The Empty Space: A Book About the Theatre: Deadly, Holy, Rough, Immediate

Phenomenal book. Life and worldview changing. A must have for anyone in theatre, especially directors and actors. A great commentary on the state of modern theatre which holds just as true in the 2020s as it did in Brook’s time.

Be careful. This book could change your life. It changed mine. I read The Empty Space in 1974. I was so blown away by the ideas within this book, I quit my job, moved to a large metropolitan area, and ended up running a theater, directing plays in other theaters, then teaching theater for the next twenty years. What this book does is teach important lessons in creating and appreciating art. Upon rereading The Empty Space, I find some of the writing to be a bit pretentious, but on the whole, the lessons are solid. Whether exploring theater, literature, art, music, or any other creative endeavor, this books shows that experiencing an artistic event can and should be a transformative experience. What is particularly refreshing is it doesn't sugar-coat the arts. There is no formula or how-to instructions on creating good work. Risk is not only encouraged, it is necessary. Brook also shows how the arts can be manipulated to lull and pacify. The four essays/lectures on Deadly Theater, Holy Theater, Rough Theater, and Immediate Theater are as fresh to day as they were 40 years ago. Update - After 50 years, I reread this book. While the examples are somewhat outdated, and in retrospect - speaking as a 73 year old man rather than a 23 year old man, I can see how Brook has placed several qualifiers within the fabric of the text to offset his thoughts. It's a bit arrogant, and self-serving, and he tends to presume that audiences bear a curious responsibility to embrace what they are watching. Plus, he qualifies everything he writes with the phrase on page 140, saying, "this book is already moving out of date." He's right. The examples are dated, but so what? The essential truth comes through, as stated on page, 136. It's all about what remains. Beyond all the deadly, holy, rough, and immediate, what stays with you? For that, you are going to have to read The Empty Space.

A distinguished actor and director offers his beliefs about theatrical productions and the important role of theatre in our lived. Highly recommended if you are a "theatre junkie," as I am. Thoughtful discussion by someone who is immersed up to his neck in the processes about which he writes. Highly recommended

This is probably the third time I’ve read this book. The first time the ideals he strove for inspired me to consider a career in the Theatre. The second time Reality set in and those same ideals seemed like an impossibility and convinced me to follow other dreams. Reading it this time practically drove me to tears, when I compared Peter Brooks’ beautiful vision to the ridiculously pale imitation, nay, the infuriating contradiction, of every rule or principle for what his Theatre could mean for a Society, that Today’s Theatre has become. On page after page he laid out a blueprint for Playwrights, Designers, Actors, Directors, and Critics to bring the Power of Live Performance to light, with examples from his own work as well as other icons of the Ages. Sadly, so few have followed the path he blazed. The Empty Space is more than an important work by a Genius who devoted his Life to this Vision. It is the Bible for anyone who loves the possibility of reviving the Theatre for the 21st Century and beyond. Five Stars. *****

This is the most in depth study of the modern theatre by a genius director. His view of NYC theatre being deadly is, in my experience working off off B'way theater, is spot on. NYC theatre is dead and getting deader since all the young actors and directors are being trained by studios who are living in the past. NYC theatre is at the same dead level as it was in the 30s, 40s and 50s when The Theatre of the Absurd playwrights- Beckett, Genet, Pinter, Onesco, Albee and is described by Andre Gregory and Wally Shawn in their classic film My Dinner With Andre, that NYC theatre is controlled by a conspiracy of commercial interests based on money which keeps the audience bored and asleep because if you are asleep you can't say no!

The book is as dated as Brook now is. But he sure had some interesting ideas. If you're into theatrical philosophy, you will probably enjoy the book.

Peter Brook is great director and innovator in the theatre and in this book he discusses the ways he and others view the theatre in its different aspects and also as a lifestyle. Filled with wonderful antedotes and so much useful information you'll want to read it twice to make sure you get everything out of it. I highly recommend this to anyone serious about the theatre, both in performing or directing.

This is one of those must haves for THEATRE LOVERS! Interesting perspective and a unique book. Bought for one of my students majoring in theatre.