wozyeck

Question 1

Epic Theatre 5

Answer 1

theatre to challenge revolution / to challenge and to change

“turns the spectator into
an observer”

“arouses his capacity for action”
“forces him to take decisions”
“the human being is alterable”
- we are products of society but not bound by its conventions

“each scene for itself”

Question 2

Presentational costume props and set

Answer 2

• minimal
• distinctive item or two to resemble character
• visual clues of the location and used frequently
• avoids realism and naturalism

Question 3

Presentational acting

Answer 3

actors have to present their characters and not engage in the emotions

“third person” technique ‘he said’ ‘she said’

Question 4

Brecht set design:

Answer 4

sometimes non-existent or fragmentary

industrial

signs/placards used to show audience a range of information

screen projection used to reinforce plays themes - to garner an intellectual response not emotional

Question 5

Brecht Lighting design

Answer 5

• openly white light (as colour would generate an emotional response from the audience)
• lighting instruments left in full view of audience
• house lights sometimes left on to share same-lit space

Question 6

brecht costume / makeup

Answer 6

• costume was not individually identifiable
• sometimes incomplete and fragmentary
• costume often denoted the characters role or function in society
• some makeup and mask use but non -realistic and ‘theatrical’
• used to depict the characters social role in the play

Question 7

Brecht acting style

Answer 7

• mix of realistic and non-realistic movement
• at times graceful / forceful

-gestus individual gestures and whole
body postures

• character gestus denoted ones social attitude and human relationships with others
• groups of characters often positioned on stage for functional and not aesthetic reasons
• characters grouped according to their social relationships in the play (marxist pricliples)
• direct address to audience was a strong unconventional technique used by performers
• direct address broke fourth wall

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Question 8

brecht acting style part 2

Answer 8

-the narrator was a common figure on. brechtian dramas
-actor was to never fully become the character
-sense of detachment
-oversimplified and sterotyped
-historical real life characters in brecht plays
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Question 9

brecht music

Answer 9

• interrupt and explain forthcoming action
• detached acting that wards off audience identification

-juxtaposes the narrative themes of the play !

• he wanted the audience to think critically and objectively not emotionally
• he employed them as important and independent device .. interrupt acting = the v effect
• music is used to interrupt action by the interruption the audience will be able to obtain time to judged and form their options regarding the episodes presented to them
• express plays themes and neutralise emotion