Artaud believed that civilisation had turned humans into repressed creatures which thought too much and weren't in touch with nature anymore. He believed that the true function of the theatre was to allow his audience to be freed and liberated, bringing them back to those animalistic qualities and instincts. He believed in breaking down the fourth wall and immersing the audience in the performers world. He did this through creating mythical spectacles, tribal rituals embracing nature and movement which would include groans, screams, ecstatic lighting effects combined with extreme props and puppets. Brook tried to provoke conditions that would force the release of raw, primitive instincts, which he believed were hidden beneath the civilised, social facade masking every human being. Brook welcomed the impulses that were brought with suffering and pain, arguing that theatre should be used to increase a sense of danger, violence and disorientation within the audience to make them feel constantly on the edge and awake. Despite its name, Brook's concept of cruelty was not sadistic or torturous. He wanted to release the honestly and truth combined with the raw cruel, feelings that we essential if the performers and audience members were to confront and experience all the situations and events which every human being experiences. sheet explaining Brook's idea of theatre of cruelty.

Theatre of Cruelty 

Artaud believed that civilisation had turned humans into repressed creatures which thought too much and weren't in touch with nature anymore. He believed that the true function of the theatre was to allow his audience to be freed and liberated, bringing them back to those animalistic qualities and instincts. He believed in breaking down the fourth wall and immersing the audience in the performers world. He did this through creating mythical spectacles, tribal rituals embracing nature and movement which would include groans, screams, ecstatic lighting effects combined with extreme props and puppets. 

Brook tried to provoke conditions that would force the release of raw, primitive instincts, which he believed were hidden beneath the civilised, social facade masking every human being. 

Brook welcomed the impulses that were brought with suffering and pain, arguing that theatre should be used to increase a sense of danger, violence and disorientation within the audience to make them feel constantly on the edge and awake. 

Despite its name, Brook's concept of cruelty was not sadistic or torturous. He wanted to release the honestly and truth combined with the raw cruel, feelings that we essential if the performers and audience members were to confront and experience all the situations and events which every human being experiences. 

sheet explaining Brook's idea of theatre of cruelty.