Riječ i maska: Pristup scenskoj umjetnosti

In Riječ i maska (Word and Mask), Borislav Mrkšić starts with a question audiences rarely get to explore at first hand: how does a written play become a performance? The first part takes readers behind the scenes, showing how the different jobs in a theatre come together on stage. Mrkšić draws on his own experience as an extra, prompter and director.

The second part traces the development of theatre from its early forms to the twentieth century. It looks at European, Chinese and Japanese traditions and gives particular attention to mime, cabaret and puppetry. Mrkšić also considers how radio and television adapted older forms of performance to new media.

Illustrated throughout, the book is intended for students, teachers and theatregoers curious about how theatre works. The chapters on staging a play offer an introduction to theatrical practice, while the historical survey looks at the different ways performers use acting, movement and speech before an audience.