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Bertolt Brecht

Birth Place: Augsburg, GERMANY

BIO

Bertolt Brecht was a German playwright, director, and poet who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century theatre. Born on February 10, 1898, in Augsburg, Germany, Brecht was the son of a Catholic father and a Protestant mother. He studied medicine at the University of Munich but soon turned his attention to writing and theatre.


Brecht's first major success as a playwright came with his play "Drums in the Night," which premiered in 1922. The play was a critical and commercial success and established Brecht as a major figure in German theatre. He went on to write several other plays, including "In the Jungle of Cities" (1923), "The Threepenny Opera" (1928), and "The Mother" (1932).
Brecht's plays were known for their political and social commentary, and he often used his work to critique capitalism and the rise of fascism in Germany. He was a committed Marxist and believed that theatre should be used as a tool for social change. His plays were also known for their use of "alienation" techniques, which were designed to distance the audience from the action on stage and encourage them to think critically about what they were seeing.
In addition to his work as a playwright, Brecht was also a prolific director and producer. He founded the Berliner Ensemble in 1949, which became one of the most important theatre companies in Europe. He also worked extensively in film, writing and directing several movies, including "Kuhle Wampe" (1932) and "The Threepenny Opera" (1931).
Brecht's influence on theatre and performance is still felt today. His ideas about theatre as a tool for social change and his use of alienation techniques have been adopted by many contemporary theatre practitioners. His plays continue to be performed around the world, and his influence can be seen in the work of playwrights and directors from Samuel Beckett to Tony Kushner.
Brecht died on August 14, 1956, in East Berlin, Germany. His most recent work was the play "The Caucasian Chalk Circle," which was first performed in 1948.

Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2014]
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Writing

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Movies

The Threepenny Opera
[ 1931 ] writer
The 3 Penny Opera
[ 1931 ] writer
Ubiytsy vykhodyat na dorogu
[ 1942 ] writer
Frauenschicksale
[ 1952 ] lyricist
Katzgraben
[ 1957 ] writer
Mother
[ 1958 ] writer
Mother Courage and Her Children
[ 1961 ] writer
Der Tod des Flohzirkusdirektors
[ 1973 ] writer
Galileo
[ 1975 ] writer
The Life Story of Baal
[ 1978 ] writer
Mahagonny
[ 1980 ] writer
Die Antigone des Sophokles nach der Hölderlinschen Übertragung für die Bühne bearbeitet von Brecht 1948 (Suhrkamp Verlag)
[ 1992 ] writer
The Career of Arturo Ui: New Version
[ 1996 ] writer
L'étude du chercheur ambulant
[ 2009 ] writer
Im Dickicht Der Städte
[ 2013 ] writer
Santa Joana dos Matadouros
[ 2014 ] writer

Awards and Nominations

Tony Awards - 1977 - Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

Bertolt Brecht, Happy End


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1970 - Oustanding Lyrics

Bertolt Brecht, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahogonny

Tony Awards - 1963 - Best Play

Bertolt Brecht, Mother Courage and Her Children


winner
Evening Standard Awards - 1962 - Best Play

Bertolt BrechtThe Caucasian Chalk Circle

Videos

News


Evan Yionoulis Appointed Dean of David Geffen School of Drama and Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre
by Stephi Wild - Apr 8, 2026

Evan Yionoulis (’85, ’82 B.A.) has been appointed the next Elizabeth Parker Ware Dean of David Geffen School of Drama and Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre, effective July 1.
Cast Set For MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN at Shakespeare's Globe
by Stephi Wild - Mar 31, 2026

SHakespeare's Globe will present Bertolt Brecht's MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN from 7 May to 27 June 2026, featuring a cast led by Michelle Terry as Mother Courage and directed by Elle While.
Inside the Visionary Mind of Lear DeBessonet
by Charles Kirsch - Mar 27, 2026

