An Introduction to Bertolt Brecht and his Work Epic Theatre An Introduction to Bertolt Brecht and his Work Information from: http://www.slideshare.net/Crooked49/bertolt-brecht-epic-theatre http://www.thedramateacher.com/epic-theatre-conventions/

Bertolt Brecht 1898 - 1956 German playwright and poet Started to write political poetry and plays at an early age about social issues Interested in Karl Marx’s Theories of Socialism Loathed Realism Theatre

Marxist and Socialist Theories Social Justice Critical of Captialism Questions who has power and money Industrialisation and how it effects workers Power Structures in society THESE ARE COMMON THEMES IN EPIC THEATRE

Pre Epic Theatre Realism, Melodrama and Naturalism were highly popular They attempted to create real life on the stage (Realism and Naturalism) OR focused on stock characters (Melodrama – Hero always beats the villain) Audiences were looking for escapism. Looking in to other characters lives and getting emotionally involved.

Brecht and Realism He hated it “He likened realism theatre to the effects of a drug, in that the performance pacified its audience” http://www.thedramateacher.com/epic-theatre-conventions/ Waste of an audience. Theatre should not be escapism.

Brecht and his Audience Called them “Spectators” Question and challenge Not accept and enjoy Design a theatre to make the audience question what they were watching. Step back and view the message, rather than enjoy the spectacle.

Epic Theatre 1920s – 1950s World War II era Socialist Theatre “Lehrstuck” meaning, “learning-play” Political Theatre

Epic Theatre Plots and Structure Large narrative – spanning many locations and time frames (hence, it was “epic”) Non- Linear plots Broken up into “Episodes” (Not scenes) – self contained stories, not a direct result of what happened in the episode before “Historification” – setting the action of the play in the past, to draw parallels with contemporary events

Epic Theatre and Spectators Emotionally detached from the action Characters were representatives of society – not well rounded Forced to think about the message Use of the “verfremdungseffekt”, or “V-effekt” (German) translated to “alienation – effect” (English) “To make the familiar, strange”

Alienation - Effect Estrangement Prevent the audience from getting “pulled in” to the emotional aspects of the story Think about the messages and challenge their own acceptance of society Conventions were designed to keep the audience (spectators) “alienated” from the action

Conventions of Epic Theatre Narration Direct address to audience Spoiling of dramatic tension in advance of episodes (telling spectators what is going to happen) Disjointed time sequences (flash backs and flash forwards. Large jumps between episdoes) Historification Song – used to convey a message or theme Multiple roles – actors performed more than one part Demonstration of role – actors not emotionally invested in character Gestus – symbolic action Tableau

Stagecraft and Epic Theatre Use of placards Fragmentary costumes Costume changes in front of spectators Fragmentary props Minimalistic Sets Open white lighting Kneehigh Theatre production of The Red Shoes (Uses many Epic Theatre Techniques) http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z36fyrd/revision/6

How to perform Epic Theatre Brecht believed that the actor should: Move as if blocking movements on stage for the first time or in a robotic, dreamlike way Treat voice and movement so that they do not match Speak as if quoting someone else rather than speaking dialogue Speak the stage directions aloud Remain physically and emotionally detached from the other actors Play scenes with mismatched emotions, for example, humour in a sad scene Perform directly to the audience Exchange roles with other actors Perform the role as if critically appraising the actions from afar.

Brechts Famous works Mother Courage and her Children – 1939 Theme of the devastating effects of a European war and the blindness of anyone hoping to profit by it The Good Woman of Szechuan – 1943 Questions economic systems of society and the impact they have on individuals morality What does it mean to be “good”. To be “good” means to be taken advantage of in modern society The Caucasian Chalk Circle – 1948 A parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a better mother than its wealthy natural parents. The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui – 1958 It chronicles the rise of Arturo Ui, a fictional 1930s Chicago Mobster and his attempts to control the cauliflower racked by ruthlessly disposing of the opposition. The play is a satirical allegory of the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany prior to World War II

Brecht in his later life Fled Nazi Germany Lived as a scrit writer in Hollywood in 1940s Died of a heart attack and requested that he be buried in a lead lined coffin with a stiletto heel through his heart (WEIRD!)

Influence of Epic Theatre Managed to transform theatre from pure entertainment A tool for looking at the big issues that affect us all Theatre can make a difference