Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht or commonly known as Bertolt Brecht born 10th February 1898 and died 14th August 1958 he was a German poet, play write and theater director through his plays he became a influential theater practitioner as he has shaped the way theater is performed in the 20th century all this ideas are used in all theaters such as lights and sound for dramatic affect all lead to alienation for the audience. The Bible and Chinese theater had a great influence on all the work he has created also through his work he would use theater as a body to explore a variety of political issues in society.
Brecht created a theater company called Berliner Ensemble with his wife Helene Weigel in January 1949 most of the plays put on by this company was written by Bertolt himself the company first worked in Wolfgang Langshoff Deutsches theater then in 1954 moved to Theater am Schiffbauerdamm. This company's productions where a success through long rehearsal periods often going on for several months.
Epic theater is a theory created by Brecht where the play should not evoke emotional attachment towards any characters on stage from the audience but instead the audience would be critical on what they have watched and begin reflecting on how it portrays society and their roles in it. He wants the audience to be able to notice exploitation and injustice then become inspired to make a change in society
Through his productions he wants the audience to question what they are watching therefore he would always make it known to the audience that they ware watching a play,he also wants the audience to examine life in society constantly ask questions about what they are watching and if its right. He would always want to make the strange normal and the normal strange also he wants to make for the audience and understanding portraying through theater the devil ways of society each character created in his play would not be playing a person as such but instead they would reflect a large amount of society such as having stereotypes. Through his theater he wants the audience to remember that he wants us as humans in society to have a collective irresponsibility to each other constantly opening the audiences eyes that change can be made
Bertolt believed in alienating the audience as he does not want any emotional attachment involved while they watch the play this is called 'Verfremdungseffekt' which are actions or techniques that remind the audience and the actors that they are watching a play. This technique is used when Brecht wants to show the audience that a very important moment is happening and he wants them to question what is. Brecht would use the stage to make a stronger alienation for the audience as the way a play is staged has a strong visual affect this could lead to changing the attitude of many audience members. He also used such things as the actors directly addressing the audience which by doing that breaks the 4th wall , harsh and bright lighting , using song to interrupt action on stage , Gestures used to tell the story physically , placards therefore the audience will always know whats happening then they will be able to focus more on the message the scene is trying to get across , in rehearsal the actors will use the technique of reading out the stage directions out loud and transforming the text to 3rd person or past tense. A distance is always created and maintained between the audience and the actors on stage so that the audience can make judgement and see the possibility for change.
Quotes
"Art is not a mirror to reflect reality but a hammer to shape it"
"Make theater about the message not about the entertainment"
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