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Brecht Workshop Transcript STC Ed 2011

The document discusses a workshop on Brechtian theatre concepts. It introduces the workshop leaders and gives context on Brecht's rejection of melodramatic theatre conventions. Scenes from two of his plays will demonstrate his ideas of distancing the audience and questioning social realities rather than escapism.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
139 views11 pages

Brecht Workshop Transcript STC Ed 2011

The document discusses a workshop on Brechtian theatre concepts. It introduces the workshop leaders and gives context on Brecht's rejection of melodramatic theatre conventions. Scenes from two of his plays will demonstrate his ideas of distancing the audience and questioning social realities rather than escapism.
Copyright
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BRECHTWORKSHOP

HSCTOPIC:BRECHT

WORKSHOPTRANSCRIPT
DIRECTOR:JemmaGurney PERFORMERS: JosefBer,EmilyBrennan,RussellKiefelandAshleyRicardo STAGEMANAGER:ErinDaly

2&3March2011 Wharf2,SydneyTheatreCompany

BRECHTWORKSHOP2011 SydneyTheatreCompanyEducationResources2011
CopyrightprotectsthisEducationResource. ExceptforpurposespermittedbytheCopyrightAct,reproductionbywhatevermeansisprohibited. However,limitedphotocopyingforclassroomuseonlyispermittedbyeducationalinstitutions.

PerformanceProloguefromHenryVbyWilliamShakespeare Hieveryone!WelcometoSydneyTheatreCompanyandtheBrechtWorkshop.Yesyouareinthe rightplace,thoughwhatyoujustsawwastheProloguescenefromtheplayHenryVbyWilliam Shakespeare.ButthereisaverygoodreasonforthatwhichIwillgointoinamoment... Butfirstletmeintroducemyself,JemmaGurney,ImadirectorandIwillbetakingyouthrough thisworkshop. ImjoinedonstagebyfourwonderfulactorswhowillbeillustratingforyousomeofBrechts ideas.TheyareJosefBer,EmilyBrennan,RussellKiefelandAshleyRicardo. Whatweregoingtopresentforyoutodayisanexplorationofsomeofthekeyconceptsof Brechtstheatreandalookatplacingthemintocontexttogiveaclearerunderstandingofhow andwhyBrechtisviewedassuchanimportantfigurein20thcenturytheatre.Wehavechosen scenesfromTheLifeofGalileoandTheCaucasianChalkCircletodemonstratetheseconcepts.I knowsomeofyoumaybestudyingMotherCourageorThreepennyOpera,howevertheideas wewillexplorethroughthesesceneswillbejustasusefulinapplicationtotheworksyouare studying.Wewillfinishuptodaywithaquestionandanswersessionssofeelfreetotakenotes andifthereisanythingthatcomesupthatyouwantclarificationonwritethequestiondownso wecanaddressitintheQ&A. Ok,theobviousquestionthatneedstobeaddressednowisWhyopenaBrechtWorkshopwith apiecefromShakespeare?.Theanswertothatisquitesimple,whatthatpieceencapsulatesis oneofthecentralconceptsinBrechtsEpicTheatre.Sowhatisthespeechabout...essentially
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WelcomeandIntroductions

Outlineofworkshopcontentandstructure

DiscussionofHenryVPrologueandlinktoBrechtsideasontheatre.

