Main trends in theater after World War II

Authors : Vahdet Yasin Akyuz

Pages : 2383-2405

Doi:10.48146/odusobiad.1732338

View : 30 | Download : 102

Publication Date : 2025-12-28

Article Type : Review Paper

Abstract :The political, social, and cultural transformations that followed World War II led to fundamental changes in the art of theater. This study examines the major theatrical orientations that emerged in the post-war period and analyzes the primary approaches that reflect the spirit and artistic understanding of the era. Absurd and existentialist theater became prominent for bringing the individual’s crisis of meaning, alienation, and search for freedom to the stage. Post-avant-garde trends challenged traditional structures through formal experimentation and anti-textual practices, while intercultural theater explored expressions shaped by East-West dynamics and identity representations. Feminist theater developed alternative narrative tools to highlight women’s experiences and critique patriarchal structures. Dance theater redefined dramaturgy by emphasizing the expressive potential of the body and the language of movement. In-yer-face theater aimed for a direct, confrontational relationship with the audience through provocative staging, and alternative theater movements adopted a critical and transformative stance against conventional theater institutions. In this context, the article reveals the aesthetic and ideological diversity of post-war theater and sheds light on the foundations of contemporary theatrical practices.
Keywords : Absürd tiyatro, varoluşçuluk, postmodernizm, savaş sonrası sanat, alternatif tiyatro

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