Theatre History Overview - Part 82 - French Avant-Garde Theatre

French Avant-Garde theatre started in the 1880s. It is certain that a Belgian playwright, Maurice Maetrlinck wrote The Blind in 1890. It is a symbolist drama about twelve unnamed people who are stranded on an island.

In 1893, Oskar Panizza wrote The Council of Love and while the exact date it was written is not known, Alfred Jarry's play, Ubu Roi was produced in 1986. He later wrote Ubu Cuckolded and Ubu in Chains.

Just like in American Avant-Garde theatre, plays were not trying to replicate real life. Instead, they were trying to create new worlds.

French Avant-Garde Theatre continued through the 1900s. It included movements like absurdism. While the movment isn't truly happening today, some playwrights and directors may still use the concepts.

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