The InvestigationRoyal Dramatic Theatre, Main Stage/Radioteatern, 1966 The German-born playwright Peter Weiss came to Sweden before World War II. In the politicized 1960s, after a career as an avant-garde painter and author, Weiss gained a reputation as a radical and innovative playwright. He is said to be influenced the theatre in the same way as Francis Bacon influenced painting."Of everything I have seen in theatre, nothing has shaken me as much as this performance". - Bengt Jahnsson, Dagens Nyheter |
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The play caused considerable debate when it was produced on several stages in Europe.
Bergman's interest in the play was more existential: he had the stage designer Gunilla Palmstierna-Weiss construct a wooden wall behind the performers that provided not exit.
Peter Weiss recommended that the lights should be left on in the house during the entire performance. Bergman followed the instructions, the lights were only turned off when the trial/performance ended, leaving the audience seated in total darkness. The effect of the contrast between stage and auditorium though remained small while Bergman choose to put extra light on the stage.
Birgitta Steene, Ingmar Bergman: A Reference Guide (Amsterdam University Press, 2005)
Henrik Sjögren, Ingmar Bergman på teatern (Almqvist & Wiksell, 1968).