How did Jan Kott’s interpretation of Shakespeare influence theatre directors and filmmakers?

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Antique book open to the frontispiece of The Iliad of Homer, showing the title and an engraved portrait of a bearded man, with old books in the background. — literature *The Iliad*, an epic of the Trojan War attributed to the ancient Greek poet Homer, is considered a foundational work of Western literature.

Jan Kott significantly reshaped the interpretation of William Shakespeare by framing him as a dramatist of the absurd, characterized by skepticism, irony, and an antiauthoritarian perspective. Writing in the aftermath of World War II from an Eastern European viewpoint, Kott’s work challenged traditional readings of the plays.1

His deeply ironic analysis of political processes resonated strongly with prominent theatre directors and filmmakers, most notably Peter Brook. Brook’s acclaimed productions, such as King Lear and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, were directly influenced by Kott’s vision. By presenting Shakespeare’s works through this lens of political disillusionment and absurdity, Kott provided a framework that allowed artists to engage with the complexities of power, manipulation, and the modern political landscape.1