Transformation by Les Kurbas as a system of metaphorisation in the avant-garde theatre
Transformation by Les Kurbas as a system of metaphorisation in the avant-garde theatre

Summary/Abstract: In the proposed study, we aim to explore the origin and essence of one of the key concepts in the theatrical system employed by Ukrainian avant-garde director Les Kurbas (1887–1937), the one he termed as ‘transformation’. The concept – as formulated by Kurbas – appears to have grown from artistic and philosophical ideas famously bursting onto the scene in the early 20th century and, more specifically, during the war-time period. In particular, we are talking about ideas contained in the works of Franz Kafka (his short story Metamorphosis) and Ernst Toller (a drama called Transformation). Because the inception and further development of the transformation concept took place at a time when avant-garde trends were becoming ever more visible, its formulation by Kurbas proved heavily influenced by expressionism, constructivism and surrealism. And this is what gives us grounds to consider Kurbas’ transformation as one of the most efficient and fruitful systems used in the avant-garde theatre, something that in turn provides special opportunities to metaphorise a stage action. Special attention will be paid in our study to the practical application of the transformation concept in the director’s activities by Kurbas. Importantly, the concept itself underwent transformation as it progressed from being a search for expressive acting techniques to creating a situation where the actor on stage could be seen as a kind of multi-layered, mobile and flexible metaphor. Over time, Kurbas assigned a much broader meaning to his idea of transformation – as a universal way of theatrical metaphorisation in general, to be pursued through stage construction, colour, textures, acoustics, mass and individual scenes etc. At the end of the day, it was that transformation that made the concept such a distinct and, however short-lived, fascinating phenomenon.

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