Bertolt Brecht was a German playwright, poet, and theatre director renowned for his innovative contributions to modern theatre. Born in 1898, Brecht became a major figure in the development of epic theatre, a style that sought to provoke thought and critical reflection in the audience rather than simply entertain. He believed that theatre should be a tool for social change, encouraging audiences to question the societal structures that perpetuated injustice. Brecht’s most famous works, such as The Threepenny Opera, Mother Courage and Her Children, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle, explore themes of politics, power, and morality, often using satire and dark humor to critique capitalist society, war, and inequality.
Brecht was also a key figure in the development of the “Verfremdungseffekt” or “alienation effect,” a technique designed to disrupt the audience’s immersion in the story and remind them that they were watching a play. This technique, which included breaking the fourth wall, narration, and the use of songs or direct address, was meant to encourage intellectual engagement and prevent emotional identification with the characters. A staunch Marxist, Brecht was forced into exile by the rise of the Nazi regime, but he continued to produce influential works while living in countries like Denmark and the Soviet Union. His revolutionary ideas on theatre and his commitment to using art as a means of social and political engagement have left a lasting legacy on both the theatre world and broader cultural discourse.
