Unveiling Brechtian Epic Theatre: A Journey into Satirical Performance

Learning Objective

Understand the key principles of Brechtian performance, practice epic theatre techniques, and create satirical performance titles.

What do you already know about Brechtian Epic Theatre and Satire?

Brechtian Performance

Brechtian theatre emphasizes social and political themes, breaking the fourth wall, and alienation effect to provoke critical thinking.

Epic Theatre Activities

Engage in activities like gestus exercises, forum theatre, and verfremdungseffekt techniques to embody the essence of epic theatre.

Satire in Performance

Explore the use of humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize societal issues and human behaviors in a thought-provoking manner.

Creating Performance Titles

Brainstorm and develop performance titles that encapsulate the essence of Brechtian epic theatre and satirical elements.

Rehearsing Satirical Scenes

Divide into groups and rehearse scenes that embody satire, incorporating Brechtian techniques to enhance the impact.

Presenting Satirical Performances

Showcase the rehearsed satirical performances, focusing on the use of alienation effect and direct engagement with the audience.

Reflecting on the Experience

Discuss the challenges and insights gained from the process, reflecting on the power of Brechtian epic theatre and satirical performance.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.