The Caucasian Chalk Circle (German:Der Kaukasische Kreidekreis) is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. An example of Brecht's epic theatre, the play is a parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a better mother than its wealthy natural parents.
The play was written in 1944 while Brecht was living in the United States. It was translated into English by Brecht's friend and admirer Eric Bentley and its world premiere was a student production at Carleton College, Minnesota, in 1948. Its first professional production was at the Hedgerow Theatre, Philadelphia, directed by Bentley. Its German premiere by the Berliner Ensemble was on October 7th, 1954 at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, in Berlin. The most known version of Caucasian Chalk Circle is the Georgian version of the Rustaveli State Drama Theatre by Robert Sturua; this version is also considered by many critics worldwide to be the best. The Caucasian Chalk Circle is now considered one of Brecht's most celebrated works and is one of the most regularly performed 'German' plays.
Circle of Chalk (Chinese:灰闌記; pinyin:huīlán jì, sometimes translated Chalk Circle, The Circle of Chalk, or A Circle of Chalk), by Li Qianfu (also transliterated as Li Ch'ien-fu, Li Xingdao, Li Hsing-tao, or Li Xingfu), is a Yuan dynasty (1259–1368) Chinese classical zaju verse play and gong'ancrime drama, in four acts with a prologue. It was preserved in a collection entitled Yuan-chu-po-cheng, or The Hundred Pieces. The Chinese language original is known for the beauty of its lyrical verse, and considered a Yuan masterpiece; a series of translations and revisions inspired several popular modern plays.
Plot
A beautiful sixteen-year-old girl, Hai-tang (also transliterated Hai-t'ang, Hi-tang, or Chang-hi-tang), is sold into a house of prostitution by her impoverished family, after her father's death. There she is befriended by Ma Chun-shing, a wealthy and childless tax collector, who takes her into his house as his second wife. She bears him a son, Shoulang, but earns the jealousy of his first wife, Ah-Siu. Ah-Siu accuses Hai-tang of adultery, poisons Ma, blaming Hai-tang for the crime, and claims to a court that Shoulang is her own child, so that she can inherit Ma's fortune. Hai-tang is arrested, and beaten until she confesses. As Hai-tang is about to be hanged, she is rescued by Bao Zheng in a scene similar to the Judgment of Solomon: Shoulang is placed in a circle of chalk between the two women, and each is ordered to pull; as Hai-tang can not bear to hurt her child, she is judged his true mother.
Chalk Circle were an American punk rock band formed in 1981 in Washington, DC. Their raw, rhythmic, minimal sound had more in common with post-punk or art punk than D.C. hardcore, a community they initially helped pioneer. Guitarist/vocalist Sharon Cheslow and drummer Anne Bonafede were joined by guitarist/vocalist Mary Green and alternating bassists Jan Pumphrey, Tamera Lyndsay, and Chris Niblack before the group disbanded in 1983.
History
Anne Bonafede and Sharon Cheslow began playing music in 1980, after developing friendships through the Bad Brains, Henry Rollins, Teen Idles, and Untouchables. After Cheslow saw a Bad Brains rehearsal with Rollins in March 1980, and then survived meningitis that summer, she decided to form a band. In March 1981 Chalk Circle had its first rehearsal as an all-female quartet. The group played their first show in July 1981, opening for Velvet Monkeys and R.E.M. (later Egoslavia), with Sally Ven Yu Berg from the latter group filling in on bass.
Formed in Newcastle, Ontario, Hopkins and Tait were paired with Terry Miller and Stani Veselinovic in 1982 as "The Casualties". The band briefly changed its name to "The Reactors" and then to "New Edition" in 1984, and finally settled on the name Chalk Circle (taken from Bertolt Brecht's play The Caucasian Chalk Circle).
The band recorded a demo single "The World" (b/w "Black Pit") on cassette and played the Toronto area, subsequently winning the CASBY Award for Most Promising Non-Recording Group in 1985. After signing to Duke Street Records in Toronto, their 1986 debut release was a six-song EP called The Great Lake. Produced by Chris Wardman, it was recorded at Manta Sound in Toronto and Quest Recording Studio in Oshawa. The lead single "April Fool" became a Top 10 single in Canada, along with another single "Me, Myself and I". The band produced videos for both tracks which were regularly featured on MuchMusic, and the EP went on to become Duke Street's biggest seller at that time.
An adaptation of Bertotlt Brecht's 'The Caucasian Calk Circle'. This is a typically 'dry' Brecht play set against a background of the aftermath of war. Powerfully acted by members of the Meitoku International Player, including one teacher (Osamu Yamada). Adapted & directed by Gavin Bantock
published: 28 Jan 2019
The Chalk Circle • RRHS 2012
The senior class of RRHS Theatre troupe presents The Chalk Circle.
published: 05 Sep 2012
The Caucasian Chalk Circle
This is our recent Senior School Play. Beautifully designed by Barbara Tong in a 'Steam Punk' style, with terrific lighting by Joe Lott this was our attempt to make Brecht available to a young audience. A standout performance by Libby Wells as Grusha, ably supported by Liam Fernandez as Simon Chachava and a fantastic troupe of actors fresh from their triumph at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012. Enjoy!
published: 11 Jan 2013
CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE(inshamake) Ninde ukwiye kurera Michael hagati ya Natella nyina na Grusha?
Follow Caucasian Chalk Circle in Kinyarwanda.
Iyi nkuru ni ingenzi cyane.Iravuga uburyo
umuntu agushuka ngo aragukunda kandi
nyamara afite icyo agushakaho.
