Started the initial research on the overview of Epic Theatre and the conventions associated with the theatrical style. The conventions that I found most interesting and unique were:
Demonstration of role: actors weren’t fully engaged in their characters, instead they ‘demonstrated’ their characters with a sense of detachment.
Gestus: a theatrical technique that is the combination of a gesture and a social meaning in a singular movement, stance or vocal display. It is used to convey the thematic ideas significant to the play or the particular scene, as well as denoted a character’s social attitude and relationships with others.
Lighting: only open white lighting was used, as colour would generate an emotional response from the audience. Lighting instruments were in full view of the audience to help remind the audience that they were watching a play.
Signs: signs and placards were used to show the audience information significant to the performance
Song and music: not used to heighten the emotion of the scene, but instead highlight the didactic message being communicated throughout the drama. The musicians were often clearly visible by the audience to further emphasise that the performance was purely drama.
I was finding it quite difficult to grasp the concept of actors being detached from their characters but the following Brecht quote clarified by understanding:
Demonstration of role: actors weren’t fully engaged in their characters, instead they ‘demonstrated’ their characters with a sense of detachment.
Gestus: a theatrical technique that is the combination of a gesture and a social meaning in a singular movement, stance or vocal display. It is used to convey the thematic ideas significant to the play or the particular scene, as well as denoted a character’s social attitude and relationships with others.
Lighting: only open white lighting was used, as colour would generate an emotional response from the audience. Lighting instruments were in full view of the audience to help remind the audience that they were watching a play.
Signs: signs and placards were used to show the audience information significant to the performance
Song and music: not used to heighten the emotion of the scene, but instead highlight the didactic message being communicated throughout the drama. The musicians were often clearly visible by the audience to further emphasise that the performance was purely drama.
I was finding it quite difficult to grasp the concept of actors being detached from their characters but the following Brecht quote clarified by understanding:
The Actor only quotes a character… he never forgets nor does he allow anyone to forget that he is not the one whose action is being demonstrated, but the one who demonstrates it. And he must never forget that he is performing to an audience, that he is telling the public things through his role.