Theater through the Theater through the agesages

How we got to todayHow we got to today

Beginning of TheatreBeginning of Theatre

Myth and ritualMyth and ritualNeed for food and explanations for Need for food and explanations for

the unexplained.the unexplained.Belief in magical or supernaturalBelief in magical or supernaturalConnections between their actions Connections between their actions

and the results.and the results.Shaman, sacred place, specific Shaman, sacred place, specific

movements or actions.movements or actions.

Egyptian TheatreEgyptian Theatre

Plays written called Pyramid Texts: 55 Plays written called Pyramid Texts: 55 were found in pyramids and tombs.were found in pyramids and tombs.

Coronation Festival: celebrating a Coronation Festival: celebrating a new Pharaoh.new Pharaoh.

Ritual DramasRitual Dramas I-Kher-nefert: the first stage director I-Kher-nefert: the first stage director

and actors mentioned in recorded and actors mentioned in recorded history. history.

The GreeksThe Greeks

Theater festival to honor the gods Theater festival to honor the gods especially Dionysus.especially Dionysus.

Multiple day events. Evolved from Multiple day events. Evolved from chanting dancers to plays.chanting dancers to plays.

Plays were written as contests. At Plays were written as contests. At first all were tragedies based on first all were tragedies based on legends or history. Later satyr plays legends or history. Later satyr plays (comedies) were added. All were (comedies) were added. All were written on a theme.written on a theme.

Orchestra or dancing place was the main acting area.

Skene was where the actors changed costumes and eventually became a place to hang scenery from.

Pro-skene was added in front as an additional acting area.

Parodos – entrance and exit.

The audience sat on stone seats on the hillsides. The Theatron.

Theatre of Dionysus

Staging of Greek DramaStaging of Greek DramaChorus was a strong part of the drama. They told the story.

Thespis was the first actor to step out of the chorus. Later two and then three actors were added.

Since the theaters were large and the audience a long distance away the Greeks employed the following “conventions” to further the story:

•Masks: depicting stock characters were worn by the lead actors. There were “megaphones” built in to the mouth area to help the sound carry.

•Elevated shoes that had tall platforms on the soles to make the actor taller and more visible.

•Tall headpieces helped define characters and make actors more visible.

•Heavy costumes with many layers of cloth.

•All of these things made it difficult for the actors to move. They had to walk and turn in geometric patterns.

Greeks did not use a great deal of scenery because…

Plays relied on long speeches that said more to the audience than to other actors.

Scenery developed slowly. Skene could be used to represent several different locales by placing pained panels between or in from of the columns.

Periaktoi or a three sided triangular piece that could be turned was developed and used to change the scene.

Eccyclema or wheeled platform was used to haul in “bodies” since the Greeks dictated that all violence must take place off-stage.

Deus ex machine (god from the machine) crane-like machine used to lower actors to the stage for “divine intervention”.

Playwrights:

Aeschylus wrote about gods.

Sophocles wrote about heroes

Euripedes wrote about men

Menander wrote comedies about daily life.

Medieval TheatreMedieval Theatre

Catholic Church became the center of Catholic Church became the center of all things.all things.

Ironic because it had caused the end Ironic because it had caused the end of theater in late Rome.of theater in late Rome.

Began using elements of drama as Began using elements of drama as additions to the celebration of the additions to the celebration of the Mass.Mass.

Made the liturgy easier for people to Made the liturgy easier for people to understand.understand.

TypesTypes

Tropes – first one may have been Tropes – first one may have been Quaem queritas Quaem queritas that tells the story of that tells the story of the three Marys finding the tomb the three Marys finding the tomb empty on Easter morning.empty on Easter morning.

Parts were played by priests and Parts were played by priests and deacons.deacons.

These worked so well that they set These worked so well that they set up more areas of the church for up more areas of the church for larger scenes. These areas were larger scenes. These areas were called called mansions.mansions.