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whatthechorusissayinginthispieceisWewanttoshowyouastoryaboutatwomighty monarchies,aboutanepicbattleinvolvingscoresofsoldiersandhundredsofhorses,abattle thattookplaceonavastlandscape,but,sadlyallwehaveisthisunworthyscaffold,thestage, andourselves,itsalljustpretend,andsoweneedyourimaginationstodotherestItsan invitationtoyou,theaudience,toparticipate,tobeactiveandcollaboratewiththeperformers inordertoshareinthetheatricalexperiencethatisabouttounfoldonthestage.Anditsthis ideaofanactive,involved,participatoryaudiencethatwasatthecoreofwhatBrechtwanted tobringbacktothetheatre. Now,thatleadsmetoanotherimportantpoint,IsayBrechtwantedtobringtheactive audiencebackintothetheatreverydeliberately.Itisimportanttoacknowledgethatmanyof Brechtsideasontheatrewerenotnecessarilynew,ratherheharkedbacktothetraditionsof manytheatresthathadgonebeforeliketheElizabethantheatrethatproducedShakespeare, theMedievaldrama,theGreeks,andtheChineseandJapanesetheatres.Thesetheatrical traditionsallhadonethingincommon,andthatwasanawarenessofthepretenceoftheatre, itsartificialnature.Andthisiswhereweconstantlyrunintoproblemswhenstudyingsomeone likeBrecht.Havealookatthespacewearein...whatcanyousee?Lights,tapeonthefloor... youcanseethatweareinatheatreandyouareawareofthefactthatnothingthatoccursin thisspaceisreal,itsaperformance,theseareactors,anditisallmakebelieve.ThepointIm makingisthatBrechtsideasaboutdrawingtheaudiencesattentiontothemechanicsof theatrehavenow,infact,becomecommonplace.Theyareallthingsweareusedtoseeing whenwegotothetheatre.ThismakesitdifficulttounderstandwhyBrechtisconsideredtobe sucharevolutionaryinthetheatre,wedonothaveacontextbywhichwecanframehisideas becausethoseideas,forthemostpartareanacceptedpartofwhatweunderstandtheatreto be.Theyhaveinfiltratedourunderstandingofwhattheatreis,oftenwithoutusevenbeing consciousofthem.SothemostcriticalthingtounderstandwhenwetrytounderstandBrechtis thatthiswassomethingthathadbeenleftbehindbythetheatrethatwasbeingproducedin GermanyandmuchofEuropeinthe19thcentury,inwhatiscommonlyknownastheRomantic Periodoftheatre.
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ThetheatrethatBrechtwouldhavegrownupwatchingwasaverydifferentthing.Itwas artificialandtwodimensional,therearesomepracticalreasonsforthisalongwithsome relatingtothesocialcontextthatthetheatrewasemergingfrom.Firstly,thetheatresofthis periodinEuropewereoftenmassive,1200seatauditoriums,thatsabout4timesthesizeofthe spaceweareinrightnow.Theotherthingtorememberisthatthesetheatresdidnothave electricityintheearlydays,thatmeansnomicrophonesandnopowerfullights.Sothestyleof actingthatdevelopedinthesetheatresevolvedfromaneedtocommunicatemeaningtoahuge audiencesinaprettydimspace,theresultwasaverymannered,melodramaticandtwo dimensionalactingtechnique.Actorsemployedhugegesturesandvocaltechniques,emotions wereexpressedinextremes.Inthesamewaythattheirvoicesandmovementswere exaggerated,sowasthemakeuptheywore,enlargingthefeaturesofthefacesothatthey couldbeseenbythepoorguyrightuptheback. Inadditiontothisthetypesofplaysthatwereproducedinthistheatreandthekindsof charactersthatwererepresentedwereequallytwodimensional.TheRomantictheatreoffered itsaudiencesandidealisedversionofrealityinwhichyoucouldeasilyrecognisethegoodguy andthebadguy,youknewthatthebadguywouldgetitintheendandthegoodguywouldbe victorious.Itpresentedaworldthatwasuncomplicated,simplisticandpredictable.Initsheyday peoplewenttothetheatretoescapereality,notconfrontit.Soundfamiliar,wellitsinteresting tonotethatintheperiodofhistorythatdirectlyfollowedtheRomanticstage,theperiodthat coincidedwiththeemergenceofBrechtandhisnewambitionsforthetheatre,therewas anotherbigdevelopmentindramaticart....anyonewanttotakeaguess?...Cinema.Thats right,themoviescamealong.Suddenlythisnewmediumofdramaticartwasabletodowhat theRomantictheatretriedtodo,butalotbetter.Hence,tothisdayandlikelyforcenturiesto come,thecinemabecameourgreatescape.Throughmoviespeoplecouldlosethemselvesina completelynewreality,watchthevillainsfallandtheheroestriumph,betterthantheyever couldinthetheatre.Sowhenthishappenedtheatrehadtoreinventitself,findanewpurposein ordertosurviveasanartform.ItsnowonderthenthatBrechtwantedtobringtheatrebackto itsroots,asmorethanjustafrivolousescape,hewantedit,againtobeameansofanalysing, questioningand,hopefully,betterunderstandingourworld.
BRECHTWORKSHOP2011 4

