The Chinese influence on Western theatre : from transposition to transformation

Abstract

The classical Chinese theatre has come to be recognized by Westerners as a well-preserved traditional theatrical form with unique features worthy of exploration. This thesis deals with some significant examples of the influence of Chinese theatre on Western contemporary theatre and attempts to establish the connections between them. The ways by which the techniques and essence of Chinese theatre are absorbed in the works of Thornton Wilder, Bertolt Brecht, and Jerzy Grotowski reflect various approaches employed in applying this foreign tradition. From the late eighteenth century to the latest few decades, the trend of this absorption has developed from borrowing and imitation to the transposition and transformation which occurred in the present century. Chinese dramatic techniques influenced the work of Wilder. Brecht learned to share with Chinese theatre the similar dramaturgy and the aesthetic concept of the art of acting. He also shared the same concern with social problems as the Chinese dramatists. The system and methods of Chinese actor's training have provided a significant part of the preliminary materials for Grotowski's research and exploration of the actor's art. A study of these influences of Chinese theatre and their transformation by the Western theatre artists also helps to understand the phenomenon of cultural exchange among diverse traditions, and to prepare a broader base from which meaningful new forms of theatre can develop.