Post Modernism Theatre

"Postmodernism theatre  makes a presentation, not a representation." -Mick Walls

The Compact Oxford English Dictionary refers to postmodernism as "a style and concept in the arts characterized by distrust of theories and ideologies and by the drawing of attention to conventions." Postmodernism was introduced as a rebellion or escape from the modernist theatre. The postmodern style focuses on the idea that beliefs and rules are malleable. It stretches the viewer's mind and forces them to ask questions throughout the production rather than providing answers and resolution. Postmodernism theatre wants its audience to think. It was a movement away from "linearity" to plots with multiple story lines coming together or happening simultaneously provoking drama, known as "multiplicity." Both the narrative and characters can be split or fragmented with all the parts coming from one central idea, this also coincides with the gravitation towards multiplicity. It was less about the actual performance and more about the reflections of the audience. Postmodernism wanted the audience to create and form their own beliefs, there was no spoon feeding so to speak. It rejected high and low art and wanted the audience to be very much a part of the production and form their own opinions, and interpretations. Mele Yamomo said this is his article, "Defining Postmodernism," "To Elinor Fuchs, it is postmodern theatre that we witness the death of the character and eradication of the plot." If I understand correctly, the way that each individual interprets the production is the correct one, no further analyzation or pinpointed message is wanted. Postmodernism is a rejection of genre and style. There was even a rejection of formally scripted dialogue and improvisation was used. Postmodernism attempted to step out of reality "to create its own self conscious atmosphere" defines Wikipedia.  I think that this quote by Kerstin Schmidt really helps to explain and sum up what Postmodernism theatre is trying to achieve. "Postmodernism drama remains a theater of theory... with vital interest in the transformative processes of perception, that is, on how drama and theater are created and presented on stage." 

Here are few examples of Postmodernism productions listed by Wikipedia

Sam Shepard's "Buried Child"

Ozono Production's "Frueza Brut

Heiner Muller's "Hamletmachieche"

Ben Elton's "Popcorn"