"The Caucasian Chalk Circle" is a play by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht, written in 1944 while he was in exile in the United States. First performed in English in 1948 at Carleton College, Minnesota, and later staged in German by the Berliner Ensemble in 1954, the play is a modern adaptation of an ancient Chinese tale. It tells the story of Grusha, a servant who rescues and raises an abandoned child during a political uprising. As she fights for custody against the child’s biological mother, the unconventional judge Azdak must determine who the true mother is. The play explores themes of justice, morality, and social responsibility, using Brecht’s signature epic theater techniques to encourage critical thinking.