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Wecangainaprettyclearunderstandingofhisviewsthroughthisquotehegaveearlyinhis career... SowehaveanunderstandingofthekindoftheatrethatBrechtwouldhaveexperiencedasa youngman.ThishelpsusbegintounderstandwhyhisEpicTheatrehadsuchanimpactwhenit emergedinthe20thcentury,howeveritonlytakesuspartofthewaytoplacinghimincontext. Whatisalsocriticaltoknowifwearetoreallyunderstandwherehewascomingfromiswhat thestateofthesocietywasinGermanyatthetime.SoBrechtgrewupinPrussianmilitarist Germany,helivedthroughthefirstWorldWarafterwhichGermanytookaprettybignosedive. Germanyofthe20sand30swasknownasWeimarGermanyanditwasinaprettybadway duringthatperiod.Thesocietywasnotfunctioningpolitically,economicallyorsocially.Unlike ourfairlystabletwopartypoliticalsystem,inWeimarGermanytherewerelotsoftinyparties thatcouldneveragreeonanything.Governmentskeptfailinganditwasalmostimpossibleto getapieceoflegislationpassedinanefforttotryandstabilisethenation.Asaresultthe economywasinchaos,theGermanpeoplehadtocontendwithhyperinflation,peoplewould literallyhavetotakebagsfullofmoneytobyaloafofbreadoracartonofmilkbecausethe currencywasalmostworthless.Thisinturnleadtorisingcrime.Thesocietysimplydidnotwork andlifewasfullofuncertaintyand,consequently,therewasapervadingfeelingamongthe Germanpeoplethatthingsneededtochange.Thekeypointthatemergesfromallthisisthat thekindoftheatrethatasocietyproducescanbedirectlyconnectedtothestateofthesociety itself.So,inthecaseofWeimarGermany,itisnotsurprisingthatthetheatreofpeoplelike Brechtsoughttograpplewiththechaosandtheuncertaintythatitsaudiencewasexperiencing intheireverydaylives.
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Theatrethatmakesnoconnectionwiththepublicisanonsense.Ourtheatre isaccordinglyanonsense

HistoricalcontextWeimarGermany(20sand30s) Howthestateofthesocietyinfluencesthetheatre

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SonowthatwehaveputthatframearoundBrechtandgottogripswiththewhy?,letsstart tolookatthehow?.ThefirstsceneweareabouttoseeisanextractfromScene3inTheLifeof Galileo.Whatsinterestingtonotefirstup,havingtalkedearlierabouttheRomanticTheatre BrechtgrewupwatchingisthatGalileoservesasagreatexampleofhowBrechtmovedaway fromthearchetypalherocharactersoftheclassicalGermantheatre.IfthecharacterofGalileo werepresentedontheRomanticstagehewouldhavebeenamoralherowhostoodupforhis beliefsandwouldtriumph,ifitwereaDrama,orbecomeavictimofinjusticeorfate,ifitwerea tragedy.InBrechtsworldheisconflictedandhismoralsarequestionable.Therearealotof greyareasandwe,theaudience,areplacedinapositionofjudgementoverhim.So,inthis sceneweseeGalileo,whohasbeensupportinghimselfupuntilnowthroughmoneygained fromconvincingpeopleinpowerthathehasinventedthetelescope,whenreallyitwasinvented inHollandsometimebeforeandisknownalloverEurope.Justbeforethisscenebeginsthisis discoveredandhenowmustsourceanewincomesohecancontinuehiseffortstoprovethat thetheoryofCopernicus,thattheEarthrevolvesaroundthesunistrue.Somethingstolookout forherearethechoicesmadeinstagingthesceneandstyleofperformancesgiven. PerformanceGalileoScene3(extract) DiscussionofGalileoscene3 Brechtianactingnatural Antiherojudgementofcentralcharacter,distancing Directaddress Audienceformrelationshipwiththeactors Bearingthedevice Sofirstlyletstalkabouttheactingstyle.ForseveralreasonstheactinginBrechtiantheatre shiftedawayfromthatofthehighlydramaticstylesoftheRomanticTheatre.Inpracticalterms thetheatresgotsmaller,theacousticswerebetter,butalsoideologieswerechangingand Brechtwaswritingcharactersthatdidntincorporatethoseextremesofemotion.Sowhat resultedwassomethingfarmorerealistic.Anotherimportantaspectistheideaofthe presentationofacting.UnliketheRealistorNaturalisttheatres,inwhichactingisamaskthat hidestheactorfromus,inBrechtiantheatrewearegiventheopportunitytobecomefamiliar withtheactorsthemselvesaswellasthemanycharacterstheyplay.Theactorsarehereon stageandyouareabletoseethemadoptanddropcharacterandyouareforminga relationshipwiththemasmuchastheircharacters,ifnotmore.They,likeyousitinjudgement ofthecharactersandtheirchoices.
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IntroductiontoGalileoScene3

