Showing results for "Plays by August Strindberg" in Literature & Fiction

Hailed by Arthur Miller as ‘the mad inventor of modern theatre’, Johan August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright, poet and novelist whose groundbreaking works mingled naturalism and psychology and paved the way for Expressionist drama. A prolific writer – penning over 60 plays, 19 novels and nine autobiographies – his turbulent life was marked by emotional conflict. This wide-ranging collection brings together 13 of his most important dramas and a semi-autobiographical ‘occult diary’, enhanced through stunning soundscapes and music composed by Strindberg himself.

At a secluded seaside hotel, Adi (Smith), a struggling painter, finds his creative spark reignited by Gustav (Schreiber), a magnetic stranger. Their connection is instant and consuming, but what begins as a chance encounter twists into something far darker when Gustav becomes intrigued by Adi’s wife, the dazzling Tekla (Siff). Talk into the night devolves into an intricate web of deception, seduction, and revelation, where the lives of all involved may be destroyed or transformed.

Dream Play (Swedish Ett drömspel), penned by the renowned Swedish playwright August Strindberg in 1901, made its debut in Stockholm on April 17, 1907. This celebrated work is regarded as one of Strindbergs most influential dramas and serves as a pivotal precursor to both dramatic Expressionism and Surrealism. The story follows Agnes, the daughter of the Vedic god Indra, as she descends to Earth to witness the trials and tribulations of humanity. Throughout her journey, she encounters a diverse cast of around 40 characters, many of whom symbolize various aspects of human existence—such as ...

Although he achieved notable success as a novelist, poet, essayist, and painter, August Strindberg is best known today as one of the first and most significant masters of naturalist theatre. Among his many dramatic works are a number of one-act plays, four of which are presented in this recording. All of the plays feature a persistent theme in Strindberg's works: the inevitable disillusion that results from intense involvement in relationships, whether they be familial, romantic or circumstantial.