Independent Theatre and Independent Theatre and Realism in EnglandRealism in England

Ibsen’s InfluenceIbsen’s Influence

Ibsen was very Ibsen was very influential on realist influential on realist theatre in Englandtheatre in England

All of his plays were All of his plays were available in English available in English by 1890by 1890

Early productions Early productions reminded the reminded the English how far English how far behind they were behind they were compared to Europe compared to Europe

Andre Antoine (1858 – 1943)Andre Antoine (1858 – 1943)and the Theatre Libreand the Theatre Libre

Antoine was an Antoine was an insignificant actor and a insignificant actor and a clerk with a gas companyclerk with a gas company

Antoine wanted to produce Antoine wanted to produce new plays including work new plays including work by Zolaby Zola

He started his own theatre, He started his own theatre, Theatre LibreTheatre Libre

His first program gained His first program gained Zola’s endorsementZola’s endorsement

The second season The second season brought in major criticsbrought in major critics

1887, quit job with gas 1887, quit job with gas company to produce plays company to produce plays until 1914until 1914

Theatre LibreTheatre Libre

Operated on a subscription basisOperated on a subscription basisPrivate clubPrivate clubRequired membershipRequired membershipAllowed to present plays that were banned Allowed to present plays that were banned

or would be banned if presented to the or would be banned if presented to the censorscensors

Most plays presented were naturalisticMost plays presented were naturalisticComedies rosses – Comedies rosses – plays were the moral plays were the moral

principles are reversed, black humorprinciples are reversed, black humorProduced foreign worksProduced foreign works

Ibsen and StrindbergIbsen and Strindberg

Antoine’s approachAntoine’s approach Antoine was an autocratAntoine was an autocrat Antoine sought to reproduce every detail in the Antoine sought to reproduce every detail in the

play, very realistic approach play, very realistic approach Arranged the rooms to be like in real life and only Arranged the rooms to be like in real life and only

after the play had been rehearsed did he decide after the play had been rehearsed did he decide which wall to remove for the “fourth wall”which wall to remove for the “fourth wall”

Actors to behave as if there was no audienceActors to behave as if there was no audienceEach play required its own settingEach play required its own settingUsed amateur actorsUsed amateur actors

Coached themCoached them Highly disciplinedHighly disciplined Natural behaviorNatural behavior

Ensemble ActingEnsemble Acting Saxe-Meiningen’s influenceSaxe-Meiningen’s influence

Antoine’s Difficulties Antoine’s Difficulties Victim of his own successVictim of his own success

Actors and playwrights that were Actors and playwrights that were successful were picked up by major successful were picked up by major companiescompanies

High production standards put Antoine into High production standards put Antoine into debtdebt

Limited runs – Three showsLimited runs – Three showsLimited opportunity to recoup costsLimited opportunity to recoup costs

Left amateur theatre in 1894 to start Left amateur theatre in 1894 to start Theatre Antoine, a professional company, Theatre Antoine, a professional company, in 1897. Later director of Odeonin 1897. Later director of Odeon

Freie BuhneFreie Buhne

Means Free StageMeans Free Stage Organised in Berlin in 1889Organised in Berlin in 1889 Worked as a democracy with officers and Worked as a democracy with officers and

governing councilgoverning council Gave performances on Sunday afternoonsGave performances on Sunday afternoons Presented banned playsPresented banned plays Inspired other stage societies in Germany Inspired other stage societies in Germany

including the socialist theatre groupsincluding the socialist theatre groups Freie Volksbuhne, later the Neue Freie Freie Volksbuhne, later the Neue Freie

VolksbuhneVolksbuhne

Independent TheatreIndependent Theatre

Founded by J.T. Grein, a Dutch born criticFounded by J.T. Grein, a Dutch born critic I.T. worked on a subscription basisI.T. worked on a subscription basis Showed plays on SundaysShowed plays on Sundays

Allowed cooperation of theatre managers and actorsAllowed cooperation of theatre managers and actors Opened with Ibsen’s Opened with Ibsen’s GhostsGhosts followed by Zola’s followed by Zola’s

Therese RaquinTherese Raquin Focused more on the plays than productionFocused more on the plays than production Grein hoped to produced new English playsGrein hoped to produced new English plays

Felt producers were conservative and they were the Felt producers were conservative and they were the reason for the low state of English dramareason for the low state of English drama

The lack of English plays provoked Shaw to complete The lack of English plays provoked Shaw to complete Widower’s HousesWidower’s Houses

George Bernard ShawGeorge Bernard Shaw

IrishIrish Interested in Interested in

Fabian SocietyFabian Society SocialismSocialism Perfectibility of peoplePerfectibility of people PersuasionPersuasion

Characters and stories illustrate a point of viewCharacters and stories illustrate a point of view Humans have freedom of choiceHumans have freedom of choice Comedy of ideasComedy of ideas Not immediately successfulNot immediately successful

Unconventional ideas and paradoxical situations puzzled Unconventional ideas and paradoxical situations puzzled audiencesaudiences

Theatre organizations were persistent in presenting his work Theatre organizations were persistent in presenting his work and lead him to be accepted and popular with audiencesand lead him to be accepted and popular with audiences

Royal Court Theatre 1904Royal Court Theatre 1904 Managed by Harley Granville Barker and John Managed by Harley Granville Barker and John

VedrenneVedrenne One play was offered each evening for several weeks One play was offered each evening for several weeks

while another little known or seldom performed work while another little known or seldom performed work was performed at matineeswas performed at matinees

If the matinees were successful or created enough If the matinees were successful or created enough enthusiasm, the play was put on in the evening. enthusiasm, the play was put on in the evening.

