ABSTRACT

This publication is the first comprehensive account in English of the history of the Freie Volksb^D"hne, founded in Berlin in 1890 through the interaction of Social Democracy and Theatrical Naturalism. Cecil Davies details the nationwide growth of the Volksb^D"hne Movement during the 1920s through the 1990s - including Germany's stormy history up to World War I, the problems associated with building the Volksbühne's own theatre, and the reunification of Germany. Weight is given to the contributions of major figures in the movement such as Bruno Wille, Siegfried Nestriepke, and Erwin Piscator.

part I|82 pages

1890–1914 From Brauhaus to Bülowplatz

chapter I|46 pages

The First Decade

chapter II|4 pages

Developments Outside Berlin

chapter III|30 pages

Into the Twentieth Century

chapter |2 pages

1914–1918: War and Revolution

part II|89 pages

1918–1933 The Volksbühne in the Weimar Republic

chapter I|25 pages

Berlin

chapter II|56 pages

Nationwide Growth 1918–1930

chapter |5 pages

The Nazis: ‘Night Over Germany’

part III|61 pages

The Volksbühne Since 1945

chapter I|40 pages

In Berlin and East Germany

chapter |3 pages

Epilogue