German-speaking playwrights have exercised a considerable if subtle influence on Australian theatre history. Presenting a range of paradigmatic case studies, this book offers a detailed account of Australian productions of German-language drama between 1945 and 1996. The reception of Bertolt Brecht is used as a touchstone for analysing stagings of plays by writers such as Max Frisch, Rolf Hochhuth, Peter Handke and Franz Xaver Kroetz. In addition, more recent developments in the reception of German drama on the Australian stage are discussed.
«'Brecht & Co.' is a major research work that not only historicizes Brecht within a distant theater tradition, but opens up a new archival vein for scholars and practitioners alike. Brecht would have liked the light touch of this original and quietly observed research, which also makes an important contribution to Australian theater history.» (Denise Varney, The Brecht Yearbook)
«Der Arbeit kommt (...) ganz ohne Zweifel der Status einer beachtlichen Pionierleistung zu, die eine wertvolle Basis für jede weitere Beschäftigung mit der Rezeption deutschsprachiger Theaterliteratur in Austalien legt.» (Franz-Josef Deiters, Limbus)
«Der Arbeit kommt (...) ganz ohne Zweifel der Status einer beachtlichen Pionierleistung zu, die eine wertvolle Basis für jede weitere Beschäftigung mit der Rezeption deutschsprachiger Theaterliteratur in Austalien legt.» (Franz-Josef Deiters, Limbus)