Modern and Post-Modern Mime

Modern mime, which has emerged as a major art form has its roots in the theatre work of Jacques Copeau in Paris in the 1920s. Copeau looked for a remedy to the ills of the theatre of his day by turning to the golden age of Greek theatre, the Noh and Kabuki, and commedia dell'arte. Here Copeau found an emphasis on the expressive potential of the actor's whole body, rather than just the voice. This series aims to introduce the reader to major 19th and 20th century dramatists, movements and new forms of drama throughout the world. This study examines the contributions of Etienne Decroux, Barrault, Marceau and Lecoq to the development of mime and post modern mime.