Bertolt Brecht

Bertolt Brecht

1. Born in Germany, lived though the regime of Hitler.

   • Wrote for the stage to provoke the audience and make them think! (EPIC)

2. Brecht was a Marxist who believe that all men, women and children alike should be given equal oppertunity

   • Opposed Capitalism.

3. He believed that:

   • Theatre is an event that should be experienced and learnt from
   • The Audience should be Alienated
   • Audience are active and must be challenged not just sit and watch.
   • Actors play roles, not become them!
   • A Director should not think about the story but more of the message (gestus)
   • The designer must be non naturalistic and design symbolically.
     • Costume: Symbolic, Historical Representation and Stereotyped.
     • Set Design: Minimalistic, Symbolic and Must Reinforce the Gestus of the scene.
     • Light: Bright. Non-Theatrical and Not used to add mood and atmosphere
     • Sound: Live Music, Often Percussive and Used to reinforce the gestus

4. Brechtian Do's

   • Step in and out of role
   • Alienate the audience
   • Use projection, slogans and songs!
   • Challenge the audience
   • Narrate your character, dont become them!

5. Brechtian Don'ts

   • Focus on emotions
   • Ignore the audience
   • Forget the Gestus
   • Overuse/Rely on Projections and signs to do all the work