History of Theatre Arts: Part 1

Theatre 101 History of Theatre Arts: Part 1

Drama • Greek word meaning “to do” or “to act” • Born out of the dance ceremonies of primitive people before Greek civilization

Egyptian Theatre • Ritualistic rites = our idea of a play • 3000 B.C. • Egyptian people were concerned about life after death, which was illustrated in their dramas • Plays were written for important events (coronation of a new pharaoh)

Hebrew Theatre • No substantial evidence of definite theatre in Judea. • Biblical literature has theatrical elements: • Job= 5 act play with prologue and epilogue • Song of Solomon= chanting/ poetic dialogue

Greek Theatre • Unsurpassed legacy of theatre • The Classic (Golden Age) of Greece brought the greatest tragedies of all time • 500-400 B.C. • Religious homage to Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility • Ritual dancing and singing developed tragedy (tragos- “goat song”) • Greek Festivals lasted for days

Greek Theatre • Comedies komosmeaning “a band of revelers” and tragedies took place during festival • Plays were performed outdoors • Sloping hill – amphitheatre • Held up to 20,000 people • Far away from audience: • Rhetorical • Platform shoes • Masks • Megaphones

Greek Theatre • Costumes • Mantels • Simple staging – scenery painted on boards • Greek tragedies were based on ancient myths (well known to audience) • Modeled many elements of Aristotle • Playwriting contests

Greek Playwrights • First tragedian to win prize: Thespis • First to add a leader to the “chorus” • Leader became first Greek actor • Thespian- another word for actor • Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.) • Father of Tragedy • Greatest tragic poet of all time • Invented the trilogy and added a second actor to the plays • Character : Prometheus

Greek Playwrights • Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) • Great writer of tragedies • Handsome, well-educated, multi-talented • Wrote more than 100 scripts and won 18 festivals • Electra, Oedipus Rex, and Antigone

Greek Playwrights • Euripides (480-406 B.C.) • Boxing and painting • Retired to a cave overlooking the sea • Unorthodox thinker who questioned religious ideas • First to humanize drama by appealing to the emotions • Medea

Greek Comedies • Aristophanes (448-380 B.C.) • The finest comic writer of ancient Greece • Satire • Wrote about public life • The Birds, the Frogs, and the Clouds • Menander (342-291 B.C.) • Wrote about domestic or private life • In 1957 his complete work The Curmudgeon was discovered.

Greek to Roman • Caesar’s armies marched over the land  Greek drama begin to deteriorate. • Romans established their theatre from the seeds of Greek drama.

Roman Theatre • Began with crude, native drama… • Replaced with adaptations and translations of Greek plays. • Aristocracy frowned upon theatre • Audiences were lower class • Scoffed intellectuals and artists; demanded spectacle and vulgarity • Greek theatre became decadent & hollow

Roman Theatre • Playhouses were portable wooden platforms • 61B.C.: Pompey built auditorium • Caesar ordered playhouse to be built • The Romans were first to use a front curtain • 2 Roman playwrights to note: • Seneca (4BC-65AD): gory dramatist who wrote closet drama • Plautus (254-184 BC): plays influenced Shakespeare and others

Roman Theatre • Production of plays were soon overshadowed by spectacles: • Gladiatorial contests • Killing of Christians and slaves • When Rome fell, the Christian church banned all theatrical activity

Chinese Theatre • 2000 BC • Interpretative dance • Dance that tells a story • Religious rituals • Eventually a school for actors was founded- Ming Huang • Drama was highly formal • Ancestor worship, military glory, and faithfulness to a husband

Chinese Theatre • When Mongols invaded drama changed • Demanded action, acrobatic stunts, songs and dances • These dramas came to be known as “traditional theatre” • Most acting is done by men • Acting is regarded as a life study • Graceful movements • Symbolic props

Japanese Theatre- Noh • Based on ritualistic dance of Shinto religion • Noh plays appeared in the 14th century • Written in a formal, classical language • Meant for aristocrats • Short, serious, philosophical studies combined with poetry, dance and music • Scenery in Noh consists of one tapestry hung on back wall

Japanese Theatre- Bunraku • 17th century • Doll Theatre • Wooden marionettes • Elaborately costumed

Japanese Theatre- Kabuki • Japanese drama of the common man • Incorporates song and dance • More melodramatic and sensational than Noh drama • Actors enter from flowerway • Ramp that extends through audience • Colorful, extravagant • Acting skill is all-important

Hindu Theatre • 1500 B.C. • Dialogue was used in religious hymns • Brahma invented theatre • Plays were composed in high class language • Scenery was a decorated wall with doors leading to the greenroom • Hindu theatre is very intimate, delicate and retrained • First to permit women to act on stage

History of Theatre Arts: Part 1