Dr Sofia Pantouvaki
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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​Scenographic Metaphors of Resistance: The case of Brundibár in Theresiensradt
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This keynote explores the power of scenography under coercive conditions, focusing on Brundibár, a children’s opera staged in the Theresienstadt ghetto during World War II. Designed and directed by Czech architect-scenographer František Zelenka—formerly a prominent designer at the National Theatre in Prague—the production of Brundibár took on profound significance within the context of the ghetto, where it was performed 55 times between 1943 and 1944.
Originally composed in 1938 by Hans Krása with a libretto by Adolf Hoffmeister, Brundibár became a work of resistance and survival, its scenography embedding visual metaphors that carried layered meanings beyond their aesthetic function.
This presentation examines Zelenka’s staging, revealing how scenography became a means of education, providing psychological relief, reinforcing cultural identity, and enabling subtle acts of defiance. The constraints of the ghetto forced a reliance on metaphorical imagery, encouraging both performers and audiences to construct meaning through scenographic associations. The absence of material resources intensified this effect, allowing the visual language of the stage to act as a silent yet powerful form of communication.
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Through an analysis of archival materials, including survivor testimonies, drawings, and personal writings, this study offers insights into the impact of Brundibár’s scenography in sustaining hope. The visual and performing arts provided children with a sense of normality, a momentary escape from suffering, and an assertion of life and creativity in the face of destruction. The design of Brundibár allowed for messages that could not be expressed openly, transforming scenography into a form of resistance—an assertion of existence and imagination in a place defined by oppression.
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Scenographic metaphors operate on multiple levels, particularly in contexts of coercion and censorship. They communicate the unspeakable, offer glimpses of the unseen, and help us understand visually what words cannot convey. In Theresienstadt, they became an illicit language of hope, a means of enduring displacement, and a reminder of possibilities beyond the immediate horrors of internment. By analyzing Zelenka’s design work, this talk explores the conference theme through a historical event that remains highly relevant in today's world. The presentation highlights the enduring ability of scenography to provide psychological and social meaning in extreme conditions, demonstrating its power not only as an artistic tool but also as an instrument of human resilience.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Dr. Sofia Pantouvaki is a scenographer and Professor of Costume Design at Aalto University, Finland. An award-winning performance designer, she has over 100 credits in theatre, opera, and dance across major European venues. She received the Best Production Design and Best Costume Design awards at the Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF, 2005). She has curated numerous international projects, including the Finnish Student exhibits at Prague Quadrennial 2015 (Gold Medal) and 2023 (awarded ‘Most Imaginative and Inventive Design’). Her work has been exhibited globally, including at World Stage Design 2017 and Prague Quadrennial 1999 and 2023.
Sofia is a founding Editor of the international peer-reviewed journal Studies in Costume and Performance and Chair of Critical Costume. She also serves as an OISTAT Executive Committee Member and Vice President of the Hellenic Costume Society. She led the Costume Methodologies research project (2014–2018, Academy of Finland) and is lead editor of Performance Costume: New Perspectives and Methods (2021, with P. McNeil). She actively designs, lectures, and publishes internationally.