| The theatrical writings of Pier Paolo Pasolini are an unknown commodity to the English-speaking stage. Outside of Italy, Pasolini's reputation rests primarily upon his work as a film director. However, in the late 1960s he turned his attention to the theatre, writing six plays and a theatrical manifesto. The six plays, in order of book publication, are Calderon, Affabulation, Pilade, Pigsty, Orgy, and Beast of Style. Written in verse, they present an inversion of the ancient Greek rite of kings, as the prince figure dies and the king thrives. A chapter is devoted to each of the six plays, containing a detailed textual analysis as well as a production history. As the plays reject many of the conventions of the contemporary Italian theatre, Pasolini saw fit to compose his Manifesto for a New Theatre. The theories and production practices he proposes in the Manifesto are examined both in terms of their theatrical viability and in how they diverge from the more traditionally commercial Italian theatre.Although Pasolini's plays have already been translated and produced in German and French, this study constitutes the first comprehensive discussion of his theatre in English. His theatre is viewed from within the broader context of his work as a whole. Furthermore, a discussion of the contemporary Italian theatre in general is provided, so that his theatre may also be viewed from within this context as well. |
