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Japanese Theatre
Theatre History
Japanese Theatre-Noh Plays
• Based on ritual• Much like the Chinese theatre in content and
form• Short• Serious• Philosophical• Used poetry and dance
Japanese Theatre-Noh Plays
• Formal, classic language• Meant only for the aristocrats• Still done today • Remarkably unchanged
Japanese Theatre-Noh Plays
• Dance style:Used a series of sedate posturesEach movement meant something
specificEven small hand or finger movements
were important
Japanese Theatre-Stage
• Specific stage size: - 18’ x 18’ square - audience on three sides - performed outside originally - roof like a Shinto shrine
- floor supported by 4 pillars - floor is highly polished lacquer
Japanese Theatre-Stage
-large hollow jars for support to create a unique sound on stage - actors often thumped floor to get an effect
- entered from greenroom along a corridor
- each character bowed to audience - chorus of 6-8 - men only as actors
Japanese Theatre-scenery and costumes
• Scenery: • Usually a tapestry on back wall• A tree was always a part of the scene• Items suggested symbols/actions• Costumes: ornate• CHARACTERS:
• Major actors wore large wooden masks• 15 standard masks used in Noh theatre
gigaku Bugaku gyodo Noh masks
hannya mask. The person who wears this mask is supposed to play a jealous and evil woman who has turned into a demon
Ko-omote is another Noh theatre mask. This represents a young woman who is calm. The Ko-omote mask represents the traditional Heian beauty featuring shaved eyebrows, blackened teeth, and neat hair.
Otoko masks are the masks that young men wear
The shikami masks are used as the demon masks.
chujo mask is another mask worn by a young male. These masks have very light skin and high eyebrows as well as black teeth,-considered beautiful
Japanese Theatre-Kyogn
• Comedic interlude to the Noh plays• Farcical• No music• 5 Noh plays and 3 Kyogen plays were given
Japanese Theatre-Kabuki
• Theatre for the common man• Song and dance used• Melodramatic• Subject matter: - heavy tension-filled tragedies - realistic suicides, murders, torture - love triangles - demons and grotesque dramas
Japanese Theatre-Kabuki
• Stage: - a large platform- but no pillars, roof, or bridge - entered from audience on a flowerway - stage had trapdoors
Characters/costumes: - lavish costumes
- characters wore huge wigs (up to 25 pounds)
Japanese Theatre-Bunraku
17th Century•Doll theatre•4 foot tall dolls as actors•Very realistic•Narrators told story•Puppeteers wore black- not seen as part of action
Banraku puppets
Japanese Theatre-
• Kabuki and Noh actors - acting skill all important - men who were good at impersonating
women - few women still involved in this art form - passed along family lines- lifelong passion
Japanese Theatre-
• Websites:
• http://www.micheleyounglive.com/costumes.htm
• Next- Chinese Theatre