Intermsofthestagingofthescenewhatwetriedtodemonstrateforyoutherewasthe BrechtiantechniqueofBearingtheDevice.EssentiallywhatBearingtheDeviceisallaboutisthe oppositeofillusion.Itgoesagainsttheideaofsuspensionofdisbeliefandthepretendingthat whatyouseeisreal.Insteadyouareabletoseethemechanicsofthetheatre.SowhatEmily andAshleydidtherewithwhatwereobviouslypaperlanternshangingfromsomebitsof bambooisgivearepresentationoftheJupiterthatGalileosawandthediscoveryheisaboutto make,inaprettysimplewayitgivesarepresentationofoneofthecorethemesofthescene and,inturntheplay.Symbolicallyitisimportanttobeawareoftheparallelsthatcanbe drawnbetweenthemovementoutofcertaintyaboutgodandtheuniversethatGalileos discoveryrepresentedandthechaosanduncertaintybeingexperiencedbytheGermanpeople postWW1. IntroductiontoCCCScene2 NowletslookatanotherplaytohelpusexploresomeofthesethemesandtechniquesofEpic Theatre.WearegoingtolooknowatafewscenesfromTheCaucasianChalkCircle.Thisplayis possiblyoneofthebestexamplesofBrechtsintentionsfortheEpicTheatre.Itissimultaneously politicalinitsthemesandfullofhumanityandhope.Itstrikesawonderfulbalancebetween thesetwoelements,wewanttofollowthestoryandengagewithitscharacters,butatthe sametimeweareconstantlybeingaskedtomakechoicesandtojudgethechoicesmadebythe characters.ItalsodemonstratesbeautifullytheconstructionofEpictheatreandsothechoices madeinstagingthisplayareveryimportant. Togiveabitofcontext,wewillfirstlookatanextractfromscene2oftheplay.Hereonceagain Brechtispresentingaworldinchaos,theregimeinNukhahasfallenandthepalaceisunder siegefromtherebellingarmy,everyoneisfranticallypackingthingsuptoevacuate.Inallthe chaostherichandpowerfulGovernorswife,Natella,fleesleavingbehindhersonandhefalls intothecareoftheservantgirlGrusha.OverthecourseoftheplaywefollowGrushaasshe strugglestocareforthechildandleadhimsafelythroughthiswartorncountry.Inthisscene amidstthechaosoftheevacuation,GrushacomesacrossSimon,apalaceguardandpotential husband,andwewitnessthehurriednegotiationoftheirrelationship. PerformanceCaucasianChalkCircleScene2(extract) DiscussionofCCCscene2 Song/Speechofthoughts/feelings
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SothereyouhaveakeyBrechtiandeviceofDirectAddressoftenitisasong,sometimesa speechwherethecharactercanbreaktheurgencysetinthescenetorevealtotheaudience whattheyarethinkingorfeeling. IntroductiontoCCCscene4 Thereisanotherexampleofhowthiscanbedoneinthenextscene.Nowwemoveforwardfive years,tothenexttimeGrushaandSimonseeeachother.Grushahasbeenthroughalotinher efforttoprotectthechildandhashadtomakesomedifficultchoices.Sheendeduphavingto marryahorriblemanwithanevenmorehorriblemotherinordertosurviveandthensuddenly, outoftheblue,Simonshowsup... PerformanceCaucasianChalkCircleScene4(extract) DiscussionofCCCscene4 Useofemotionpresentbutframed ComparisontoStanislavskyExternalnotinternal Singerprovidesinsightintocharacters Stagingassistswithdistancing Oneofthegreatthingsthisscenedoesisdispeloneofthemostcommonmisconceptionsabout Brecht.Thatisthepresenceofemotioninhiswork.Alotofpeople,mistakenly,thinkthatall Brechtsworkisdevoidofemotion,thatitspurelycoldexaminationofhumanity,thesceneyou havejustwatchedprovesthatthatisnotthecaseatall.Wewitnessthepalpableemotionof thecharactersinthisscene,buttheimportantthingtorecogniseisthattheemotionisframed, inordertopreventusfrombeingseducedbyit,enablingustoremainobjective.Thisframingis providedbythesingerwhogivesinsightintothecharactersbutalsoservestobreakthemood, tosnapusoutofthatemotionalconnectionandremindusthatwehavechoicestomake. ComparethistotheideasofsomeonelikeStanislavsky,inthiscaseStanislavskywouldhave spenttimedevelopingtheactorsconnectiontotheemotionaljourneyofthecharacter,building theinternalexperienceoftheemotionsothatwhatwewitnessedexternallywasasrealas possibleandtherolethatBrechtsSingerplaysinrevealingtheinternallifeofthecharacteris insteadexposedthroughourobservationofthesubtlenuancesoftheactorsperformance. Brechtrespectedthisbutfeltitdidnotsitwellwithhisvisionforthetheatre,hefounditabit indulgentandpreferredtopresentemotionasanexternaladditiontotheperformancethat couldbeappreciatedbutdidnotdistracttheaudiencefromtheirroleasobjectiveobserver. Brecht/Piscatorcollaborationondesign Thechoicetostagethesceneinthisreaderstheatrestyleisalsoaimedatdistancingyou, keepingyouobjective.ItsalsoabitofanhomagetoBrechtsideasondesigningthetheatrical space.AnotherelementoftheoldstyleofGermantheatrethatBrechtwantedtomoveaway fromwastheartificial,twodimensionalspacesthatthistheatrewasperformedin.Theset designsoftheRomantictheatreweregenerallyroomsoroutdoorscenespaintedontocanvas flats.Paintedondoors,paintedonwindows,paintedtrees.Itaddedtothewholeartificial
BRECHTWORKSHOP2011 8

