Histrionics

Der Theatermacher The Theatre Maker is a play by austrian writer Thomas Bernhard It was released in 1984 and had its worldpremiere the following year at the Salzburger Festspiele under Claus Peymann Centered around main protagonist Bruscon it is full with allusions to the famous festival in Salzburg During a break in his latest tour the actor Bruscon tries to stage his play Das Rad der Geschichte The wheel of history in the small village Utzbach He involves his whole family in the production as actors wife daughter and son The production becomes increasingly difficult with Bruscons heavy mood swings He turns out as a tyrant dissatisfied with every detail from stage to room temperature and declares that the village is too small for his outstanding piece anyway During rehearsals he constantly knocks the others down highlighting himself as the important actor and theatre man