One-Mensch-Theater Explained

Ein-Mensch-Theater (de|Mensch|links=no "human being") is a German expression for a traveling theater, within the owner is writer, director, stage designer, performer and sometimes even his own tour manager in one person.^[1]

Origin

The term was coined by Natias Neutert after his performance (The poet reels into the Open) at Schauspielhaus Bochum during a panel discussion with Peter Zadek^[2]

Goal

His intention was going to replace the worn and partial label one-man show by a label under which both males and females could find equally.^[3]

Exponents

Dario Fo, Robert Kreis, Johnny Melville, Natias Neutert and Franca Rame became famous exponents as this type of theater in Europe.^[4]

See also

• Commedia dell'arte
• Monodrama
• Monologue

Notes and References

1. A definition, corresponding with The poor Theater and its imagination power. Cf. Jerzy Grotowski: Towards a Poor Theatre (Preface: Peter Brook/Edited by Eugenio Barba). Eyre Metghuen, London 1980.
2. DIE ZEIT No. 32, 4 August 1978.
3. So Neutert in the panel discussion at Schauspielhaus Bochum, August 1978.
4. Cf.Hannes Heer (Ed.), Dario Fo über Dario Fo. Übersetzt aus dem Italienischen von Ulrich Enzensberger. Prometh Köln, 1980