Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) was a German playwright, poet and theatre director, widely regarded as one of the most consequential dramatists of the 20th century. He developed the concept of epic theatre - a form that deliberately breaks theatrical illusion to provoke critical thinking rather than emotional identification - and put it into practice at the Berliner Ensemble, the company he co-founded in East Berlin in 1949 with his wife, actress Helene Weigel. His plays, from The Threepenny Opera to Mother Courage and Her Children and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, remain staples of world theatre repertoire.
The Royal Shakespeare Company staged the world premiere RSC production of Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon (11 April - 30 May 2026), with Mark Gatiss in the title role - the first time the RSC has ever presented the play.
Reviews of the RSC production praised Mark Gatiss's performance as a politically resonant portrayal, with critics drawing parallels to contemporary political figures.
The Berliner Ensemble, founded by Brecht in 1949, reported an average monthly occupancy rate of 98% through April in its 2025/26 season, confirming its status as Berlin's most-visited spoken-word theatre.
During the 2024-25 season, three major Greek theatre companies staged Brecht productions simultaneously, including Mother Courage and Her Children at the National Theatre of Greece.
Lars Eidinger presents works by Bertolt Brecht at Alte Oper Frankfurt. An evening dedicated to the German dramatist and poet.
Lars Eidinger performs Bertolt Brecht's "Hauspostille" at the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig - a literary evening with the poetry of one of the most significant figures in German literature.
Lars Eidinger interprets Bertolt Brecht's "Hauspostille" in a unique theatrical evening full of drama and depth.
Actor Lars Eidinger presents dramatic interpretations of Bertolt Brecht's works in a recital devoted to the German playwright and poet.
Acclaimed German actor Lars Eidinger performs readings from Bertolt Brecht's iconic poetry collection "Hauspostille" at the Kulturpalast in Dresden.
Lars Eidinger interprets a classic work by Bertolt Brecht at Berlin's prestigious theatre. An evening of dramatic depth and artistic mastery.
German actor Lars Eidinger presents works by Bertolt Brecht in an intimate theatrical evening.
Lars Eidinger performs and interprets poems from Bertolt Brecht's "Hauspostille" at the Auditorium Maximum in Regensburg.
Bertolt Brecht's classic play about morality and compassion in a world of commerce. A production at Landestheater Linz.
