DISMS04 Translation and Adaptation of Shakespeare's plays

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
0/2/7. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Drábek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Pavel Drábek, Ph.D.
Department of Theatre Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. MgA. David Drozd, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Theatre Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Adaptation and translation for the theatrical stage have been the most productive form of creativity since early theatre history. This is true even nowadays when modern theatre seems to prioritise new dramatic writing. New theatrical works are adapted from prose fiction, from earlier dramas as well as films, or are based on more adventurous ("irregular") dramaturgy. Another type of adaptation, characteristic of the theatre, is the process of adapting translation for the stage in rehearsal and even during a production run. Theatre as an oral medium is governed by specific rules and needs to step out of the domain of the written text. This type of adaptation (adapting to a concrete actor, dialogue, dramatic situation, scenography, audience, production requirements etc.) is equally true of new writing as of translated works, whether subject to copyright or not.
The aims of this course is a critical reflection of historic and modern theatre practices, their material, instutional and cultural contexts, and a theoretical treatment of theatre adaptation and translation as a problem.
Shakespeare's works are a basic methodological starting point due to its global significance and the endless resource that the world-wide Shakespearean culture offers to the study of translation and adaptation.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
(1) identify and describe the issues of dramatic translation and adaptation on a concrete example;
(2) contextualise and theoretically reflect theatrical translation and adaptation of a classical work of dramatic literature;
(3) critically analyse the creative process of adapting and translating for the stage;
(4) identify the material, institutional and cultural influences on the creative process of dramaturgical adaptation of an original text.
Syllabus
  • (1) William Shakespeare and his work in Czech theatre culture;
  • (2) methodology of dramatic translation and adaptation;
  • (3) theatre practice, adaptation and translation;
  • (4) analysis of concrete examples;
  • (5) individual presentations and discussion of case studies.
Literature
    required literature
  • DRÁBEK, Pavel. České pokusy o Shakespeara : dějiny českých překladů Shakespeara doplněné antologií neznámých a vzácných textů z let 1782-1922 (Czech Attempts at Shakespeare : A History of Czech Translations of Shakespeare with an Anthology of Unknown and Rare Texts from the Years 1782-1922). V nakl. Větrné mlýny vyd. 1. Brno: Větrné mlýny, 2012, 1132 pp. ISBN 978-80-7443-056-5. info
  • LAERA, Margherita (ed.). Theatre and Adaptation: Return, Rewrite, Repeat. London: Methuen, 2014. 296 s. ISBN 9781472533166.
  • POLOCHOVÁ, Markéta. Theatralia/Yorick. Kontury dramatického překladu. (Theatralia/Yorick. Different forms of drama translation). Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2012, 251 pp. info
  • BRODIE, Geraldine. The Translator on Stage. London: Methuen, 2018. 208 s. ISBN 9781501322105.
  • Stages of translation. Edited by David Johnston. [London]: Absolute classics, 1996, 294 s. ISBN 0948230754. info
  • LEVÝ, Jiří. Umění překladu. Čtvrté, upravené vydání. Praha: Apostrof, 2012, 367 stran. ISBN 9788087561157. info
  • HOENSELAARS, Ton (ed.). Shakespeare and the Language of Translation. 2. vydání. London: Arden Shakespeare, 2012. 372 s. ISBN 978-1408179741.
    recommended literature
  • ZICH, Otakar. Estetika dramatického umění : teoretická dramaturgie. 2. vyd., (v Panoramě 1.). Praha: Panorama, 1986, 412 s. info
  • BRODIE, Geraldine, a COLE, Emma (ed.). Adapting Translation for the Stage. London: Routledge, 2017. 298 s. ISBN 978-1-138-21887-1.
  • Translating Shakespeare for the twenty-first century. Edited by Rui Carvalho Homem - Ton Hoenselaars. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2004, 269 s. ISBN 904201721X. info
Teaching methods
Work in seminar based on short lectures, analyses and discussions of materials, reading and case studies. Individual presentations. Independent research and preparation.
Assessment methods
(1) individual presentation of a case study, 5-8 minutes (30%). (2) critical essay of 8-10 pages (70%).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught: every week.
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