Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.15291/csi.4799
The Depiction of St Lawrence The Martyr: Text, Performance, and Community
Marija Krnić
; Academy of Dramatic Arts, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The relationship between drama and community has been a
central topic in medieval drama research for decades. However,
due to the scarcity of evidence about performances of
medieval dramas in Croatian territories, Croatian dramas
have largely been excluded from these discussions. This paper
examines Prikazanje svetoga Lovrinca mučenika [The
Depiction of St Lawrence the Martyr], a saint play preserved
in several texts of different times of creation, with records
of its performance in the early modern era in the central
part of the island of Hvar. A critical review of past research
highlights the significance of the early 20th-century work
by Russian philologist Petrovski on the origins of Croatian
texts depicting martyrdom of St Lawrence. Through a transcultural
lens, the paper demonstrates that key differences
between the Italian original and Croatian adaptations lie in
tailoring the texts for public performances aimed at larger
audiences. Ultimately, the paper emphasizes the role of this
drama in shaping community identity, considering the performance’s
spatial, temporal, and communal context.
Keywords
community; comparative analysis; historiography; Prikazanje svetoga Lovrinca mučenika [The Depiction of St Lawrence the Martyr]; saints’ plays
Hrčak ID:
334034
URI
Publication date:
25.7.2025.
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