Georg Büchner(1813 - 1837) is widely acknowledged as the forefather of modern theatre. On his death at the age 23, he left behind some outstanding dramatic works: his historical drama, Danton's Death, 'the most remarkable first play in European culture (Guardian), the innovatory tragedy Woyzeck, and the absurdist comedy, Leonce abd Lena.John MacKendrick was born in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. His major works include Ludd! (Leeds, 1975), Canticle (Keele, 1977), Lavender Blue (National, London, 1977), Cain (Bristol, 1978) and a translation of Buchner's Woyzeck (Oxford, 1978). His play Struensee premiered at the Peacock in 1974.Laura Martin is Senior Lecturer in Comparative Literature at the University of Glasgow. Her publications include Benedikte Nauberts Neue Volksmarchen der Deutschen: Strukturen des Wandels and Narrative Feminine Identity and the Appearance of Woman in Some of the Shorter Fiction of Goethe, Kleist, Hawthorne and James

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• Chronology Commentary:Historical and Social Contexts The Manuscripts Character and CaricatureGenre and Themes: Social Drama, Madness, Existential Terror and Tragedy, The ‘Double Nature’ of the Human Animal, The Problem of MarieConclusion The Play as Performance Academic Debate Publication and Production History Further Exploration WOYZECKNotes