Quote

Tragedy is the greatest art form of all. It gives us the courage to continue with our life by exposing us to the pain of life. It is unsentimental, it takes us seriously as human beings, it is not condescending. Paradoxically, by seeing pain we are made greater, it becomes a need.

Howard Barker

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Howard Barker
Age: 78
Born: 1946
Born: June 28
Author
Librettist
Playwright
Poet
Theatrical Director
Cambrewelle
Life
Art
Courage
Unsentimental
Form
Gives
Paradoxically
Human
Becomes
Condescending
Humans
Greatest
Exposing
Need
Takes
Seriously
Giving
Seeing
Tragedy
Needs
Greater
Continue
Made
Pain
Beings

More quotes by Howard Barker

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I'm not interested in observed reality.
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A good play puts the audience through a certain ordeal.
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I’ve often taken important classical, biblical or literary stories and interrogated them. I have tried to reinvigorate Lot by interpreting it differently.
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I'm not interested in entertainment.
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When I write, I am not giving a lecture, I am speculating on behavior. Sometimes this is dangerous, but it should be. As I say often, theatre is a dark place and we should keep the light out of it.
Howard Barker
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I believe in poetic discourse, in the value of speech in a non-naturalistic way it's speculative.
Howard Barker
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I have plenty of political views and plenty of social and personal prejudices. I do not, however, value them.
Howard Barker
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I submit all my plays to the National Theatre for rejection. To assure myself I am seeing clearly.
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Theatre should be a taxing experience: the greatest achievement of a writer is to produce a character who creates anxiety.
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We are suffocated by writers who want to enlighten us with their truths. For me, the theatre is beautiful because it is a secret, and secrets seduce us, we all want to share secrets.
Howard Barker