Any theater lover should be well acquainted with the meteoric rise of Tony nominee Lear DeBessonet: from founding the Public Works program at the Public Theater to spearheading the Encores! series at New York City Center to her current role as artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater.
Photos: Mark Gatiss and More in Rehearsal For THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI
by Stephi Wild - Mar 27, 2026

Rehearsal images have been released for the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)’s 2026 production of Bertolt Brecht’s The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Learn more and check out the photos below!
MINHA ESTRELA DALVA Premieres in São Paulo, Blending Memory and Music in Tribute to a Brazilian Icon
by Claudio Erlichman - Mar 23, 2026

Minha Estrela Dalva is not a conventional biography, but an imagined encounter between artist and muse. Onstage, Renato Borghi steps into the dressing room of legendary singer Dalva de Oliveira to fulfill a lifelong dream: inviting the “Queen of Radio” to perform the songs of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Blending memory and fantasy, the production—directed by Elias Andreato and Elcio Nogueira Seixas—brings together past and present in a poetic theatrical dialogue. Soraya Ravenle portrays Dalva at once as myth and woman, while Ivan Vellame embodies key figures from her personal life. With evocative music, movement, and striking visuals, the show reveals both the icon and the human story behind one of Brazil’s greatest voices.
Interview: Susan Priver and Ron Bottitta of THE LOVER
by Shari Barrett - Mar 17, 2026

Veteran director Jack Heller returns to the Odyssey Theatre to helm a visiting production of Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter, an evening of two rarely staged Pinter one-acts—both darkly comic, both unmistakably unsettling. Opening night is set for March 20, with performances continuing through April 26.
Edinburgh International Festival Reveals Programme Highlights
by Stephi Wild - Mar 11, 2026

Running from 7-30 August 2026, this year's Edinburgh International Festival will present 24 days of world-class performances selected for their artistic and cultural resonance across opera, theatre, music and dance.  
The Glimmerglass Festival Unveils Tour Details and Cast for Collaborative Production of HAPPY END
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 7, 2026

The Glimmerglass Festival, in collaboration with Opera Saratoga, Finger Lakes Opera, and Seagle Festival, will present a tour of the production HAPPY END.
Staples Players Will Perform URINETOWN in Westport This Month
by Stephi Wild - Mar 6, 2026

Staples Players will present the satirical musical Urinetown, directed by David Roth (SHS '84) and Kerry Long (SHS '97). Learn more about the upcoming show here!
Spotlight on Plays: March 2026
by Team BWW - Mar 4, 2026

The Spring 2026 season has officially begun, and with it, comes new plays for theatre lovers of all kinds. Whether you live for intense dramas or would rather escape with zany comedies, there's something for everyone both on and off-Broadway in March 2026.
Full Cast Set For the RSC's THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI
by Stephi Wild - Mar 2, 2026

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced full casting for its 2026 production of Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, starring double Olivier award-winning actor Mark Gatiss.
Rivera-Stegall Productions to Present FEAR AND MISERY IN THE THIRD REICH for Four Performances
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 28, 2026

Rivera-Stegall Productions will present FEAR AND MISERY IN THE THIRD REICH by Bertolt Brecht, translated by Eric Bentley, March 5–8 at The Riverside Theatre in New York City.
The Actors' Gang Will Present THE ADDING MACHINE This Spring
by Stephi Wild - Feb 20, 2026

The Actors' Gang will stage Elmer Rice's 1923 classic, THE ADDING MACHINE, exploring themes of technology and dehumanization. Learn more about the performance here!
Mt Hood Repertory Theatre To Present THE LIFE OF GALILEO At OMSI Kendall Planetarium
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 11, 2026

Mt Hood Repertory Theatre has announced that THE LIFE OF GALILEO by Bertolt Brecht, adapted and directed by Patrick Walsh, will be presented at the Kendall Planetarium at OMSI during the first two weeks of March.
URINETOWN: THE MUSICAL Comes to Grossmont College Theatre Arts
by Stephi Wild - Feb 10, 2026

