Compare and contrast Brecht and Stanislavski's notions of acting and the role of the actor in the theatre

Bertolt Brecht and Constantin Stanislavski are regarded as two of the most influential practitioners of the twentieth century, both with strong opinions and ideas about the function of the theatre and the actors within it. Both theories are considered useful and are used throughout the world as a means to achieve a good piece of theatre. The fact that both are so well respected is probably the only obvious similarity as their work is almost …

…their obvious and clear differences. One thing that they are not so renowned for being similar for, is that they both take drama very seriously and see plays and performances not only as art but as an vital part of the human existence. Brief bibliography ·An Actor Prepares, Constantin Stanislavski (1937) 1986 Methuen ·Brecht on Theatre, Bertolt Brecht (1964) 2001 Methuen ·Concise companion to the theatre, Phyllis Hartnoll, (1972) 1996 Oxford ·Stanislavski lecture notes, from week 3 ·Brecht lecture notes, from week 4