Romeo and Juliet By Ciara Conroy

Objectives: Production History Artaud and Brecht’s perspectives on scenography Artaud version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Brecht version of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Bibliography

Production history Written in 1597, designed to be played in daylight on a thrust stage of an Elizabethan playhouse. Balcony used for Juliet’s window, trap door for her tomb. No scenery, minimum props. Focus on language and costume. In the late sixties, the play took over by storm in Drury Lane and Covent Garden, both giving a different perspective on the tragedy while fighting for the spotlight. In the late nineties, Franco Jeffirelli brought in his own Italian background to the piece performed in the ‘Old Vic’ giving it an authentic, natural feel. This was a new wave of showing the play which allowed future adaptations to be as abstract as possible. The story has evolved from Shakespeare’s time. Adapted into musicals.. Shying away from the script, focus on the visual. Inspired Ballet performances and movies.

Artaud Perspective on Scenography Influenced by ritualized theatre- wanted the piece to have a psychophysical effect on the audience. Used the structure of the space to convey his feelings. Initially proposed the idea of a ‘black box’ space. Wanted space to be flexible for creation. Black Box allowed for colour and design, no boundaries. Focused on evoking feelings through simplicity rather than large scheme productions. Showcased a realist reflection of the outside world. Use of architecture, height and depth in the space.

Brecht Perspective on scenography Reason, not feeling. Capable of provoking social change. Wanted spectators to be critical of the performance Alienation effect- enactment of reality ( harsh white light, minimum props, lamps in view) ‘Observers’of the scene No fourth wall = addressing the audience directly Use of dance,song and chorus( pantomine)

Brecht version of Romeo and Juliet Spoken word piece/ poetry used/ raw emotions No use of original script Two sides of the story. Modernised as racial prejudice. ( One white male, one multicultural female) Full of gesture, use of narrative as a flash back. Appear to be making a mockery of their society through song, true message underlined.

Artaud version of Romeo and Juliet Set in a black box. White Syc for projection. Puppetry. Use of gantry.

Bibliography Bruner,Zachary. “Special Proportions of Height and Depth:” Antonin Artaud and the Search for a Grammar of Space. Connectiucut, April, 2008. From miscellaneous WWW sources (1956) Available at: http://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/brecht.pdf  RSC (2017) Stage history | Romeo and Juliet | royal Shakespeare company. Available at: https://www.rsc.org.uk/romeo-and-juliet/past-productions/stage-histor W. A. J. Steer. “Brecht's Epic Theatre: Theory and Practice.” The Modern Language Review, vol. 63, no. 3, 1968, pp. 636–649., www.jstor.org/stable/3722205.