BERTOLT BRECHT AND HELMUT BAIERL: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL INTERPRETATION.

Abstract

Helmut Baierl with his unique dramaturgy, special methods and ways of depicting reality was subjected to numerous criticisms and became one of the most controversial creative personalities in post-war Germany. His plays caused discussions not only in the GDR and FRG but also beyond their borders. There is still no unanimous opinion among literary critics about this playwright and his significance for drama. Some scholars call him an epigone of Bertolt Brecht, others call him a follower, then there are those who consider him an innovator, etc. Therefore, taking into account the unreflected artistic experience of this dramatist in modern literary studies, as well as his pronounced creative dialogue with B. Brecht, the article aims to give an objective assessment of H. Baierl's work and trace the playwright's implementation of the main principles of epic theatre. H. Baierl’s work with its inherent synthesis of theoretical and creative interpretations confirms the conclusion that creative writing is a dialogue of one artist with another one/ ones which results in a creative and / or theoretical interpretation of the works of the latter one / ones. Considerable attention is paid to H. Baierl’s theoretical and practical (creative) interpretation of works by B. Brecht. It is stated that H. Baierl’s works, presented as a plurality of creative interpretation models of different levels with certain inherent elements of parody / stylization based on their pretexts, are a synthesis of a theoretical interpretation of B. Brecht’s ideas and a creative interpretation of his plays. H. Baierl not only continues the dramaturgical traditions of the master, but also adopts his characters in a certain way, tells their stories further, tracking them under other socio-historical circumstances. A comparison of the plays of both playwrights and their theoretical works shows a kinship in views on the purpose and aim of drama, as well as a community of ideological and aesthetic principles.