August Strindberg

<p>Dramatist, theatre practitioner, novelist, and painter, August Strindberg’s diverse dramatic output embodied the modernist sensibility. He was above all one of the most radical innovators of Western theatre.</p><p>This book provides an insightful assessment of Strindberg’s vital contribution to the dramatic arts, while placing his creative process and experimental approach within a wider cultural context. Eszter Szalczer explores Strindberg’s re-definition of drama as a fluid, constantly evolving form that profoundly influenced playwriting and theatrical production from the German Expressionists to the Theatre of the Absurd. Key productions of Strindberg’s plays are analysed, examining his theatre as a living voice that continues to challenge audiences, critics, and even the most innovative directors.</p><p><em>August Strindberg</em> provides an essential and accessible guide to the playwright’s work and illustrates the influence of his drama on our understanding of contemporary theatre.</p> <p>Overview </p><p>Part I </p><p>Versions of a life </p><p>1 Problematics of biography vs. autobiography</p><p>2 Between fiction and reality</p><p>Part II</p><p>A life in the theatre </p><p>3 The Scandinavian Experimental Theatre</p><p>4 Strindberg and the Independent Theatre Movement: the first productions</p><p>5 Strindberg and stagecraft: theory and practice</p><p>6 The Intimate Theatre</p><p>Part III</p><p>Key plays </p><p>7 Naturalism and the modern character</p><p>8 Dream-play dramaturgy and modernist allegories</p><p>9 The last sonatas </p><p>10 Modernizing history </p><p>Part IV</p><p>Key plays/productions</p><p>11 Miss Julie: from failed world premiere to worldwide acclaim</p><p>12 A Dream Play: from closet drama to post-modern performance</p><p>13 The Ghost Sonata and Strindberg’s haunting legacy</p>