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natureofthattheatre.BrechtandhiscollaboratorErwinPiscator,wantedtobringdepthand relatabilitytothetheatre,theywantedtheirtheatrespacestohavedepthtotheminwhichreal peopleexist,withrealobjects sothattheeventsthatoccurwithinithavearealresonance. NowletstakealookatthefinalscenefromCaucasianChalkCircle.Thewarhasendedandthe Govenorswife,Natella,returnstodiscoverthattheonlywayshecanaccessherdead husbandsestatesisthroughtherightfulheir,herson,whohasspentthelastfiveyearsbeing raisedbyGrusha.Thechild,andGrushaaretakenbeforeajudgewhoistoruleonwhothe rightfulmotheris.AndhereagainwecomeacrossoneofBrechtsantiheroes,Azdak.Heisnot thenoble,authoritativefigureyouwouldexpecttoseeinaJudgeoftheclassicaltheatre.Infact heisadrunk,andacrook,amarginalfigurewhocametobeappointedjudgebyacomicsetof circumstances.Heisillolgicalandbackwardsinhisdeliveryofjustice,but,itisimportanttonote thathedoesinfactrepresentwhatwemightrefertoasBrechtianEthics,thatis,thoughhis methodsmaybehighlyquestionable,hedemonstratesanunderstandingofthenatureof compromiseandanunderstandingofthegreyareasthatexistinourworld.Brechtpresentsa viewoftheworldwheretherearedegreestowhatisrightandwrongandhedoessothrough characterslikeAzdak... PerformanceCaucasianChalkCircleScene6(extract) DiscussionofCCCscene6 Brechtianethics Thisscenerepresentstheclimacticeventsofthisstory,wewitnessthischaracterwhomwehave followedthroughouttheplayfinallytriumphandberewarded,andyet,onceagainweare distancedfromthecharactersthroughacoupleofdevices.Firstly,ofcourseisthesong,whats interestingaboutthesongisthatitissorudimentaryandinthiscasecomicalandyetit encapsulatesoneofthecorethemesoftheplay.Anditsquiteaweightythemeaswell, essentiallywhatitissuggestingisthatthebeingrichandpowerfulcaninvolveasmuch suffering,ifnotmorethanbeingpoor,thatsaprettybigcallthatBrechtismakinganditisthis thathewantstheaudiencetodebate.Somaybeaskyourself,doyouagreewiththat sentiment?Anotherdistancingdeviceinthesceneisagooddealmoresubtle,didyounotice thatwhenGrushaletgoofthechildforthesecondtimeitwasnotuntilaftershehadletgothat
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IntroductiontoCCCscene6

