Gestus

Gestus, in Brechtian theatre, is a term describing a concrete physical action that reveals the social relations governing a scene. Derived from the Latin gestus “bearing, carriage,” the concept was developed by the German playwright Bertolt Brecht in the 1930s as part of his Epic Theatre project. A gestus is not simply a display of emotion but an observable sign of social function—an attitude, habit, or moment of conduct that communicates class position, economic status, or political stance.

In practice, gestus combines gesture, posture, vocal mannerisms, and spoken lines to stage the social meaning of an action. By isolating the social significance, it aims to prompt critical reflection in the audience rather than empathetic identification. The gestus can be a single telling action or a series of coordinated signs spread across a scene, sometimes reinforced by stage design, costuming, and deliberate timing.

Brechts technique uses gestus to reveal contradictions in social relations, often highlighting power imbalances or class conflict. For example, a worker's seemingly ordinary gesture may be shown to symbolize exploitation or solidarity, depending on context. The gestus works with the Verfremdungseffekt, or distancing effect, to prevent the audience from collapsing the scene into private emotion.

Scholarly discussion places gestus at the core of Brechtian dramaturgy, though interpretations vary. Critics note its practicality and its demand on actors and directors to balance clarity of social meaning with performance precision. Overall, gestus remains a central concept in discussions of epic theatre and its methods for encouraging critical viewing.