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Brecht on Theatre by Bertolt Brecht

Brecht on Theatre

The Development of an Aesthetic

Bertolt Brecht, Steve Giles

Farrar Straus & Giroux · Print & ebook · January 1, 1964

This volume offers a major selection of Bertolt Brecht's groundbreaking critical writing.

Theater History & CriticismDrama CriticismGerman Plays
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Who it’s for
Chronological essays trace Brecht’s thinking on theatre, from alienation effects to a fuller philosophy of drama.
Themes
Theatre criticism, Epic Theatre, Alienation effects
Genres
Theater History & Criticism, Drama Criticism, German Plays

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About this book

This volume offers a major selection of Bertolt Brecht's groundbreaking critical writing. Here, arranged in chronological order, are essays from 1918 to 1956, in which Brecht explores his definition of the Epic Theatre and his theory of alienation-effects in directing, acting, and writing, and discusses, among other works, The Threepenny Opera, Mahagonny, Mother Courage, Puntila, and Galileo.

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Also included is "A Short Organum for the Theatre," Brecht's most complete exposition of his revolutionary philosophy of drama. Translated and edited by John Willett, Brecht on Theater is essential to an understanding of one of the twentieth century's most influential dramatists.

Ideas for the Stage

Chronological essays trace Brecht’s thinking on theatre, from alienation effects to a fuller philosophy of drama.

Come here for

  • A close look at how directing, acting, and writing shape Epic Theatre
  • Critical writing alongside discussion of Brecht’s major plays

Expect

  • Essays spanning 1918 to 1956
  • The concise, demanding pleasure of following an aesthetic take shape

Where it sits

Theater History & Criticism86%
Drama Criticism39%
German Plays37%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Theater History & Criticism
Authors
Bertolt Brecht, Steve Giles
Publisher
Farrar Straus & Giroux
Published
January 1, 1964
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Theatre criticism · Epic Theatre · Alienation effects
Reading lane
Theater History & Criticism