It is a privilege for me to have been selected as the speaker to deliver one of the concluding addresses at our conference.
I would like to express my
heartfelt gratitude to the institutions whose support made this conference a
resounding success. Foremost among them is the Masaryk University and its
exceptional Department of Theatre Studies. It is with great pleasure that I
remark upon the venue, which proved to be nothing short of perfect—a harmonious
blend of intellect and joy. The conference room itself was a haven where ideas
blossomed, infused with flawless technological arrangements. However, let us
not forget about the Other place—a sanctuary where primal needs such as hunger,
thirst, and moments of small talk were gracefully accommodated with delicious
food, drinks, coffee and tea, and occasionally wine. Furthermore, I extend my
thanks to the Visegrad Fund for their financial support.
The achievement of this
momentous occasion is owed not only to the collective efforts of institutions,
but also to the dedicated individuals who have tirelessly contributed in the
days leading up to this event. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to
our colleagues who have played an integral role in reaching this point.
Firstly, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the members of the organizing
committee, namely Sarka, Ivona, Klara, Eliska, and Lenka. Their unwavering
commitment and meticulous planning have laid the foundation for the success of
this conference. Additionally, I am deeply grateful to the chairs of the
various panels and plenary lectures, namely Nico, Anna, Jacek, and Ivona, whose
expertise and guidance have enriched our discussions. Furthermore, I would like
to extend my thanks to the students who have offered invaluable assistance
throughout this journey: Klara, Tereza, Johana, and Aneta. Finally, I extend my
most sincere appreciation to the participants of this conference and the
enthusiastic audience. Your active engagement and support have truly
contributed to the vibrancy and success of this event. To each and every one of
you, I extend my gratitude. Thank you all!
In addition to the
institutions and people, I must express my gratitude towards the conference
itself—a magnificent gathering that had a single objective, i.e. to bring us
together after months of working together but not meeting in person. This event
has brought us together under the common objective of exploring our Visegrad
Fund sponsored project, which aims to unravel the relevance of Shakespeare in
our region, how his works continue to resonate with us, enriching our lives in
multifarious ways. The structure of the conference mirrored our shared purpose,
featuring a harmonious blend of plenary and shorter presentations and engaging
discussions on the four position papers that have been laboriously crafted over
the past few months and weeks. And let us not forget about the coffee breaks
where discussions went on, ideas were shared about Shakespeare, the project and
stories of more personal nature.
Within the confines of this
intellectual and infrastructural framework, I am immensely grateful for the
invaluable insights I have gained. Pavels’s poignant words continue to
reverberate within me, compelling me to contemplate the multifaceted personas
that have shaped Shakespeare’s identity: the actor’s Shakespeare, the
emancipatory Shakespeare Intelligentia’s Shakespeare, Folk’s Shakespeare,
Publishers’s Shakespeare, Shakespeare for the initiates, Shakespeare as custom
and routine. Along with these, that our approaches may be geared towards dramacentric, metaphorical, and to a relation
to avoid hierarchies. Marta’s exploration of an innovative YouTube Henry V and its relevance in the Polish
academic and theatrical context, and how much the play is “horrifyingly actual.”
The shorter conference papers also illuminated aspects of Shakespeare’s reception. Martin’s discussion of Machacek’s Henry V, David’s Fortinbrases, Filip’s discussion of the roles of the Porter and Lady Macbeth’s simply put alternatives offered to Macbeth. Anna’s (impersonated by Filip) presentation of dramaturgical translation, Kinga’s exploration of Shakespeare’s presence in three films about Romani people, and last but not least David’s Dark Ladies via Emilia and Lucy Negro.
In conjunction with these
captivating presentations, it was truly a feast for the intellect to delve into
the world of position papers, exploring the myriad ways in which the concept of
border crossing can be conceptualized. Engaging in spirited discussions, both
in writing and during the round table sessions. The discussions started and
will continue in the form of commentaries added to the google documents. And
also during the round table sessions the teams really have been hungry for the
feedback to improve the papers. It has been a feast to understand what there is
in a name, what connotations are carried by a choice of how to refer to the
cultural region. How politics emerges on the stage and how this emergence can
be seen in a variety of border crossings, and how cultural memory can be
enhanced to shape the present by coming to terms with the past. How Shakespeare
has been popularized around us, what the common features are and what the
national, territorial differences are to be seen, from mobility to the
burlesque, from cabaret and television to experimental theatre practices. How
theatrical blending, i.e. textual/intermedial/transmedial hybridity takes place
with Shakespeare, from ballet and dance theatre, through puppetry, to musical,
and opera, in which the movement away from the text enables inter-and
transnationality. Furthermore, it has been a fascinating endeavour to identify
the areas of overlap, recognizing the gaps that present themselves as
opportunities for enrichment, and exploring ways in which we can harness the
achievements of other teams.
What is it that we are going
to take home? Peace and happiness? Yes, because we have achieved much as far as
the project is concerned. No, because we also see that there is much work ahead
before the position papers can be handed in on 31 August.
But more importantly what we
take away is a sense of home. Amidst all the differences that we carry with us,
it is remarkable to recognize that we can find a sense of belonging within this
region. It is a delightful reminder that even while being far away from our
familiar surroundings, here in Brno, at the Masaryk University’s Department of
Theatre Studies, we can create a collective feeling of being at home. This sense
of home emerges from our unwavering ability to continually discover the shared
threads that bind us, transforming us into a scholarly family. Together, we
embark on an intellectual journey where humanist friendship flourishes, and our
diverse perspectives converge, creating a harmonious tapestry that transcends
physical, cultural and personal borders. It is through this profound connection
that we find solace, kinship, and a sense of belonging, despite the distances
that may separate us. So let us take this sense of scholarly home with us when
heading home!
(7 June, 2023, Masaryk University, Brno)
