scenicznoliterack

Scenicznoliterack is a term used in Polish to describe a cross-disciplinary approach that blends dramaturgy and textual practice, where the written text and live performance are designed as a single artistic unit. It covers works that incorporate stage directions, performative reading, and hybrid forms such as performance poetry, dramatized prose, and text-installations.

Etymology and scope: The word is formed from sceniczny (scenic or stage-related) and literacki (literary). It first appeared in contemporary Polish art criticism in the 2000s and has since been used in festival catalogs and academic writings to describe a range of experiments at the boundary between literature and theatre.

Characteristics: Texts associated with scenicznoliterack are written with performability in mind, emphasizing rhythm, pacing, and breath. They frequently involve collaboration between writers and performers and may embed staging cues, sound, and lighting within the text. The works often treat space and audience as part of the narrative and can employ non-linear or modular structures, with performance occupying a central role.

Context and reception: The concept arises from experimental theatre and contemporary poetry circles and is used to frame works that challenge the separation of “page” and “stage.” Supporters see it as expanding the potential of literary text by reimagining it as a performative event, while critics caution that a strong emphasis on performance can complicate traditional notions of literary value.

Scope and usage: Scenicznoliterack is commonly discussed in Polish theatre festivals, literary nights, and academic discussions about the relationship between text and performance. It remains largely a descriptive label for a set of practices rather than a codified movement with a formal doctrine.