“…and thinking about nothing”. Pavel Pryazhko’s dramaturgy of emptiness

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of genre transformations in the literary output of Pavel Pryazhko, who has been considered to be a leader of the youngest generation of Russia’s New Drama movement. Following a series of hyper-naturalistic dramas, written with the use of the verbatim technique, dramaturgic self-awareness of the young writer finds its creative outlet in monologueconfession, after which there comes a ‘winding up of the discourse’ and a series of anti-dramatic shows/performances performed as a duet with Dmitry Volkostrelov.

Pryazhko shifted attention from the content to the form of drama, from the theme to the language, worked out his own type of hero and type of conflict. The playwright searches for new, radical theatrical forms, carefully listens to contemporary language, and therefore, also the awareness reflected by this language.