Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956), one of the greatest German dramatists of the 20th century, was an amazingly productive playwright, director, lyricist, theatre theorist and social critic. He created epic theatre and invented a new genre: the “learning-play”, as Brecht himself called it. It enables self-reflection within groups at a high level of enthusiastic involvement. Not written for the stage or an audience, the learning-play is targeted to non-professionals, people who want to critically examine everyday aggression, violence and force in the course of a spirited approach.
Reiner Steinweg developed a unique method for contemporary theatre studies, social work and educating for peace on the basis of Brecht's text. The improvised acting-out of text that always remains the same, albeit in ever-changing variations, kindles the participants’ creativity. Encouraged by rounds for reflection, their attention increasingly focuses on physical-mental stances in social and political conflicts. What kind of effect does changing one’s own attitude have on conflicts that take on a potentially forceful form?
Dr Reiner Steinweg (*1939) / Linz, Austria / specialist on Brecht's learning-plays / publicist / peace researcher / teaches theatre and storytelling.
The film documents a seminar directed by Reiner Steinweg at the Institute for Applied Theatre, Vienna, Austria, www.infant.at
The flm is available as file with English subtitles. Translation: Leigh Hoch / Hamburg
The DVD (German version) is published by: • Lingener Beiträge zur Theaterpädagogik, Schibri-Verlag Berlin-Milow-Strasburg, ISBN: 978-3-86863-192-0 • Filmsortiment Hamburg
Scene 5 – By the Raging River (English film text / Translation: Leigh Hoch, Hamburg)
COOLIE: We took the right route, sir. What we see over there is the river Myr. Though usually not hard to cross at this time of year, when the water stands high the current is quite strong and perilous. The river is high. MERCHANT: We must get across. COOLIE: Waiting up to 8 days is common before it can be crossed safely. It’s very dangerous now. MERCHANT: We’ll see. We can’t wait a single day. COOLIE: Then we have to look for a ford or a boat. MERCHANT: That will take too long. COOLIE: But I’m a very poor swimmer. MERCHANT: The water’s not that high. COOLIE : It is very high. MERCHANT: Once you’re in the water, you’ll swim. Because you’ll have to. The point is, you can’t see this from all sides like I can. Why do we have to go to Urga? Have you heard that roads and even a railway are supposed to be built across this region? Just picture it: there’ll be a bridge here and a wide road here; and have you heard that oil was found there? LEFT CHORUS: We hear that when oil is discovered, it’s hidden. Whoever plugs the hole the oil comes from receives hush money. The victims fall prey in the millions, yet the oil doesn’t come. MERCHANT: There will be food and clothing and God knows what. And who’s going to do that? We are. It all depends on our journey. Just picture it: that the eyes of this whole country, so to speak, are on you, on one little man. And you shy away from doing your duty? COOLIE: I’m not a good swimmer. MERCHANT: But I’m risking my life, too. I understand you. Guided by lowly, profit-seeking deliberations, you have no interest at all in reaching the town of Urga as soon as possible. Your interest lies in getting there as late as possible because you’re paid per day. So it’s not the journey that really interests you, it’s merely the pay. COOLIE: What should I do? LEFT CHORUS: Here is the river. To swim across is dangerous Two men stand on the riverbank That one swims across, the other Hesitates. Is that one daring? Is the other cowardly? Beyond the river That one has business waiting. That one scales the surmounted riverbank Emerging from peril with a sigh of relief He sets foot on his property He eats a new meal. But the other emerges from peril Gasping into nothingness. The weakened one is welcomed with New danger. Are both of them brave? Are both of them wise? Alas! From the jointly vanquished river No two victors emerge. COOLIE: We and: you and I That’s not the same. We achieve the victory And you prevail over me. COOLIE: At least let me rest for half a day. I am tired from all the lugging. When rested, perhaps I can get across. MERCHANT: I know a better remedy. I’ll stick this gun in your back. Want to bet that you’ll get across? My money makes me fear the bandits and forget the river. RIGHT CHORUS. Such is how man overcomes the desert and the raging river and overcomes himself, the human being, and garners the oil that’s needed. ________________________ The complete German text is published in: The Brecht Yearbook 43 (2018) Bertolt Brecht “The Exception and the Rule” – learning-play with two choruses, edited critically by Reiner Steinweg
Cast and Crew
Director Gernot Steinweg (Filmregie)
Producer Reiner Steinweg
Director of Photography Rea Karen, Andreas Daniel
Line producer Gernot Steinweg
2. Assistant of the director of photography Sophie Staff
Damit unsere Webseite optimal funktioniert, verwenden wir für einige unserer Anwendungen Cookies. Dies beinhaltet u. a. die eingebetteten sozialen Medien, aber auch ein Trackingtool, welches uns Auskunft über die Ergonomie unserer Webseite sowie das Nutzer*innenverhalten bietet. Wenn Sie auf "Alle Cookies akzeptieren" klicken, stimmen Sie der Verwendung von technisch notwendigen Cookies sowie jenen zur Optimierung unserer Webseite zu. Weitere Informationen findet Sie in den "Cookie-Einstellungen".
Einstellungen verwalten
Bitte wählen Sie Ihre Präferenz. Sie können diese jederzeit ändern.
Damit unsere Webseite optimal funktioniert, verwenden wir für einige unserer Anwendungen Cookies. Diese können nicht deaktiviert werden, da Sie ansonsten nicht alle Anwendungen nutzen können.
Um unsere Webseite möglichst nutzer*innenfreundlich zu gestalten, haben wir u. a. soziale Medien auf unserer Webseite eingebettet. Dies ermöglicht Ihnen mit nur wenigen Klicks Inhalte im entsprechenden Netzwerk mit Ihren Lieben teilen zu können. Ebenso nutzen wir eine anonymisierte Tracking-Technologie, welche uns Informationen zu z. B. dem Nutzer*innenverhalten, aber auch zur Effektivität & Ergonomie unserer Webseite gibt. Hierfür nutzen wir auch Dienste, welche ihren Sitz außerhalb der Europäischen Union haben können (insbesondere in den USA), wo das Datenschutzniveau geringer sein kann als in Deutschland.