Treason of tradition: Vsevolod E. Meyerhold and Fernando Neves in dialogue with popular actor

Author(s)

Rodrigo de Oliveira e Silva

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Artes
• Defense date: 2014-09-09

Examining board members

Matteo Bonfitto; Isa Kopelman; Maria Thais Lima Santos

• Advisor: Matteo Bonfitto

Abstract

This work investigates theatrical creation by dialoguing some traditions of the popular actor via act of treason, the latter being based on the concept of reinterpretation of a theatrical tradition from the past in dialogue with the contemporary world and scene, without any attempts to recover or rebuild it. This investigation occurs, especially, through two case studies. The first is the Russian director from the early twentieth century, Vsevolod E. Meyerhold, and the dialogue of his works and pedagogy with the traditions of balagan, Commedia dell¿Arte and Russian circus. The second study is on the contemporary Brazilian director, Fernando Neves, and the dialogue of his works and pedagogy with the theatrical tradition of his family, the Santoro-Viana-Neves, managers, in mid twentieth century, of the Pavilhão Arethuzza, one of the major drama-circus of Brazil¿s history. The main reflection prompted on this work is about how prolific theatrical creation can be when seen as an articulation of the investigation of some traditions of the popular actor with the expressive needs of the contemporary scene and the individuality of each artist, in order to establish a dialogue between the reality of today and the tradition of the past, allowing us to dream about a new theater (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/16342-2 - The Betrayal of Tradition: Fernando Neves and Vsevolod Meierhold relations with the popular actor
• Grantee: Rodrigo de Oliveira e Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master