Theatre Study

1. Drama 8 & 9 Theatre Study

2. What is theatre? • Derived from word “theatron,” Greek for “seeing-place,” the term that described the semicircular hillside where Greek performers would stage dramatic events. We still use the word “theatre” to describe both the structure where performances take place and the events that take place there.

3. “THE Theatre” • “that body of artistic work in which actors impersonate characters in a live (not filmed) performance of a scripted play.”

4. This definition needs 6 things: • 1. theatre is work • 2. theatre is artistic work • 3. In theatre, actors impersonate characters. • 4. theatre is performance • 5. theatre is live performance • 6. theatre involves a scripted play

5. 1. Work • An original play takes 1 year to produce • Average rehearsal time for a play = 8 weeks • Actors often spend 90 hour weeks before an opening • JOBS INCLUDE: acting, designing, building, running, producing, directing, playwriting, stage and house managing

6. 2. Artistic Work • Work mixed with emotions/yearnings • Eg. Creativity, imagination, elegance, power, harmony, etc.

7. 3. Impersonation • Impersonation is unique to theatre • It is also the single most important aspect of theatre, its foundation • Masks were first used to portray a character

8. 4. Performance • Definition = an action or series of actions taken for the ultimate benefit (attention, entertainment) of someone else (audience). • Indirect Performance = where the audience watched interactions that are taking place as if there is no audience

9. 5. Live performance • Different from T.V. and film • Live performers interact with a live audience • Audiences begin “to feel part of” what happens on stage • Live shows have a quality of immediacy – the place is happening “right now” and anything can happen

10. 6. Scripted Performance • It is a record of what was said and done in the performance • It changes as new things are tried during initial practices • First script is called “working script”

11. What is a PLAY? • Definition = an event, taking place in real time and occupying real space

12. Duration • The time a play takes to perform • “full length” – about 2-4 hours • “short play” – about 20 min – 60 min • “bill” – a number of plays put together in one performance

13. Genre • An informative way of classifying plays • Two classifications have dominated since ancient days • 1. tragedy – main character falls (dies) at end • 2. comedy – humorous play with an important theme

14. Other classes • 3) melodrama – a simple confrontation between good and evil • 4) farce – a wildly humorous play - uses elaborate misunderstanding (e.g. mistaken identity, chases, switched roles) • 5) musical – adds music and song to script

15. 6) history – e.g. some Shakespeare (Henry V) • 7) dark comedy – a comedy that ends tragically

16. Play structure • Components of a play • Plot – the development of the play’s action - a series of events 2. Characters – human figures who undertake the actions of the plot 3. Theme – the topic, central idea, or message

17. 4. Diction – pronunciation of spoken dialogue 5. Spectacle – visual aspects of productions: scenery, costumes, lighting, make-up, overall look of stage 6. Convention – agreement between audience and actors to include some common understanding (e.g.. The stage is the top of a mountain)

18. What is an actor? • Definition – a person who puts their body into a character

19. An actor’s instruments • Voice and speech – is so important to an actor, good vocal training programs take 3 years of schooling - “pronunciation” – appropriate to character - “phrasing” makes words meaningful and gives sounds patterns - “projection” – delivery of speech and voice to audience

20. 2. Imagination – actor uses to add to depth of their character 3. Movement – developed to created physical relaxation, muscular control, economy of action and expressive rhythms. - taught through mime

21. 4. Discipline – the large amount of work it takes to be an actor

22. The actor’s routine – 3 stages • Auditioning – “trying” out for a role • Rehearsing – the way an actor learns his lines • Performing – the way an actor produces his acting

23. What makes a good play? • Credibility – the audience demands that what happened in act II compares to what happened in act I 2. Intrigue – the quality of a play that makes us curious (“what happens next?”) - “surprise” is the essential element of intrigue

24. 3. Richness – characters have “depth” e.g. show many emotions 4. Gravity – importance of the play’s theme to the story and its impact on audience

25. Theatre Architecture – 4 basic types • The arena stage: -actors and audience enter from all four corners - the action is surrounded

26. B) The Thrust Stage: • Stage protrudes out into audience (on 3 sides) • Upward sloping rows of seats

27. The Proscenium Stage: • Most common • Audience sit as though looking into a large window

28. D) Black Box • “experimental” atmosphere • A simple space using a black background, few or no props • Lighting used to help scenes • No painted backdrop