The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present Urinetown: The Musical, the Tony Award–winning satire with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, book and lyrics by Greg Kotis.
Josh Gad to Play Actor Kurt Gerron in GERRON'S LAST FILM Biopic
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 30, 2026

Josh Gad is set to star in Gerron's Last Film, a forthcoming movie based on the true story of Jewish actor and director Kurt Gerron. Gad will play the famed actor.
FEAR AND MISERY IN THE THIRD REICH to be Presented at The Riverside Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 29, 2026

Rivera-Stegall Productions has revealed that tickets are on sale now for their upcoming production of Bertolt Brecht’s Fear and Misery in the Third Reich.
Placebo Will Compose Music For THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI at the Royal Shakespeare Company
by Stephi Wild - Jan 28, 2026

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced that alternative British rock band, Placebo will compose the music for its 2026 production of Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.
Shereen Pimentel & More Join The Glimmerglass Festival's 2026 Season
by Joshua Wright - Jan 26, 2026

The Glimmerglass Festival has announced casting for its 2026 season, featuring Oklahoma!, Madame Butterfly, Così, Fellow Travelers, Happy End, and Robin Hood, running July 10–August 17 in Cooperstown, New York.
"PERA DO MALANDRO Revival Mixes Political Satire, References to Umbanda, and Brazilian Popular Culture
by Claudio Erlichman - Jan 26, 2026

Nearly 50 years after its debut, Chico Buarque’s landmark musical returns in a vibrant new staging. Directed by Jorge Farjalla, Ópera do Malandro dives into Rio de Janeiro’s bohemian underworld to expose corruption, desire and hypocrisy with sharp humor and unforgettable songs. Inspired by Brecht’s The Threepenny Opera and infused with elements of Afro-Brazilian spirituality, the production blends satire, ritual and popular culture in an immersive, festive experience. Featuring a large, star-studded cast the show reaffirms the enduring power—and provocation—of one of Brazilian musical theatre’s most iconic works.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many shows has Bertolt Brecht written?

Bertolt Brecht has written 36 shows including Die Sieben Todsünden (Lyricist), Mother (Playwright), Galileo (Playwright), The Good Woman of Setzuan (Playwright), Brecht on Brecht (Lyricist), Man is Man (Playwright), A Man's a Man (Bookwriter), Mother Courage and Her Children (Playwright), Brecht on Brecht (Source Material), Baal (Playwright), The Exception and the Rule/ The Prodigal Son (Playwright), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Playwright), Drums in the Night (Playwright), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Playwright), The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Libretto), The Rise and Fall of The City of Mahagonny (Bookwriter), The Good Woman of Setzuan (Playwright), Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill (Lyricist), The Measures Taken (Playwright), Downfall of the Egotist Johann Fatzer (Playwright), Happy End (Bookwriter/Lyricist), A Kurt Weill Cabaret (Lyricist), Mother Courage and Her Children (Playwright), The Antigone of Sophokles (Playwright), An Evening with Ekkehard Schall (Material), The Threepenny Opera (Bookwriter/Lyricist), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Playwright), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (Playwright), In the Jungle of Cities (Playwright), Here Lies Jenny (Lyricist), Here Lies Jenny (Lyricist), Mother Courage (Playwright), LoveMusik (Lyricist), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Playwright), Good Person of Szechwan (Playwright), A Man's a Man (Playwright).

What awards has Bertolt Brecht been nominated for?

Bertolt Brecht has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his notable nominations include Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre at the Tony Awards for "Happy End," Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," Best Play at the Tony Awards for "Mother Courage and Her Children," and Best Play at the Evening Standard Awards for "The Caucasian Chalk Circle."

What awards has Bertolt Brecht won?

Bertolt Brecht has won several awards throughout his career. Some notable awards include Outstanding Lyrics at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" and Best Play at the Evening Standard Awards for "The Caucasian Chalk Circle". These accolades recognize Brecht's exceptional talent and contribution to the world of theater.

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