Makers of Modern Theatre: An Introduction

by Leach; Robert

• ISBN13: 9780415312417
• ISBN10: 0415312418
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-08-16
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Who were the giants of the twentieth-century stage, and exactly how did they influence modern theatre? The key theatre-makers who shaped the drama of the last century are Konstantin Stanislavsky, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Bertolt Brecht and Antonin Artaud. Robert Leach'sMakers of Modern Theatreis the first detailed introduction to the work of these practitioners. In it, Leach focuses on the major issues which relate to their dominance of theatre history: *What was the nature of their life and times? *What is their main legacy? *What were their dramatic philosophies and practices? *How have their ideas been adapted since their deaths? *What are the current critical perspectives on their work? This is an enormously helpful, insightful volume, by one of the foremost theatre historians of our own age.

Author Biography

Robert Leach is currently teaching drama at the University of Edinburgh.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	ix
List of boxes	xi
1 Modern theatre...Modernist theatre	1	(5)
2 Konstantin Stanislavsky	6	(47)
Life and work	6	(17)
The key questions	23	(1)
Stanislavsky's answers	24	(4)
Theatre practice	28	(15)
Stanislavsky after Stanislavsky	43	(6)
Twenty-first-century perspectives	49	(2)
Further reading	51	(2)
3 Vsevolod Emilievich Meyerhold	53	(49)
Life and work	53	(16)
The key questions	69	(1)
Meyerhold's answers	70	(4)
Theatre practice	74	(18)
Meyerhold after Meyerhold	92	(4)
Twenty-first-century perspectives	96	(4)
Further reading	100	(2)
4 Bertolt Brecht	102	(49)
Life and work	102	(13)
The key questions	115	(1)
Brecht's answers	116	(4)
Theatre practice	120	(19)
Brecht after Brecht	139	(7)
Twenty-first-century perspectives	146	(2)
Further reading	148	(3)
5 Antonin Artaud	151	(47)
Life and work	151	(16)
The key questions	167	(1)
Artaud's answers	168	(6)
Theatre practice	174	(13)
Artaud after Artaud	187	(6)
Twenty-first-century perspectives	193	(3)
Further reading	196	(2)
6 Afterwards...after words	198	(8)
Notes	206	(11)
Index	217