German · 1898–1956
German playwright and poet who invented epic theater and never stopped provoking. Born in Augsburg, he made his name in Weimar Berlin with The Threepenny Opera and Mahagonny, collaborating with Kurt Weill. Marxism shaped his theory: theater should instruct, not lull; audiences should think, not feel. Exile took him through Scandinavia to Hollywood and finally East Berlin, where he founded the Berliner Ensemble. Mother Courage, The Good Person of Szechwan, The Caucasian Chalk Circle—the plays remain performed worldwide. His influence on political theater is unmatched.