Bertolt Brecht Intro

European Theatre

Unit
Developing Physical Theatre & Applying Acting styles.

Term : Summer Term

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma

Performing Arts Year 1

Tutor: Yusuf&Nicholas Evans

'Art is not a mirror held up to life, but a hammer with which to shape it.'



 

                    

 'Sawing gently at the nerves,' said Marieluise Fleisser and Herbert Ihering( writing in 1926): He did not analyse the characters, he set them at a distance... He called for a report on the events. He insisted on simple gestures. He compelled a clear and cool manner of speaking. No emotional tricks were allowed. That ensured the objective, 'epic' style.
Willet, J(1959) Theatre of Bertolt Brecht, London: Methuen.

Our first class on Brecht was like an introduction of his work and what he does. There was red tape that  we used as our stage. It was in a rectangle form, because there is fourteen of us in the class we got divided into two separate groups. Then we had to be partner up with someone that was on the opposite side. My partner was Esther O. We had to make three still images about intimidation, love and regret using a Brecht facial expression but we got it wrong because we previously done pieces on  Method acting but  using 'Stanislavski's' way of acting and we still tried to be natural and find the truth and be really depressed when Brecht is suppose to be the opposite of Naturalism. Brecht is against Stanislavski's way even though they are both Russian, ironic isn't it? 

Second Class we done we got given a scenario to do. It was mainly to do with a patient and a doctor and the doctor is arrested and accused for murder.  I got put into a group and these are the ideas we came up with for a different scenario and we were supposed to do a Brecht reaction.  I was told I understand the concept of Brecht's acting method when we done both still images. The second still image was similar but we changed it using an un-naturalistic. This is one of the posters my group and I used. I made all the posters.
 This image below explains what we discuss and came up with. It also states who done what. Although me and Shabill swapped roles. Then Crystal, Derese and Shabill became my friends instead of patients in a  hospital.

Then we got given a brecht script called the Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui to look at; like a taster of what we were going to do for the Brecht unit. We played around with the characters; we used a lot of props and costume in the play. I understand that in BRECHT there is often lots of signs and posters that are used, as he is about politics and Art.  Claudia was the Dock Daisy Prostitue, Charles Played the doctor, Shabill Kieymba played Fish, Esther (Tiffany and I) played Giri, Cameron and Bicton played Guards, Pierce Tomlinson played the Judge, Simone played the Givola, Defense counsel was played by Sean Lennon, Hook was played by Penelope Jo Dobson(Penny). Mahin Played the prosecutor.