Theatre I

1. Theatre I You and the Theatre

2. How Did Drama Come Into Being? Drama is second only dance as the oldest of the humanities, which include... art literature music philosophy

3. What is the meaning of the word drama? It is a Greek word meaning “to do or to act.” Early humans imitated the significant events in their lives after those events took place-- Successful hunts earth quenching rains victorious battles

4. Who were the first actors? Humans would pantomime, dance, and chant about the ways they would like events to turn out. This acting out of wished-for-events was a form of dance known as the dance pre-done. Traditional tribal dances we see performed today are examples of the dance pre-done.

5. What are the four necessary components of drama? 1. Actors - someone to perform 2. Audience - someone to observe a performance 3. Place - a location to perform 4. Light - enough to see the performers

7. We really do not need a theatre building with permanent seating, or a stage, or special lighting equipment. an actor, Is theatre more than just a building? What we do need is... an audience with a little imagination, and a situation. A situation is a problem or challenge the character or characters must face.

8. Conflict - What is needed to present a successful situation? a struggle between two opposing forces. A character can struggle with himself/herself, other characters, or with a force (like love, hate, jealousy). Empathy - the emotional identification with someone or something outside oneself. It is a “feeling in” with the character, not just “feeling for” the character

9. What are the signs of good drama? • the audience enters into the world of the play • they accept it as real • they become involved in the actors’ struggles and they respond • the actor, in turn, is moved by the audiences response The result: a moving experience for both actor and audience

10. Can criticism be a good thing? Yes! A critique can be more positive than negative. An actor or technician who wishes to improve seeks positive criticism that will strengthen the theatrical product. Actors, directors, and technicians must learn what audiences like, accept, and reject because the audience is there to be pleased.

11. What can we do about Stage Fright? Most performers feel the nervous anticipation of going on stage to perform . A certain amount of stage fright is GOOD.

12. How Can We Control Stage Fright? 1. Be totally prepared. 2. Relax. Use some relaxation exercises. 3. Do not pace, run about, talk loudly, or anything else that will burn off the positive effects of adrenaline. Instead, concentrate on your performance.