Absurd Theatre

Absurd theatre emerged in mid 20th century after WWII because it caused many practitioners to question the meaning of life, trying to express that through Theatre. It is normally portrayed through comedy with existential themes, normally stupid characters using nonsensical dialogue in illogical situations, with a theme that life has no meaning.

Themes

• The philosophy that life has no meaning
• Non linear structure-plots are disjointed and lacks traditional narrative progression, and the events seem random/cyclical 
• Incoherent dialogue- conversation seems fragmented, repetitive, and nonsensical, portraying the absurdity of human existence
• Illogical situations- situations that defy logic and natural order further portraying the absurdity of human existence.
• Minimalism- setting and stage is minimal, emphasising the characters' existential struggles, mentally and physically
• Dark humour- plays often use humour, irony, and grotesque situations to deliver enjoyment to the audience.

Context

It emerged after WWII because of the disillusionment of having two world wars very close to each other, having people question why and how humanity exists, causing existential crises. The devastation mixing with the existential philosophy created a wave of questioning, which led a few playwrights to put their thoughts into a play. Jean Paul Sartre and Albert Camus influenced playwrights to reflect on the absurdity of existence, and the inevitability of death. "Absurdist theatre emphasises the futility of human action in a world that is indifferent or hostile to human desires" this creates questions on if there is a purpose to life, if death is inevitable for everyone. Normally being dark comic and absurdly ironic, normally beginning with the tension between human longing for meaning and the emptiness of the universe.

Playwrights

• Samuel Beckett was a playwright, poet, and writer, known for his revolutionary works in literature and playwrighting. Known for "Waiting For Godot" which influenced modern theatre massively, exploring existential themes and the meaningless of human existence with the struggle of communication, understanding an absurd world.
• Tom Stoppard is a playwright and author, regarded as one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century with his most popular play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" being a reinterpretation/ side story of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" featuring two smaller characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who are Hamlets two best friends who are ultimately ordered to die.