Antonin Artaud was a French dramatist and poet active in the early 20th century. [1] He sought to express himself through non-verbal mediums like theater after becoming frustrated by only using words in his poetry. [2] In 1931, he was influenced by a Balinese theater troupe's non-naturalistic style, which inspired his "Theater of Cruelty" that aimed to be extremely theatrical and stylized without words. [3] However, this theater style was misunderstood at the time. Artaud struggled with mental illness throughout his life and died young without fully realizing his ambitions in theater.

1. Artaud – an introduction
AS Drama
Unit 1

2. His Life
• 1896-1948
• By fourteen he was writing poetry but became
increasingly frustrated by being unable to
express himself adequately with just words.
He sought another medium which relied upon
the non-verbal, by which to express himself.
• Also an actor, became professional in
1921, working with non naturalistic directors
and turning to film acting

3. His life
• In 1931 saw a Balinese theatre troupe who had a great
influence upon him with their style.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqaHaHYNo6o
• He had found the inspiration for his extreme
theatricality and stylised, non verbal theatre – the
Theatre of Cruelty.
• Ultimately it was misunderstood by the critics and
audiences at the time.
• Artaud, who had experimented with hallucinogenic
drugs throughout his life fell ill and died aged only
54, never fully realising his ambitions in theatre or art.

4. Ritualistic Theatre
• What rituals do you know in your experience?
• TASK: Split into Gender groups.
• Each group to formulate their own group
movements and sounds to attract members of
the opposite group.
• Use ‘mask’ of facial expression and gestures
and movements of the whole body to
symbolise the meaning of the movement.

6. Feedback
• What meaning or effect did you create for an
audience?
• How could the audience become more engaged
or involved in the audience? (Consider staging
formats)
• What did you need to consider as a performer?
• How could you have improved your own
performance?
• (end of lesson 1)

7. Circle activity
• Using one word at a time, group performs a
nursery rhyme, such as Humpty Dumpty
• Replace key words with actions.
• Demonstration: Naturalism vs. Artaud
• What does the naturalistic actor consider
when e.g. Smoking a cigarette?

8. Group activity
• Using a nursery rhyme,(Little Miss Muffet)
perform it in the style of Artaud
• Consider your movements and
stylisation, caricature not character, use of
‘mask’ and heightened emotional engagement
of the audience. The action can be
extended, slowed down, repeated etc.
Consider use of additional
sounds, soundscaping, rhythmic drumming
etc.

9. Little Miss Muffet
Little Miss Muffet, sat on a tuffet, eating her
curds and whey. Along came a spider, who sat
down beside her, and frightened Miss Muffet
away.

10. Plenary – Opinion line
Naturalism or Artaud?
• Homework – further research on Artaud and his
influence. See also BERKOFF and his thoughts on
Artaud. Next week we will be studying the
LANGUAGE of Metamorphosis