Swimming in the Water of Theatrical Conventions: The Performers’ Perspective

Performers' insights into eighteenth-century theatrical conventions reveal the nuanced challenges and rewards of interpreting melodrama and historical texts. João Luís Paixão and Laila Cathleen Neuman, participants in the Performing Premodernity project, shared their experiences performing Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Pygmalion at the Drottningholm Palace Theatre and other historic sites, including Český Krumlov. Their reflections highlight how engaging with premodern theatrical practices—such as those of the Enlightenment era—demands a deep immersion in both scenic interpretation and the historical context of acting. The study underscores the value of performer-led research in uncovering the complexities of early modern performance traditions, offering new perspectives on the evolution of melodrama and its conventions.

Sauter, W., & Schneider, M. T. (2023). Swimming in the Water of Theatrical Conventions: The Performers’ Perspective. Performing the Eighteenth Century: Theatrical Discourses, Practices, and Artefacts, 213–223. https://doi.org/10.16993/bce.j