August Strindberg was a radical innovator of Western theatre whose diverse dramatic output embodied an essentially modernist sensibility. This new volume gives insight into Strindberg's work on theatre culture and its significance for theatre today.

Eszter Szalczer is Associate Professor of Theatre at the University at Albany, State University of New York. She is the author of Writing Daughters: August Strindberg's Other Voices (2008), as well as numerous articles and book chapters on Strindberg both in English and Swedish.

Overview

Part I

Versions of a life

1 Problematics of biography vs. autobiography

2 Between fiction and reality

Part II

A life in the theatre

3 The Scandinavian Experimental Theatre

4 Strindberg and the Independent Theatre Movement: the first productions

5 Strindberg and stagecraft: theory and practice

6 The Intimate Theatre

Part III

Key plays

7 Naturalism and the modern character

8 Dream-play dramaturgy and modernist allegories

9 The last sonatas

10 Modernizing history

Part IV

Key plays/productions

11 Miss Julie: from failed world premiere to worldwide acclaim

12 A Dream Play: from closet drama to post-modern performance

13 The Ghost Sonata and Strindberg's haunting legacy