On Experimental Theatre
Quick Summary
Bertolt Brecht's "On Experimental Theatre" discusses his concept of epic theatre. This form of drama aims to engage the audience's intellect rather than their emotions. Brecht believed theatre should present an account of past events, making the audience realize they are watching a performance, not reality.12
To achieve this, he employed the "alienation effect" (Verfremdungseffekt), using techniques to distance the audience from emotional involvement. These included explanatory captions, actors stepping out of character, and visible stage mechanics. The goal was to encourage objective thinking about the play's social commentary and inspire critical analysis and intellectual solutions to problems presented. This approach contrasted with the illusionistic, empathy-driven style of Stanislavsky.31
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