ABSTRACT

Thomas Ostermeier is the most internationally recognised German theatre director of the present. With this book, he presents his directorial method for the first time. The Theatre of Thomas Ostermeier provides a toolkit for understanding and enacting the strategies of his advanced contemporary approach to staging dramatic texts. In addition, the book includes:

  • Ostermeier’s seminal essays, lectures and manifestos translated into English for the first time.
  • Over 140 photos from the archive of Arno Declair, who has documented Ostermeier’s work at the Schaubühne Berlin for many years, and by others.
  • In-depth ‘casebook’ studies of two of his productions: Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People (2012) and Shakespeare’s Richard III (2015)
  • Contributions from Ostermeier’s actors and his closest collaborators to show how his principles are put into practice.

An extraordinary, richly illustrated insight into Ostermeier’s working methods, this volume will be of interest to practitioners and scholars of contemporary European theatre alike.

chapter 1|12 pages

Playing with the R(ealism) effect

An introduction to Thomas Ostermeier's theatre work

chapter 2|13 pages

Ostermeier writings [1]

Towards a new realism

chapter 3|40 pages

Making theatre with Thomas Ostermeier

chapter 4|11 pages

Ostermeier writings [2]

'It's us': Ibsen's plays and contemporary worries

chapter 5|55 pages

Ostermeier at work [1]

An Enemy of the People (2012)

chapter 6|53 pages

Ostermeier on directing

chapter 7|43 pages

Ostermeier at work [2]

Richard III (2015)

chapter 8|18 pages

Ostermeier writings [3]

The politics of contemporary theatre