Epic Theatre

Epic Theatre

1. In Theory

   • After being influenced by expressionism and Marxism, Brecht concluded that theatre should appeal not to the spectator's feelings but his reason.
     • While still being entertaining the plays should be didactic and cabaple of provoking social change
       • He argued that realistic theatre made the audience feel rather than think and to encourage adoption of critical attitude he created the Verfremdungs effect (Alienation effect)
         • Alienation effect involves anti-illusive techniques to remind the audience that they are watching theatre which is a relflection of reality not reality itself.

2. In Practise

   • Brecht called attention to the theatre's means, insisted that all equipment used should be visible to he audience, projected explanatory captions a screen or used placards to remind the audience that what they are watching is fake.
     • He advised his actors to act like their characters not be the characters.
       • He urged his actors to adress the audience out of character (breaking the fourth wall) and usually one actor would play multiple roles so they audience would constantly be aware that they are watching a performance

3. Information about its inventor; Bertolt Brecht

   • Brecht was a marxist poet, playwright and theatre director
   • He was born in Germany in 1898
   • He wrote his first play named "Baal" in 1918
   • He wrote few plays in his last years, none of them as famous as his previous works.
   • He died in 1956

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