Erwin Piscator (1893-1966) was a German director, noted for his ingenious staging techniques and his influence on the development of epic and documentary theatre. A member of the German Communist Party from 1918, Piscator saw the theatre as a means of both explaining issues and influencing voters. Piscator's innovative productions made use of machinery, newsreels, film clips, photographs, and audio recordings to create an experience of total theatre. Following his arrest in 1931 for failing to pay entertainment tax, Piscator moved to the Soviet Union; in 1938 he moved to New York, where he remained until 1951. During his time in the USA, Piscator taught at the Dramatic Workshop, where he influenced such writers as Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams. After returning to West Germany in 1951, Piscator remained largely inactive until his appointment in 1962 as Artistic Director of the West Berlin Volksbühne.
