Whatever your attitude to Brecht, there’s no doubt that it will be upended by this radical interpretation of his work by NTW Artistic Director John McGrath. Instead of following a traditional Aristotelian model of theater, which calls for directly linked action and an emotional climax at the end of the play, Brecht constructs the play more like an epic poem. Epic Theater. For a time, it looked as though the wheels had come off Mother Courage’s cart before she’d even begun her monumental journey across the battlefields of Europe in the Thirty Years War. This clip from the National Theatre explains Brecht’s philosophy about using objectivity and distance in his work and also looks at the staging of Mother Courage and Her Children. Mother Courage and Her Children: An Epic Quiz on Epic Theater True or False. Verfremdungseffekt is achieved through the use of placards which reveal the events of each scene, juxtaposition, actors changing characters and costume on stage, the use of narration, simple props and scenery. -> Executions True False. 2. Mother Courage and Her Children is a prime example of Brecht’s concept of Epic Theater. Name one way in which Brecht makes Mother Courage "strange." and find homework help for other Bertolt Brecht questions at eNotes Play Mother Courage and her Children 'Mother Courage and her Children' was written in 1939 by Brecht in a direct attempt to counter the rise of Fascism in Germany at that time and is considered to be one of the worlds greatest anti-war plays. An epic retelling of the Thirty Years’ War as experienced through the trials of a cunning canteen operator determined to make a profit from the war, no matter the danger to herself or her children. Through Mother Courage we can see the use of Epic Theater, and how it help with conveying the message of war. Mother Courage and Her Children About "Epic Theater". BERTOLT BRECHT MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN OCTOBER 12 - NOVEMBER 6, 2016. Mother Courage and Her Children demonstrates Brecht's concepts of Epic Theatre and Verfremdungseffekt or "alienation". Mother Courage and Her Children is a prime example of Brecht’s concept of Epic Theater. It was originally produced in Zurich at the Schauspielhaus. "Alienation", however, is something of a misleading translation, for it suggests that the audience is actively cut off from the performance. Epic Theater. Mother Courage is an example of Brecht’s concepts of Epic Theatre and Verfremdungseffekt or “estrangement effect”. With an all female cast, National Theatre Wales fires up it’s fifth season with a revised adaptation of Mother Courage and Her Children at Merthyr Labour Club.