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Joseph Svoboda's work as a stage designer

28 décembre 1966
03m 16s
Ref. 00042

Information

Summary :

Conversation with the commissioner of the exhibit dedicated to the work of the famous Czech stage designer, Josef Svoboda, and a presentation of several stage models and the principle of the magic lantern.

Media type :
Vidéo
Broadcast date :
28 décembre 1966
Source :
ORTF (Collection: Bretagne Actualites )
Personnalité(s) :
Giacomo Manzoni / Josef Svoboda
Themes :
Places :

Context

Josef Svoboda (1920-2002), Czech scenographer, was a precursor to on-stage use of leading techniques in lighting, electronics, image projection and scene mechanics, but always giving priority to artistic expression. He considered light as a fundamental element of scenography and invented a system of low-voltage footlights for the stage, called "Svoboda".

Trained in carpentry and interior architecture, he completed his first scenography in 1943 and in 1945 he was working in the Prague Opera house. In 1958 he collaborated with the producer Alfred Radok on the showLanterna Magika, for which he developed the polyekran and won the grand prize and the Universal Exposition in Brussels. This show would give his name to the famous Prague theatre which he became artistic director of and which was integrated into the National Theatre in 1970.

Josef Svoboda created nearly 700 scenographies throughout the world and received several prizes and distinctions.

Claire Libbra

Transcription

Journalist
Mr. Goubert, who is Josef Svoboda?
Monsieur Goubert
Josef Svoboda is Czech, he is forty-six years old and he is the scenography director of National Theatres in Prague.
Journalist
I believe that Czechoslovakian scenography and therefore Svoboda's has something very specific, could you explain that to us a bit?
Monsieur Goubert
Even the term scenographic designer in French generally refers to an architect's assistant who has the task of looking after the mechanical equipment in a theatre. But in Czechoslovakia it is completely different, the scenographic designer plays the role of the set designer in France, but a much broader role. He is really a co-producer. And Svoboda, who has worked with the greatest producers in Czechoslovakia but also in Germany, Italy, Holland and even the United States, takes with him a whole team, a team of engineers whose responsibility it is to resolves any technical problems which may arise, which means that in one of these plays, there is never anything there for show. Everything is absolutely necessary, indispensable to the production, aiding the work.
Journalist
Do you think that Josef Svoboda's methods could now be used in France?
Monsieur Goubert
It wouldn't be completely impossible, unfortunately it's still the exception.
Journalist
What are Svoboda's scenographic principles, Mr. Goubert?
Monsieur Goubert
Svoboda has an essential preoccupation, with the plasticity of the scenic space. He creates a sort of sequence. And it's particularly remarkable in plays such as Hamlet which he directed for the Belgian National Theatre. And to fulfil this preoccupation, he uses sometimes quite complicated machinery, revolving stages, sliding sets, spaces which enter one inside the other like drawers. And on the other hand, if the scenery projected by magic lantern existed before him, Svoboda has greatly perfected this projected scenery. He uses fixed or animated projections, on screens or on pieces of scenery as seen in the play "Atomtod" by Manzoni. Apart from that, I believe that he looks into everything, he is above all a researcher, anything which could translate the thought of an author into a language, the language of scenery that it. And I believe what is particularly remarkable with Svoboda, is his broadening of the notion of theatre design.
Journalist
Could you tell me a bit about where this exhibition was shown?
Monsieur Goubert
That's easy, it is an exhibition which was shown by the Prague National Institute of Theatre. It only visited three towns in France, and then immediately afterwards left for Helsinki.
Journalist
You mention three French towns and it didn't come to Paris?
Monsieur Goubert
It didn't come to Paris.