When was it first performed?
1969
London roundhouse theatre
What does unter-mensche mean?
Sub-human
Why was Berkoff influenced by Artaud?
Idea of total theatre, a performance style that synthesizes all artistic elements—acting, movement, music, lighting, and scenography—to create an immersive, overwhelming experience, often emphasizing physical expression over text
What other influence did Artuad have on him?
Berkoff was influenced by Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty, which sought to assault the audience’s senses with visceral, poetic and non-naturalistic performance.
What was the name of the french practitioner Berkoff was influenced by?
Jaques Lecoq
What was Lecoq’s technique that influenced Berkoff?
Emphasis on mime and physical training
What was the name of the film that influenced Berkoff’s visual influence?
-Nosferatu (1922)
-profoundly influenced Steven Berkoff’s work, particularly his focus on grotesque physical acting, exaggerated expressionism, and the portrayal of menace, aligning closely with the visual style of German Expressionism
What were the three influences Berkoff took from Nosferatu?
-grotesque physical acting,
-exaggerated expressionism,
- visual style of German Expressionism
Define German Expressionism
an early 20th-century avant-garde movement, peaking in 1920s Germany, that prioritized subjective emotional experience over realistic representation
Why did Berkoff use shadows and monochrome lighting?
To epitomise the german expressionistic style of 1920s Germany
What was Brecht’s influence on Berkoff?
-breaking the fourth wall,
-direct audience address,
- to distance the audience from the emotional sentimentality of the story forcing them to critically analyze the social and familial power dynamics.
What were some similarities that Berkoff and Kafka shared?
Berkoff identified strongly with Kafka’s own feelings of isolation, Jewish identity, and his strained relationship with his own father
Define Mie.
a powerful, stylized pose or “freeze-frame” used in Japanese Kabuki theatre to express intense emotion, serving as a dramatic close-up
Name the Greek theatre influence on Berkoff
-thematic exploration of fate,
-the utilization of a stylized,
-vocal chorus,
-his direct adaptation of classic myths
When did Kafka write Metamorphosis?
1915
Why did Kafka write metamorphosis?
to explore themes of isolation, existential anxiety, and the dehumanizing pressures of modern life (as a jewish man) and family duty.
What was going on during the 1920’s that could’ve influenced Kafka?
-Industrial revolution
-Rise in capitalism
-Genocide against jews
