Brecht's elements of Epic Theater

Elements of the Epic Theatre in Street Scene by Bertolt Brecht

Breaking off the stereotypes of the classical and then developed and widely accepted Stanislavsky’s method acting, a German poet, playwright and theatre director, Bertolt Brecht introduced his ‘epic theatre’. To explain this concept he used a ‘street corner scene’ of an accident, as the basic model. He argues that epic theatre is different than ordinary theatre.

Brecht says that the epic theatre is the theatre of the scientific age. It has to have social importance. Epic theatre should not create deception, rather give a clear idea of the story. It should not depict exact reality. The ordinary theatre functions by creating pure emotions among the audience. Nonetheless, epic theatre should not do so and just report what has happened. Let us have a look at some of the elements of the street scene and the epic theatre as explained by Brecht.

Actor in an epic theatre:

The actor in the epic theatre and street scene is fundamentally a ‘demonstrator’. They explain ‘what happened’ by giving a clear description through their narrative and actions. As opposed to Stanislavsky’s acting technique, where an actor transforms himself into a character; Brecht says that the actor must ‘detach himself from the character’.

The demonstrator should not be biased towards any character they play and should not suggest a conclusion. The demonstrator should not necessarily be an artist and he should not be too perfect with imitating. They should not enchant the audience by luring them into an illusion of unrealistic real world.

In epic theatre, the actor may not learn or rehearse a text. This is because, the actor frankly demonstrates what has happened.  They may recreate the incident by partially enacting the characters. They should not create an enjoyable ‘experience’ for the audience or spectator. Unlike ordinary theatre, epic theatre should not evoke pure emotions in the spectators. The actor intervenes only as and with a social element.

The demonstrator can build up the character by using some sound or phrase uttered during the incident, associated relationship with another character, etc. Epic theatre may show fully defined characters, but only by using socially relevant qualities and effects.

The demonstrator or the actor of the epic theatre should adopt a natural attitude in both roles i.e. they should behave naturally as a demonstrator and also let the subject/character behave naturally. They should not have any confusion or fusion between these two roles.

The actor can perform his actions with minute detailing or even in slow motion, to emphasize its crucial importance to the scene and isolate the audience, by creating an A- effect.

Spectator in epic theatre:

The epic theatre compels the audience to criticize the subject matter of the incident. The spectator may or may not agree with the actor or demonstrator. The emotions presented to the audience by the demonstrator should be criticized by them.

The audience should feel alienated during the demonstration or performance so that they can critique the demonstration. The epic theatre should make it easier for the audience to form an opinion.

Alienation effect:

The alienation effect uses a technique which targets some human social incidents that are not normal and calls for criticism by the spectator. This effect is created so that the audience can criticize from a social perspective.

The effect is created so that the audience does not get emotionally involved in the demonstration. This is achieved either by gestures or change of role from demonstrator to actor or vice versa. 

~ Aishwarya Walvekar