Dva druhy strategií - dva druhy napětí

The paper "Two types of narrative strategies – two types of suspense" presents several general points concerning the structure of theatre performance examined by means of narratology and reception theory. The author explores strategies that enable a theatre director to attract spectators and engage them in an active participation in the performance. Analysis of two types of suspense is presented: that of a plot suspense (i.e. spectator is attracted by the plot), and an interpretative suspense (i.e. spectator is attracted by the necessity of negotiating the meanings by oneself); the two types of suspense are defined and demonstrated using examples of concrete directorial strategies. The theoretical study is followed by a practical demonstration of the given methodology in the analysis of Ladislav Smoček's production of Hráči (The Gamblers), based on the eponymous play by Nikolai Gogol, at the Činoherní klub Theatre (1982).