Oh What a Lovely War: performance conventions

Style and Form

“Oh What a Lovely War” is presented in an episodic format, drawing from Brecht’s Epic Theatre approach. This means one scene doesn’t necessarily logically lead to the next, allowing for temporal and geographical fluctuations.
There is a strong utilisation of chorus throughout the play. The actors shift between playing characters and function as the chorus – a practice drawn from ancient Greek drama to achieve distancing effect.
In direct alignment with Brechtian elements, there is no fourth wall. Actors directly address the audience, breaking typical theatre conventions and inviting critical engagement.
The use of songs and live music is integral to the play. These songs, often popular tunes from the war period, serve to provide comic relief, commentary, or reinforce thematic elements of the play.

The use of placards or projections is a characteristic feature of the play. These often display statistical information about the war, producing a jarring effect when juxtaposed against the onstage action.
The production often uses a minimal set, amplifying the stark reality of the war and allowing for fluid transitions between scenes.
There is a strong use of symbolism and imagery. For example, the representation of countries as pierrots, the use of red poppies, and army gears signifies various aspects of the war.
The dialect and accents employed by characters serve to represent different regions and classes in Britain, subtly addressing class dynamics of the time.

Actors frequently play multiple roles, further contributing to the distancing effect and compounding the sense of disorientation typical of war.
The roles are often exaggerated, resembling caricatures more than realistic characters. This aligns with the satirical tone of the play.
Physical and non-verbal communication is often emphasised in performance. These become especially significant during the war scenes, illustrating the horrors experienced by the soldiers.
Despite the grim topic, there is a consistent undercurrent of dark humour. This is seen in the puns, ironic situations, and wit used to expose the absurdity and tragedy of the war.