ARTAUD, THEATRE OF CRUELTY

Practitioner, Poet, Outcast

WHO WAS ARTAUD?

Poet, Practitioner, Outcast

Born 1896, Died 1948

Raised in conservative religious family

Suffered depression, led to marginalisation

Stubborn, refused to follow social norms

WHO WAS ARTAUD?

Spent several years in a sanitarium (admitted 1915)

Prescribed opium for treatment, became addicted

Became fascinated with anarchy and free thinking

Joined surrealist movement (1924)

Expelled from movement 2 years later (1926)

VIEW OF SOCIETY/EVENTS

Believer in Nihilism
Lived through both World Wars

Saw European society only as destructive

Truth through theatre

Only way they would learn

WHAT WERE HIS INFLUENCES

Surrealist movement (1924-1926)

Abolishment of Realism

Balinese dance-drama (1931)

The Daughters of Lot by Leyden

Marx brothers films

IDEOLOGY

Surrealism Unrealistic, illogical, and/or impractical images, sounds, or other forms of media disguised to challenge previous views of society
Not didactic, wanted to draw emotional response, not entertain Controversial/taboo themes challenging what was acceptable Disturbing images, animalistic, barbaric, and carnal themes Had to come from within

THEATRE STYLE

Physical and spatial expression

Exaggeration, use of gesture

Loud, unintelligible shouts, groans and sounds

Disturbing images, inconsistent proportions

Surprise, shocking the audience, playing on senses

VENUE

Single and undivided space

Often barn or hangar

Bare walls
Elevated walkways

Audience in the centre

COSTUME

Masks
Ornamentation from puppetry

Symbols but not words

Inspired by diverse cultural theatre

Never modern costume

LIGHTS/IMAGES/SOUNDS

Unrealistic lighting, must have tonal sensation

Juxtaposition caused by pictures/images

Sounds produced by the voice

Old instruments used in unconventional ways

New instruments invented to create new sounds

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Theatre and its Double (book)

Theatre of Cruelty Manifestos

Les Cenci
Fountain of Blood

Miscellaneous poems

RECEPTION

Initially poorly received

Les Cenci closed after 17 days

Too controversial
Now revered by many

Inspiring modern practitioners

ACTIVITY

Kill the cop in your head.

We are going to have a go recreating the animalistic qualities.

Look at the picture.

Express how you feel by shouting, groaning, or making loud noises.

Do not use words.

ACTIVITY 1

ACTIVITY 2

ACTIVITY 3

ACTIVITY 4

ACTIVITY 5