Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) a non-conformist German playwright, was the most important single influence in the development of epic theatre. His political beliefs and experiences were his motivation to try to change the world through drama. Through the theatre he created he made people realise the wrong doings of the society in which they lived. Brecht was a pacifist and, therefore, wrote a number of plays with strong political messages to intellectually stimulate and politically motivate his audiences. Brecht's plays were originally rejected by the society in which he lived because they were unconventional and against the ideological beliefs that his society embraced.

In his work, Brecht explored themes related to war, ownership, sacrifice, the notion of justice and the theme of the inequalities produced by 'superior' people in power over the 'inferior' lower class. He challenged society's opinion of the oppressed. Brecht tried to teach his audiences not to accept the world as they found it. He also tried to teach his actors the same thing.

"... above all s/he [actor of Brechtian theatre] must be aware of the theme with which the play is concerned."

Brecht's "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" is set in the time of a civil war. It contains two parallel stories. One centers around AZDAK, a drunken peasant, who is put into the powerful role of judge. The other deals with a peasant named Grusha who saves an abandoned child and claims it as her own. The two stories unite to conclude the play. AZDAK must decide whether the child should be under the custody of his natural mother - a wealthy, upper-class woman who abandoned him, or Grusha, who saved him from certain death.

Brechtian scenery was simple - it did not impede the action of the story or the flow of characters on stage. This scenery was changed in view of the audience. No attempt was made to conceal the changes. This was shock-making device Brecht used so that the audience remained aware that they were in a theatre. Brecht rejected atmospheric lighting. He favored the general illumination of the stage and auditorium.

"... punishes those who think only of protecting their property and money, which are commodities protected by the law."

"... he [Azdak] reward the needy and oppressed..."

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Approximate Word count = 1828
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)