Brecht Workshop

Brecht was born in 1898 and was a medic. He then studied drama at  Munich University (where he studied to become a medic). He moved to Germany in 1925 to start a career in theatre  In 1933, with the rise of Hitler, he fled Germany to go to the USA and lost his German citizenship.

He got his American citizenship in 1941 where he decided to be a communist. He got sent to non-American house which led him to flee back to Germany in 1947. Here, he started a theatre company where he voiced what he thought through theatre.

He created something that is now known as epic theatre. At this point in time, naturalistic theatre was very popular but he decided to go completely against it. He wanted to cheer people up from the depressing war and make people think while watching his productions. He also didn't want his audience to connect or care for his characters. He didn't want his audience to feel emotional, he actually wanted the audience to be an emotional distance. He also, decided to break the fourth wall a lot.

Brecht died on 14 August 1956 of a heart attack at the age of 58.

Brecht's Techniques:

• Narration
• Coming out of role
• Speak in stage directions
• Directly address the audience
• Uses plaques/signs
• Multi-rolling
• Minimal costumes, props and sets
• Symbolic props
• Symbolic lighting
• Song and dance
• Montage
• Non-linear narrative
• Gesture representation