Epic Theatre Terminology

Epic Theatre
Didactic style of theatre using a range of theatrical techniques so that
the audience are reminded throughout that they were watching a piece
of theatre not life. Often has a political message.
V-effect/Verfremdungseffekt/Alienation effect
The act of distancing the audience from emotional involvement
Tableau
Another term for freeze frame or still image
 Epic Theatre Terminology
Breaking the fourth wall
Breaking through the imaginary barrier that separates the actors and audience in
naturalistic theatre
Multi-roling
Technique where an actor plays more than one character
Placard
An additional piece of written information presented onstage e.g. sign, projection
Gestus
How an actor physically embodies a character and what it says about them/ their
motives