Woyzeck by Georg Büchner

Georg Büchner's short play is trailblazing in several ways. It foreshadows many literary and dramatic trends from 50-100 years after it was written, such as Naturalism, Social Realism and Existentialism. Its fragmentary or ‘open form’ structure lends it an ambiguity which can allow for varied and even contradictory interpretations. It has the first lower-class tragic hero in the western dramatic tradition. Sexuality and bodily functions are presented on the stage, although it is a serious, tragic drama, not a comedy. It is an eerie and haunting play that also includes biting social satire in a strange, explosive mix. Since its first performance nearly a century after its composition, it has become one of the most influential as well as most popular plays in the repertory in various countries.