ExpressionismEarly Expressionism in German Theatre

Lyrical plays of social criticism, satire and protest existed before 1910.

MAN #1

Georg BÜchner ( 1813-1837)• First modern playwright

• Anticipated many modern techniques of Expressionism– Tried to find new ways of expressing

fatalistic perception of society and events

• Key works:– Dantons Tod (Danton’s Death, 1902)– Woyzeck, 1913

Georg Büchner’s Key Works

• Dantons Tod, 1902– Ambiguous– Dialectical

• Woyzeck, – Written unfinished in 1836, published 1879– Dialectical– Open structure

WOYZECK

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Georg Büchner’s Effect

• Experimental Approach• Demonstrated that a ‘history’ play could be

presented dialectically• Introduced ballad on stage

Influenced: Frank Wedekind, Bertolt Brecht, Ernst Toller etc

MAN #2

Frank Wedekind (1864-1918)

• Enthusiastic follower of Buchner– Broke taboos,

outrageous stage effects – Attacked shams of

bourgeois society– Inspired by Buchner

Frank Wedekind’s Key Works

• FrÜhlings Erwachen (Spring’s Awakening, 1891)– First play in print– Not produced till 1906, in a cut version by Max

Reinhardt– Constant attack on values of bourgeois family

Frank Wedekind’s Key Works

• The “Lulu” plays– Erdgeist (Earth Spirit, 1895) &

Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora's Box, 1904)– Frank depiction of sexuality and violence

Frank Wedekind’s Effect

• Anticipated Expressionism

• Mixing bizarre with realism

• Major influence for Epic Theatre

• Adaption for 2006 Broadway musical

Influenced: Bertolt Brecht, Carl Steinharm

MAN #3

August Strindberg (1849-1912)

• Father of Expressionism– Most frequently performed

dramatist before World War 1– Young German playwrights

saw his work as a pointer

August Strindberg (1849-1912)

• Strindbergian Expressionism– Splitting a single personality into several characters– Uses characters as agents who stand for a condition

of mankind

August Strindberg’s Works

• “A Dream Play”, 1902– Prompted Expressionist revolution in European

dramatic writing and practice.– Follows pattern of a Morality Play– ‘Polyphonic’ dialogue– Threw off every restriction of realism– Considered unstageable till 1907 (attempted)

August Strindberg’s Works

• Kammarspel (The Chamber Plays)– the Intimate Theatre, 1907– Simple in theme and presentation– Emotion and atmosphere to dominate the play and

presentation– Chamber Music

The StormThe Burned HouseThe Ghost Sonata

The PelicanThe Black Glove

These 3 men, or forerunners, led to what we now know as..

Expressionism

Early Expressionism (1912-1923)

• Initially confined to a single national culture• Georg Kaiser and Ernst Toller were the most

famous playwrights.

Georg Kaiser (1878 – 1945)

• Plays of ideas• The Burghers of Calais (Die

Bürger von Calais, 1913 / 1917)– Expressionist “New Man”

• Highly influential

Ernst Toller (1893-1939)

• After WW1• Politically-inspired plays

more acceptable• Masse Mensch

(Masses Man, 1921)– Dramatic dialectic– Alternated forms of

realism and expressionism

Early Expressionism: Characteristics

• Abstract, unlocalised setting• Episodic• Characters as figures• Mechanical ‘crowds’• Fragmented dialogue, Telegram Style• ‘Ecstatic’ style of acting

Key figures

• Georg BÜchner• Frank Wedekind• August Strindberg

• Georg Kaiser• Ernst Toller

Kaiser & Toller

Both believed in the necessity of an expressionist approach if the stage wanted to do ‘more than take photographs’…

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