Why Bertolt Brecht Matters Even More in Our Post-Truth World
In a context of rising intolerance and irrationality, German Marxist playwright Bertolt Brecht insisted on establishing a rational, scientific attitude between the story on the stage and its viewers, between fiction and reality.
Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) is one of the world’s most performed playwrights. In Mumbai alone in the last few months, two major Brecht productions have been mounted – Quasar Padamsee directed Arundhati Nag in Mother Courage and Her Children, while Imaad Shah, following his father Naseeruddin’s steps, debuted as a theatre director with The Threepenny Opera. It is extraordinary that in our tired, post-ideology, cynical, hopeless world, this German Marxist playwright should continue to speak to younger directors and theatre-makers the world over. Barely a week goes by without a new Brecht production opening somewhere on the planet. Along with Shakespeare, Brecht is a global playwright. Last week, on February 10, was Brecht’s 120th birth anniversary./.../
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