Brecht and Co.

The Author: Ulrike Garde is Lecturer in German Studies at Macquarie University, Sydney. Her research focuses on German literature and the performing arts. Her recent publications analyse the creation of cultural identities and Australian-German cross-cultural relationships with a focus on the Australian reception of German-language drama. Some of her contributions appeared in the Brecht Yearbook and the Jahrbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache. Intercultural German Studies.

«‘Brecht & Co.’ is a major research work that not only historicizes Brecht within a distant theater tradition, but opens up a new archival vein for scholars and practitioners alike. Brecht would have liked the light touch of this original and quietly observed research, which also makes an important contribution to Australian theater history.» (Denise Varney, The Brecht Yearbook)«Der Arbeit kommt (...) ganz ohne Zweifel der Status einer beachtlichen Pionierleistung zu, die eine wertvolle Basis für jede weitere Beschäftigung mit der Rezeption deutschsprachiger Theaterliteratur in Austalien legt.» (Franz-Josef Deiters, Limbus)

• Contents: The context of the Australian Brecht reception – Receiving Brecht in the late 1950s up to the 1990s – Plays by other German-speaking playwrights and the Australian-German cross-cultural relationship – Early productions in English and German – Plays by Max Frisch and Friedrich Dürrenmatt – Rolf Hochhuth, The Representative – Plays by Peter Handke – Play-readings and other cultural initiatives at the Goethe Institute in Sydney – Translations and adaptations of German plays in the 1980s – Theater Heute reports on Australian theatre in 1986 – Discussions about Australian theatre criticism in the 1980 – Productions of Franz Xaver Kroetz’ Farmyard – Barrie Kosky’s production of Faust – Michael Kantor’s production of Excavation. The Last Days of Mankind – «We must find our own voice». Noel Tovey directs The Aboriginal Protesters – Recent developments, outlook and conclusion.