1. Breaking the Illusion:
- It rejects the illusion of a real and believable world, instead making it clear to the audience that they are watching a play. This is achieved through various devices like direct address, signs, commentary, and actors acknowledging their roles.
2. Verfremdungseffekt (Distancing Effect):
- Epic theatre aims to create an effect of Verfremdung (distancing) by avoiding emotional attachment and encouraging critical examination of the presented issues. This is done by presenting scenes that are non-linear, episodic, and sometimes fragmented.
3. Social and Political Commentary:
- It often tackles social, economic, and political themes, criticizing social structures and systems rather than focusing solely on individual experiences or emotions.
4. Narration and Placards:
- Epic theatre often uses narration, songs, and placards to convey information, comment on the action, and provide historical or social context to the play.
5. Use of Epic Devices:
- Incorporates non-realistic staging, symbolic sets, stylized acting, exaggerated gestures, and choreographic elements to emphasize the critical and didactic nature of the production.
6. Audience Engagement:
- It seeks to engage the audience on an intellectual and critical level, encouraging them to think about the play's themes and make connections to real-world issues.
7. Collective Creativity:
- Collaboration between actors, directors, designers, and writers is emphasized to create a collective work of art that reflects a unified vision.
8. Historical Context and Research:
- It's often based on extensive historical research and incorporates real events, historical figures, and political ideologies into its narratives.
9. Chorus and Collective Speaking:
- The use of a chorus or groups of actors speaking in unison can provide commentary on the action, offer perspectives, and present different viewpoints.
10. Non-Linear Structure:
- Instead of following a traditional chronological plot structure, epic theatre can feature flashbacks, flashforwards, and time jumps to present a broader historical or social context.
Overall, epic theatre challenges conventional dramatic forms by promoting intellectual engagement, critical thinking, and social awareness among its audience.