Why 'Woyzeck'?

It is an odd choice. To choose to stage for my first school play at Aiglon, a fragmented play, written in 1837, about a poor, working class soldier who murders his wife. It doesn't sound very jolly. It isn't. However, I believe that the play presents a brilliant challenge to a school theatre company. The play is wide open to interpretation and creativity so that any group tackling the play can really put their stamp on it. It appealed to me that the play was a European text, with a very international feel. This seemed more than appropriate for a school such as Aiglon. I also liked the fact that ‘Woyzeck’ is short and not especially wordy and that the main plot is absolutely crystal clear. Finally the play is also a set text for our 6th form Drama students and they could have no better preparation for their summer exams than to enact and see the play performed live.

Yet above all, 'Woyzeck' is a great play and it is recognised by many theatrical scholars that 'Woyzeck' was revolutionary, way ahead of its time, which changed European and World Theatre for good. Until Buchner wrote this play, all European tragedy had centred on the dilemmas and suffering of "great" people. 'Woyzeck' was the first stage drama ever to make tragedy from the plight of someone with no social standing whatsoever; this remained without parallel for the rest of the 19th century. Although the play was written in 1837, it was not published until 1879 and was not performed until 1913. This meant that for three-quarters of a century, Buchner's play had lain ticking like a time bomb until the time was right for it to explode. This also makes the play, one of the most sensational cases of posthumous discovery in the whole of modern literature. (Buchner contracted typhus, whilst writing 'Woyzeck' and died soon after, aged 24.)

This past parents weekend's performance was intended as a celebration of Theatre performed by an international company from more than 30 different nations. It is also a celebration of the dramatic talents of Aiglon students and I am indebted to the company who have worked hard on this project since September of last year. We hope that you are moved by the performance and that you leave with the shared belief that this is a great play, with a very powerful story performed with energy, creativity and skill by an impressive group of teenagers.

Alex Boyd-Williams