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sheannouncedIcantdoit!,asIsaiditsverysubtlebutbymessingwiththetenseinwhichshe makesthatproclamationBrechtallowsthecharactertoexplainheractionstous,onceagain offeringthecharacterschoicesuptoustoexamine. RecapEpictheatreareactiontoRomantictheatreandthestateofthesociety. Verfremdungseffektreactiontotheatreindenial,returntopreromanticpractices. Examplesofotherdevices OK,letsrecap.SoBrechtsEpictheatrewasarediscoveryofoldideasabouttheatre,rather thanarevolution,anditwasadirectreactiontotwothings.Onewasthetheatrethathadgone before,theverymelodramatic,twodimensionaltheatreoftheClassicalGermanstagethat presentedtheworldasblackandwhite,withgoodguysandbadguys,rightandwrongandwith verylittleincommonwiththerealitiesofGermanlife. Thesecondwasthestateofthesocietyatthetimehewascreatinghiswork,asocietythatwas inchaosandwashungryforchange.ThetheatreBrechtcreatedfedthatsocietiesdesiretofeel partofacommunityexperience,withthisinminditsimportanttobeawarethatoneofthe centralconceptsofEpicTheatretheVerfremdungseffektoralienationeffectwasnotabout excludingtheaudience,infactjusttheopposite.Thewholeideabehindthealienationandall thedistancingdevicesthatyouhaveseentoday,alongwithsomewehavenotutilisedliketitle placardsatthestartofscenes,wasreallyaboutlettingtheaudienceintotheartas collaborators,allowingthemonstage,ineffect,withtheactorstoparticipateinthe conversationthatwashappeningabouttheirworldthroughthecharacters.Itwasallabout breakingdownthefourthwall. IntroductiontoArturoUiPrologueTheatreasmetaphor! Withthisinmindletsmovenowtothefinalscene.Thisscenewillserveasakindofmirrorto theprologuescenefromHenryVthatyousawatthebeginningoftheworkshop.Likethatscene itisaprologueandlikethatprologueitdrawsourattentiontothetheatricalexperiencethatis abouttotakeplace.ItcomesfromBrechtsplayTheResistibleRiseofArturoUi.Thisplayis whatsknownasaparableplay,whichbasicallymeansthatthewholethingisonebig metaphor,inthiscaseitisametaphorfortherisetopowerofAdolfHitler.InsteadofGermany
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andAustria,theplayissetinganglandChicagoandthetownofCicerointhe1930sandeachof thecharactersisbasedonakeyfigureandeachoftheeventsreflectsaneventfromthat periodinGermanhistory.Thisideaoftheatreasmetaphorisanimportantone,notjustfor Brecht,butfortheatreingeneral.Byplacingtheconceptsandissueswewanttodiscussina newcontextitfreesusupasartistsandasaudiencetoexaminetheseissuesmorebroadly withoutgettingboggeddownbythetechnicalitiesofthereality.MostofBrechtsworkis metaphoricinthisway,butthereareplentyofotherexampleaswell,suchasArthurMillers TheCruciblewhichexaminesthetreatmentofsuspectedCommunistinAmericainthe1950s, butdoessothroughthestoryoftheSalemwitchhuntthatoccurredaroundthreehundredyears earlier. SoherewehavetheAnnouncerintroducingustotheeventsandcharactersthatwewillbe examiningoverthecourseoftheplay... PerformanceArturoUiPrologue Pleasethanktheactors... Conclusion,thanksandQ&A

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