Interview with Bernard Shaw, playwright. Miracle plays of medieval church as influences.

Interview with Bernard Shaw, playwright. Miracle plays of medieval church as influences.

Bernard Shaw, Edith M. Fry, origins of modern theatre, medieval mystery plays, theatre, drama, tragedy and comedy in theatre, medieval church passion play, miracle plays, medieval stage influence on Shaw’s drama, Oberammergau Passion play

Edith M. Fry interviews Bernard Shaw about his dramatic philosophy. Shaw claims that tragedy and comedy are intertwined. He delivers a short history of the theatre from Greek to modern times. He models his lack of scenery changes on stage from the techniques of the miracle plays of the medieval church. The miracle plays have no curtain; all scenery is placed on the stage; actors pass easily from one location to another without a change of scenery. He cites the Oberammergau Passion Play as an example. Shaw concludes that great drama ought not to depend on elaborate or changing scenery.

Fry, Edith M.

Sydney Morning Herald/National Library of Australia

Sydney Morning Herald

15 May 1920

Public Domain

Newspaper Article

English

newspaper article