Brecht Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwmvd2p/revision/1 Brecht’s kind of theatre was called Epic Theatre • He wanted audiences to remain objective and distant from emotional involvement so they could make rational judgements about any social issues • He reminded audiences that they were watching theatre; a presentation of life, not real life • The appeal was intellectually not emotionally Alienation to distance actors from audience - let them consider different viewpoints to an argument • Breaks the fourth wall - they are active members of the theatrical experiences as they are kept thinking throughout • Narration - used to remind audience that what they’re watching is a presentation of a story. Narrators might tell us what happens before it has happened so they don’t become emotionally involved • Coming out of role / third person narration - Midway through action, actor might comment on their character in third person before returning to the scene • Speaking stage directions - forces audience to study actions of a character • Direct address - destroys any illusion of reality • Using placards - Holding up a sign or card with words Staging • Multi-roling - an actor plays more than one character onstage. The differences are marked by changing voice, movement, gesture and body language. So, audience are more aware that they are watching a presentation of events • Split-role - more than one actor plays the same character. Keeps the character representational and inhibits emotional involvement • Minimal set / costume / props - they are kept simple and representational • Symbolic props - one item can be used in a variety of ways • Lighting - Keeping lighting simple to not overshadow message of he work. Harsh white light was best as it “illuminates the truth” Other Devices • Song and dance - ensure that the audience sees the theatre and are reminded of the fact that they are watching a play • Montage - short self-contained (plot is not connected) scenes grouped immediately after • Spass - a bit of comedy, it could break the tension to stop the audience from following characters on their emotional journey • E.g. a serious work addressing suicide and then breaking into a parody of an American advert: Are you feeling low? Depressed? Think there’s no way out? Then you need new ‘End it All’.. Getus - clear character gesture or movement used by the actor that captures a moment or • attitude rather than delving into emotion. Brechtan’s techniques as a stimulus for devised work • The narration needs to be told in a montage style. • Break the fourth wall • Use of a narrator. Because this character is outside the character framework, they change the relationship with the audience. • Use of songs or music. Songs and dances are likely to provoke a more objective viewing, particularly if what you’re watching is serious and not the schmaltzy environment of a typical musical. • Use of technology. If you project ideas onto a screen in a slide show or even have a still image there throughout each scene, it makes the audience analyse more thoroughly. • Use of signs. If an actor starts each scene with a placard naming the scene or you have a board which is changed at the start of each scene, you’re reminding the audience about the fact that they are watching a play. • Use of freeze frames / tableaux. This is obviously unnatural in the simple sense of that word, and should make the audience think about the frozen moment.