Short runs of just a few weeksShort runs of just a few weeks Shaw was one of the main playwrights producedShaw was one of the main playwrights produced Ensemble acting, no starsEnsemble acting, no stars Director’s interpretation, Barker sought to find the Director’s interpretation, Barker sought to find the

style suited for each playstyle suited for each play Simplicity and suggestionSimplicity and suggestion Moved to the Savoy and later the Duke of York in 1910Moved to the Savoy and later the Duke of York in 1910

Stanislavski and the Stanislavski and the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT)Moscow Art Theatre (MAT)

Inspired by Saxe Meiningen Inspired by Saxe Meiningen PlayersPlayers

Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Georg II, Duke of Saxe-MeiningenMeiningen

The first modern directorThe first modern director 1874-1890- most admired company in the West1874-1890- most admired company in the West Very methodical in his approachVery methodical in his approach Play specific design. Designer becomes importantPlay specific design. Designer becomes important Historical accuracyHistorical accuracy Ensemble – NO STARS!!!Ensemble – NO STARS!!! Long rehearsalsLong rehearsals Unified Production ConceptUnified Production Concept

One person responsible for ensuring unityOne person responsible for ensuring unity Director became the authority Director became the authority Director creates a production concept from research of Director creates a production concept from research of

play’s themesplay’s themes Built around an image, metaphor or other concepts. Built around an image, metaphor or other concepts.

May place the play in another time to help highlight a May place the play in another time to help highlight a themetheme

Stanislavski 1863-1938Stanislavski 1863-1938

Co-founded MAT in 1898Co-founded MAT in 1898He was an actor, director and He was an actor, director and

teacher.teacher.Not a natural actor. Not a natural actor. Wanted to find a systematic way to Wanted to find a systematic way to

become a great actorbecome a great actor

Questions – Key for Questions – Key for InspirationInspiration

Relationship – What to I think of the other Relationship – What to I think of the other character? What do (I think) they think of character? What do (I think) they think of me?me?

Objective – What do I want? Objective – What do I want? Purpose – What will make me happy? Why Purpose – What will make me happy? Why

do I want to achieve my objective?do I want to achieve my objective? Obstacle – What is in the way?Obstacle – What is in the way? Text – What do I say? Text – What do I say? Subtext – What do I mean when I say…Subtext – What do I mean when I say… Evaluations – What do I think of doing but Evaluations – What do I think of doing but

don’t do?don’t do?

Other questionsOther questions

What are my What are my given circumstancesgiven circumstances? ? Magic Magic IF IF Super ObjectiveSuper Objective – What do I want – What do I want

most in life?most in life?Through LineThrough Line – What is the – What is the

connection between all of my connection between all of my behaviors/actions in the play?behaviors/actions in the play?

Dividing up the playDividing up the play

ActsActsScenesScenesUnits or EpisodesUnits or EpisodesBeatsBeats

Came from when Russian teachers came Came from when Russian teachers came to America to teach the system. They to America to teach the system. They were saying “bits” but the actors were saying “bits” but the actors understood “beats” so beats became understood “beats” so beats became the common termthe common term

Basic Actions and Basic EventsBasic Actions and Basic Events

Qualities of an objectiveQualities of an objective WantWant ChangeChange ObtainableObtainable Comes with obstaclesComes with obstacles Comes with actionComes with action

If I do nothing to achieve it, it’s a dreamIf I do nothing to achieve it, it’s a dream HappinessHappiness Enjoyable to actEnjoyable to act Pictures and Impressions Pictures and Impressions Uses an infinitive verbUses an infinitive verb

I want to be rememberedI want to be remembered I want to be the winnerI want to be the winner

ObstaclesObstacles

Physical – e.g. the letter is locked in Physical – e.g. the letter is locked in the mailboxthe mailbox

Social – e.g. gender rolesSocial – e.g. gender rolesSelf - Mental/Psychological/Emotional– Self - Mental/Psychological/Emotional–

e.g. guilte.g. guiltCan be other objectives - sometimes Can be other objectives - sometimes

characters and people want two things characters and people want two things that are contradictory. that are contradictory.

Objectives have qualitiesObjectives have qualities

Short term objectivesShort term objectives Very clear, visible and short term.Very clear, visible and short term.

Cutting cucumbersCutting cucumbers

Medium term objectivesMedium term objectives Fairly clear pictures or impressionsFairly clear pictures or impressions Longer time durationLonger time duration

Making a saladMaking a salad

Long term objectivesLong term objectives not very clear pictures, sometimes more of an not very clear pictures, sometimes more of an

impression. impression. My blind dateMy blind date

ActionAction

What do I do to achieve my What do I do to achieve my objective?objective?

Main actions and Basic ActionsMain actions and Basic ActionsVerbs not nounsVerbs not nouns

I attack, I flirt, I submit, I plead, etcI attack, I flirt, I submit, I plead, etcMicro action – I enjoy or I regretMicro action – I enjoy or I regretBasic Biological actionsBasic Biological actions

I attack, I shrink/run away, I restI attack, I shrink/run away, I restSuper Objective – I want to surviveSuper Objective – I want to survive

Super ObjectivesSuper Objectives

Overriding desire in a playOverriding desire in a playWhat do I want What do I want