Shakespearian Conflict Between Spirit and Matter in Hamlet Directed by Edward Gordon Craig (Moscow, 1912)

They were totally different. Konstantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky, Russian director and creator of Moscow
Art Theatre, was associated mainly with realism on stage — in its most radical forms, visible both
in building a character, as well as in the manner of portraying the world on stage. On the other hand,
Edward Gordon Craig, English reformer and set designer, was enamored with simplicity and beauty
of theatre. He strongly agitated to reject meticulous realism from stage and create The Simple Theatre
— monumental and filled with lyricism. Despite obvious conflict between both artists’ views, these two
giants of the theatre decided to meet. The production of Hamlet in Moscow 1912 was a result of their legendary
cooperation and sincere friendship. The production was not actually much successful, but enabled
both artists to take step further in their artistic researches. We can compare an artistic conflict between Craig
and Stanislavsky to the conflict between spirit and matter — it is mostly exampled in their different views
on how to portray ghosts from the Shakespearian play — the symbol of the supernatural world.