We completed this sheet to identify the fundamental differences between dramatic and epic theatre. The easiest way I found to identify a difference was to look at this metaphor; dramatic theatre is a series in which you have to watch every episode to understand the overarching story, whereas in epic theatre, you can dip in whenever and still take away the morals of the story. However the lines between dramatic and epic theatre can be blurred; the rules are not black and white, as naturalistic plays can have Brechtian aspects interwoven into them.
Some of the biggest differences are:
- Dramatic theatre has a plot- a beginning, middle and end- whereas epic theatre is a narrative in free form in which the story never really ends.
- In dramatic theatre there is a fourth wall whereas in epic theatre the audience must be an active viewer, always questioning the piece.
- Dramatic theatre allows an emotional attachment whereas in epic theatre, these attachments must be broken and the audience must detach themselves from the action so as to make a judgement on the piece.
- The ending in dramatic theatre is unalterable whereas the viewpoint you take of epic theatre can change it's ending.
- In dramatic theatre the journey and growth of the piece focuses on only one direction whereas epic theatre presents a scrapbook of ideas to be observed by the audience.
- The biggest difference is arguably that dramatic theatre is driven by feeling and epic theatre by reason.
Understanding these differences is fundamental when employing them within a piece, especially when I am wanting to have an effect on my audience by using Brechtian techniques.
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