Franz Kafka Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 21 (2021) Winner
Ivan Vyskočil
イヴァン・ヴィスコチル
Ivan Vyskočil
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1929-04-27 （Prague, Czechoslovakia）
- Died
- 2023-04-28 （Prague, Czech Republic） age 94
- Nationality
- Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic
- Languages
- Czech
- Residence History
- Prague (birthplace and long-term residence)
Career
- Occupations
- writer, playwright, actor, director, theatre pedagogue, university teacher, scriptwriter
- Active Years
- 1950-2023
- Affiliations
- Co-founder of Divadlo Na zábradlí, Nedivadlo (his own small-stage project), Faculty member at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU), Honorary member of Societas Incognitorum Eruditorum
- Influenced
- Václav Havel, Petr Lébl, Jaroslav Dušek
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU) | Theatre Faculty | Directing and Acting | — | 1948-1952 | Czechoslovakia |
| Charles University in Prague | Faculty of Philosophy / Faculty of Education | Psychology (specialization in juvenile delinquency and crime prevention) and Pedagogy | PhDr. | 1952-1957 | Czechoslovakia |
Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU)
Theatre Faculty
/ Directing and Acting
Period:
1948-1952
Year of Graduation:
1952
Country:
Czechoslovakia
Completed studies in directing and acting
Charles University in Prague
Faculty of Philosophy / Faculty of Education
/ Psychology (specialization in juvenile delinquency and crime prevention) and Pedagogy
Degree:
PhDr.
Period:
1952-1957
Year of Graduation:
1957
Country:
Czechoslovakia
Studied psychology and pedagogy, specialized in juvenile delinquency and crime prevention
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Medal of Josef Hlávka | — | — | Josef Hlávka Foundation | 受賞 |
| 2005 | Doctor honoris causa | — | — | Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts | 授与 |
Medal of Josef Hlávka
2009
Organization:
Josef Hlávka Foundation
Result:
受賞
Doctor honoris causa
2005
Organization:
Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts
Result:
授与
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Kdyby tisíc klarinetů
1958 Drama / PlayAn early experimental play co-written with Jiří Suchý, featuring rhythmic elements and stage improvisation.
improvisationexperimental theatrestage expression
Autostop
1961 Drama / PlayCo-written with Václav Havel; the piece uses a variable text that can change between performances and incorporates audience reactions.
audience participationlinguistic experimentationsocial satire
Vždyť přece létat je tak snadné
1963 Short story collection (contains SF elements)A collection of short stories including science fiction motifs and psychological insights.
science fictionpsychologyeveryday strangeness
Malý Alenáš
1976 Children's / ProseA children's story that was reissued several times with illustrated editions.
children's literatureimaginationallegory
Bibliography
- Vždyť přece létat je tak snadné (1963)
- Kosti (1966)
- Malé hry (1967)
- Ivan Vyskočil and Other Stories (1971)
- Malý Alenáš (1976; reissued 1997, 2005)
- Nedivadlo Ivana Vyskočila (1996)
- Vždyť přece létat je o hubu (2000)
Adaptations
- Film appearances: acted in Kytice (2000) and others
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- experimental and improvisational stageworktext grounded in psychological observationfragmentary and fluid texts
- Recurring Motifs
- incorporation of audience reactionresearch into theatre pedagogy and expressioninterplay of the everyday and the uncanny
Legacy
Ivan Vyskočil was a leading figure of the second theatre reform in the Czech lands, popularizing small-stage movements and improvisational methods. He influenced many younger artists (including Václav Havel) and is recognized for shaping theatre pedagogy.
Academic Societies
- Societas Incognitorum Eruditorum (honorary member)
Archives
- Libri prohibiti (holds copies of Acta incognitorum and related materials)
- National Library of the Czech Republic (bibliographic records)
In Popular Culture
- A referential figure in Czech theatre; his works and pedagogical methods have been adopted by subsequent theatre practitioners.
Quotes
-
I was not consciously a collaborator of this criminal organization (the StB). That officer simply listed me as a secret collaborator and put me into the official register.
Source: iDNES.cz (news report / interview) (2023)
Trivia
- Worked in diagnostic institutions for youth (1950–1957) before fully dedicating himself to theatre.
- Has an StB contact record (codename 'Ivo', registration number listed); he denied conscious collaboration.
- His wife Eva Vyskočilová was a psychologist; she died in 2017.
- Buried in the family grave at Šárka Cemetery in Prague.