Space is out of joint: Experiencing non-Euclidean space in theatre

Abstract

The aim of this article to show that the space of the stage and the ways it is constructed are an important, meaning-generating element of every production. The space of the stage is seen as an artistic construct, the aim of which is to convey senses relevant to the goals of the director. The function of the scenic space goes far beyond a mere 'representation' of some fictional inhabited space; it has the ability to convey meanings that, among other things, evoke metaphorical readings. The example used in this article, the St Petersburg production of Hamlet, directed by Vadim Golikov, is of unusual complexity and for this reason requires a more thorough theoretical introduction. Golikov has introduced a scene in which the Euclidean geometry falls apart, and instead a simultaneous presentation of two subjective perspectives is provided: two objects are perceived by one another at the same time, and this is shown through a distorted geometry of the stage. The essay raises theoretical issues connected with time and space in theatre. © International Federation for Theatre Research 2008.