Remarks concerning the theatre

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Lenz significantly influenced modern theatre through his aesthetic and dramaturgical writings, tackling issues like the relevance of Aristotelian poetics, which were still strictly followed by German and French dramatists. He sought to redefine the relationship between stage and society, inspired by the towering figure of William Shakespeare. His "Remarks Concerning the Theatre" (1774), claimed to have been written as early as 1771, serves as his primary manifesto for theatrical reform and reflects the enthusiasm for Shakespeare that emerged in late 18th-century Germany. This work is comparable to those of contemporaries like Goethe and Herder, especially Herder’s "Von deutscher Art und Kunst" (1773). Despite its significance, Lenz’s text has remained largely inaccessible to English-speaking audiences, with only a brief French version by René Girard published in 1957. The current text provides the first complete English translation of this pivotal work, aimed at scholars and general readers interested in dramatic theory and German theatre history. The translation is based on the Weygand edition (Leipzig 1774) and retains the characteristics of spoken discourse, reflecting Lenz’s passionate, rhapsodic rhetorical style. While some editing is necessary for clarity, efforts are made to preserve the original's intensity.