Expressionism

Expressionist theatre developed in the early twentieth century as a reaction to the naturalist and romantic movements that preceded it. It formed part of the wider expressionist movement that emerged in Northern Europe, initially in paintings and poetry. As a theatrical movement, expressionism was relatively short-lived, but it had a significant impact on the future development of experimental theatre in Europe and America. This guide will explore the characteristics of expressionist theatre and the key playwrights and practitioners of the movement.

Terminology

• Realism: a theatrical movement developed alongside naturalism, which aimed to be more truthful to real life through texts and performances.
• Stationendrama: episodic scenes, translated as station drama.
• Symbolism: the first dominant alternative to popular realist dramas from the end of the nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century.

Key Dates & Events

• 1907 - Oskar Kokoschka wrote Murderer, the Hope of Women, which premiered in 1909 and is regarded as the first fully expressionist play.
• 1920 - Eugene O’Neill wrote The Emperor Jones, notably for its combination of expressionism and realism.
• 1921 - 1923 - Ernst Toller wrote his influential expressionist plays Masses Man (Masse Mensch), The Machine Breakers (Die Maschinenstürmer), Hinkemann, the German (Der Deutsche Hinkemann), while in prison for his involvement in the revolution against the central Berlin government.
• 1922 - Eugene O’Neill’s The Hairy Ape was produced by the Provincetown Players and later transferred to Broadway.
• 1923 - Elmer Rice’s The Adding Machine premiered.
• 1928 - Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal premiered at the Plymouth Theatre on Broadway.
• 2013 - London’s National Theatre staged a revival of Georg Kaiser’s 1916 expressionist play From Morning to Midnight.