Burya iyo ufite ikintu ntacyo ucyimaza
niyo cyaba ari icyawe,birutwa n'uko cyahabwa abashobora kukibyaza umusaruro.
published: 20 Mar 2021
The Caucasian Chalk Circle - Excerpt 1
The crucial Trial Scene in Bertholt Brecht’s version of the classic tale stars Ron Moody, Alison Steadman, Alun Armstrong and a “cast of thousands”.
published: 23 Sep 2014
CHALK CIRCLE - April Fool
Another great Canadian 80's video, I love this song and this band, enjoy!!
Hillside Student Community production of the Brecht masterpiece, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2008). Original music composed and performed by Ethan Sherrard.
published: 14 Jan 2016
CHALK CIRCLE - This Mourning
Another great Canadian 80's video from Chalk Circle. Enjoy!
An adaptation of Bertotlt Brecht's 'The Caucasian Calk Circle'. This is a typically 'dry' Brecht play set against a background of the aftermath of war. Powerful...
An adaptation of Bertotlt Brecht's 'The Caucasian Calk Circle'. This is a typically 'dry' Brecht play set against a background of the aftermath of war. Powerfully acted by members of the Meitoku International Player, including one teacher (Osamu Yamada). Adapted & directed by Gavin Bantock
An adaptation of Bertotlt Brecht's 'The Caucasian Calk Circle'. This is a typically 'dry' Brecht play set against a background of the aftermath of war. Powerfully acted by members of the Meitoku International Player, including one teacher (Osamu Yamada). Adapted & directed by Gavin Bantock
This is our recent Senior School Play. Beautifully designed by Barbara Tong in a 'Steam Punk' style, with terrific lighting by Joe Lott this was our attempt to...
This is our recent Senior School Play. Beautifully designed by Barbara Tong in a 'Steam Punk' style, with terrific lighting by Joe Lott this was our attempt to make Brecht available to a young audience. A standout performance by Libby Wells as Grusha, ably supported by Liam Fernandez as Simon Chachava and a fantastic troupe of actors fresh from their triumph at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012. Enjoy!
This is our recent Senior School Play. Beautifully designed by Barbara Tong in a 'Steam Punk' style, with terrific lighting by Joe Lott this was our attempt to make Brecht available to a young audience. A standout performance by Libby Wells as Grusha, ably supported by Liam Fernandez as Simon Chachava and a fantastic troupe of actors fresh from their triumph at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012. Enjoy!
Hillside Student Community production of the Brecht masterpiece, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2008). Original music composed and performed by Ethan Sherrard.
Hillside Student Community production of the Brecht masterpiece, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2008). Original music composed and performed by Ethan Sherrard.
Hillside Student Community production of the Brecht masterpiece, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2008). Original music composed and performed by Ethan Sherrard.
An adaptation of Bertotlt Brecht's 'The Caucasian Calk Circle'. This is a typically 'dry' Brecht play set against a background of the aftermath of war. Powerfully acted by members of the Meitoku International Player, including one teacher (Osamu Yamada). Adapted & directed by Gavin Bantock
This is our recent Senior School Play. Beautifully designed by Barbara Tong in a 'Steam Punk' style, with terrific lighting by Joe Lott this was our attempt to make Brecht available to a young audience. A standout performance by Libby Wells as Grusha, ably supported by Liam Fernandez as Simon Chachava and a fantastic troupe of actors fresh from their triumph at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012. Enjoy!
Hillside Student Community production of the Brecht masterpiece, The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2008). Original music composed and performed by Ethan Sherrard.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle (German:Der Kaukasische Kreidekreis) is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. An example of Brecht's epic theatre, the play is a parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a better mother than its wealthy natural parents.
The play was written in 1944 while Brecht was living in the United States. It was translated into English by Brecht's friend and admirer Eric Bentley and its world premiere was a student production at Carleton College, Minnesota, in 1948. Its first professional production was at the Hedgerow Theatre, Philadelphia, directed by Bentley. Its German premiere by the Berliner Ensemble was on October 7th, 1954 at the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, in Berlin. The most known version of Caucasian Chalk Circle is the Georgian version of the Rustaveli State Drama Theatre by Robert Sturua; this version is also considered by many critics worldwide to be the best. The Caucasian Chalk Circle is now considered one of Brecht's most celebrated works and is one of the most regularly performed 'German' plays.
Breakout. Brief chats with people who are doing things that thrill them. Photo. Sam Yehros. “Are we breeding or are we killing?” Sydney Lemmon asks me, her hazel eyes studying our victims ...Weird vibes ... Photo ... We did CaucasianChalkCircle by Bertold Brecht.
He emphasized that while the government pursues policies beneficial for the country, critics continue to fabricate different narratives solely for political gain ... 1 ... In the CaucasianChalkCircle, (Hunuwataye kathawa) Grusha faces a critical decision ... .
Similar to the tale of the ‘Caucasian chalk circle’ (‘Hunu Wateye Kathawa’), those who hesitated to safeguard the child in challenging times and offered no support are now vying to assert the child’s rights before the journey’s completion.
I caught the last of it as a child ... Other boys at school knew all the details of the Premier League ... At interviews for senior school I sailed through, chattering away about The Caretaker, Private Lives or The CaucasianChalkCircle ... Most popular ... .
Then the lead fell ill. Could she learn The CaucasianChalkCircle overnight? No need! “She was already off-book,” says her sister, Felicity Blunt ... “If I’m thinking.
Burton and Coleman were in several productions together — “Ragtime,” “CaucasianChalkCircle,” “LMNOP” — and lived with two other classmates in what Coleman remembers as “the party house ... 31 through Feb ... .
