Epic Theatre

Epic Theatre

Central Stage: action occurs in the middle
spectators sit around actors
Greek Proscenium Stage: stage jumps out to audience
audience sits in semi circle
Deep Stage: orchestra is at bottom
audience just sits in front i.e. The Oscars

* These three types of stages were considered Total Theatre and were all taken advantage of in Epic Theatre. Total Theatre was used and perfected by Erwin Piscator a famous stage designer and Walter Gropius.
* Epic Theatre developed from Total Theatre was founded by Erwin Piscator but was revolutionized and used mostly by Brecht.
* Brecht used new costumes, props, music and new stage design for his productions.
* One famous example of Epic Theatre was the Three Penny Opera which gained Brecht huge success and helped him in his career. When the opera first opened the audience didn’t know what to except and were later on shocked of the success of the opera. Brecht later went on to write the Rise and fall of the City of Mohoganny.