The title of my devised piece is Resentment. The piece is about young catholic birthmothers being forced into adoption by their parents. It is based on the stimulus of oppression in society.

In the Caucasian Chalk Circle there are many links to the theme of oppression. Grusha is trapped because she knows that it would be morally wrong to leave the baby to the soldiers but if she takes the baby with her then both of their lives will be in danger. In this situation she is being oppressed by society to do the morally right thing and by her own guilt because she would be able to live with herself if she just left the baby. Throughout the play Grusha is oppressed by her status. She is turned away by the ‘women’ at the inn because she used to be a servant and they thought that she would try and steal from them. She is forced into marring an old man because she needed somewhere to stay and didn’t have any money to look after the baby anymore. Although she was oppressed all through the play but in the end justice wins and she is allowed to bring up the baby. This is a happy hopeful ending. The ending to our devised piece is the complete opposite, the story goes back in time to before the birth to show that it’s a constant circle; nothing will ever be changed because there is always a shadow of doubt hanging over the oppressed head.  

The style of my devised piece is similar to the Caucasian Chalk Circle in the way that we are using projections in the first scene to explain the story and to make the piece less realistic.  We are also using selective realism; every character will be wearing all black but will wear a piece of clothing to symbolize that character. In the Caucasian Chalk Circle the actors demonstrate the character but we have chosen to actually be the characters in our devised piece because we want the audience to get emotionally involved with the characters and sympathize with their situation. Brecht wanted the audience to be entertained but also think about the situation, this is why he created scene with light hearted comical moments in them even if the situation that the actors were in was serious. We have used this technique in a small part of one of our scene where the adopted child is looking for her birth certificate. The adoptive mother tries to distract her by asking her to do things. This scene is serious but is made slightly comical by the tasks the mother asks the child to do.

The major difference linked between my devised piece, and forum theatre is that my devised doesn’t really involve audience interaction which is what forum theatre is based on. The major similarity with forum theatre and my devised piece is that I am trying to show how a person can be oppressed in many ways and that oppression can be a cycle. The oppressor has to be oppressed by something or someone for them to force their oppression onto someone else.

The major differences linked between my devised piece and the Caucasian Chalk Circle is that my devised piece is very emotional and the characters are trying to get the audience to relate with them and get emotionally involved, whereas Brecht doesn’t want the audience to involve themselves with the characters. A major similarity between my devised piece and the Caucasian Chalk Circle is that Brecht questions society in his plays because he wants the audience to go away and do something about the situation; we have used this in out devised piece. We are questioning the rights parents have over their child’s situation and how much the church can influence people lives.

In conclusion my devised piece has taken some techniques used by Boal and Brecht but put them into a different context to show individuality and original views.