Abstract
In developing the dramatic structure for his epic theatre and its performance techniques, Bertolt Brecht adapted Karl Marx’s theories on alienation and the dialectic. Subsequently, this changed both the way theatre was presented and the manner in which the audience received it. Brecht’s epic theatre promoted social change at the political level in pre World War II Germany. In the following Master’s thesis, I present a contemporary application of alienation and the dialectic that is intended to increase social tolerance and awareness of people who have intersex. I provide a comparative analysis of my adaptation of Brecht’s conventions and argue their ability to alter social belief systems. Moreover I explain alienation’s contemporary efficacy in a discussion of the theoretical development of my play glory bi and its CSUS production. Through an analysis of the contemporary articulation of Brechtian techniques I explain the ability to use empathy and alienation together to create greater tolerance for marginalized populations, specifically, those with intersex.