Theatre of The Theatre of The AbsurdAbsurd

Theatre of The Theatre of The AbsurdAbsurd

ContextContext• Originates post WWII, beginning in Europe

(mid 1940s)• Came from a school of thought that could find

“no rational explanation for human life”. This is reflected in the characters in this genre.

• The playwright asks us to “draw our own conclusions” and make of it what we will.

• This theatre genre is unfamiliar to many and may make us uncomfortable.

Key ElementsKey Elements• Characters:

– Do not have names, jobs or backgrounds

– Have no control over what happens to them (no power)

– Aren’t what you would expect eg: litter, animals

– Odd/strange behaviour– Often, interdependent

pairs – eg Rosencrantz & Guilderstein; Vladimir & Estragon with one of the pair more dominant.

Key ElementsKey Elements• Settings:

– Not distinct, could be anywhere

– Not specific: eg “a road” instead of “on the side of the road to Mandalay at dusk.”

Key ElementsKey Elements• Language

– Natural language but dialogue is circular (moves in circles and doesn’t necessarily advance).

– Can be confusing and may not make sense

– Use of pause (usually 5 secs) and silence (usually 10 secs)

– Repetition, rhyme

Key PlaywrightsKey Playwrights• Samuel Beckett

– Irish dramatist – “Waiting for

Godot” was once described as the “play where nothing ever happens. Twice.”

Key PlaywrightsKey Playwrights• Jean Genet

– French dramatist– Sympathy with the

outcasts in Society.

– Notable works: (english names)

• The Maids; Deathwatch; The Balcony