths, and the student has the right to refuse it (in this case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to promptly contact the teacher. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, according to the competent Office.
International or Erasmus incoming students are invited to promptly contact the teacher. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and / or with DSA must be agreed with the teacher, according to the competent Office.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
SLAV-01/A - Slavic Studies - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
SLAV-01/A - Slavic Studies - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)