1. Tomb

2. Joseph

3. Caiaphas

4. Hell mouth

5. Center back – Gallilee

6. Gethsemane

7. Pilate

8. Herod

9. Heaven

1

Mystery plays – stories from the BibleMystery plays – stories from the Bible Miracle plays – stories of SaintsMiracle plays – stories of Saints Morality plays – characters representing abstract Morality plays – characters representing abstract

values that taught right and wrong.values that taught right and wrong. Passion play – depicts scenes from the life of Passion play – depicts scenes from the life of

Christ.Christ. As these plays increased in popularity they As these plays increased in popularity they

moved out of churches into public squares.moved out of churches into public squares. Eventually moved to pageant wagons to travel Eventually moved to pageant wagons to travel

through the countryside.through the countryside. The church became disenchanted with the plays The church became disenchanted with the plays

partly because of the humorous depictions of partly because of the humorous depictions of Herod, Satan and other biblical villains and Herod, Satan and other biblical villains and disassociated itself from the productions. So disassociated itself from the productions. So once again it withdraws its support frpm theatre.once again it withdraws its support frpm theatre.

Renaissance TheaterRenaissance Theater

In Italy theater developed along two In Italy theater developed along two lines:lines:

1. 1. Commedia dell ’arte – Commedia dell ’arte – Theater for the masses performed Theater for the masses performed by traveling troupes including the first female performers. Each by traveling troupes including the first female performers. Each troupe consisted of 7 men and 3 women. Each performer had troupe consisted of 7 men and 3 women. Each performer had his or her own character. These were called his or her own character. These were called stockstock characters characters such as the clever servant, the foolish old man, the lovers, etc. such as the clever servant, the foolish old man, the lovers, etc.

The cast was given the scene and improvised the The cast was given the scene and improvised the dialogue and movement. dialogue and movement.

2. 2. Courtly dramaCourtly drama – for the nobility and wealthy families. – for the nobility and wealthy families. Done in ornate, private theaters. These became the first Done in ornate, private theaters. These became the first permanent indoor theatres. permanent indoor theatres. Theatro Farnese Theatro Farnese was the first of this was the first of this kind.kind.

There are no surviving scripts form this time period. Mainly There are no surviving scripts form this time period. Mainly because of the development of opera.because of the development of opera.

Elizabethan TheaterElizabethan Theater

Public theaters were developed from Public theaters were developed from the courtyard theaters of Medieval the courtyard theaters of Medieval times.times.

Theaters were for everyone. Acting Theaters were for everyone. Acting companies and playwrights were in it companies and playwrights were in it for the money.for the money.

The plays changed with the interests The plays changed with the interests of the audience.of the audience.

The BuildingThe Building•The first theater was called The Theater. After it

burned, The Globe and The Swan were built.

•Theatres were made of wood and burned easily so it was believed that many had totally

disappeared except for drawings made by visitors to London.

•In the late part of the last century they found the foundations to two theatres including the Globe.

•Globe was twenty-four sided. There were 3 galleries of seats surrounding the yard (later

known as the pit). The open area was where those who could only afford a penny stood. They were

called groundlings or penny stinkers.

The Globe continuedThe Globe continued The stage was raised at least five feet about the ground improving The stage was raised at least five feet about the ground improving

visibility and allowing for a trap door in the floor for special effects visibility and allowing for a trap door in the floor for special effects such as the appearance of ghosts. such as the appearance of ghosts.

Stage had its own roof sometimes called the Stage had its own roof sometimes called the heavens.heavens. A trap door A trap door in the ceiling allowed actors to be lowered to the stage.in the ceiling allowed actors to be lowered to the stage.

Inner stage had a closed off curtain for small scenes. A balcony Inner stage had a closed off curtain for small scenes. A balcony area above this was used for scenes as well. area above this was used for scenes as well.

Above that was a small hut where the machinery for lowering Above that was a small hut where the machinery for lowering actors was located and this is where sound effects were done. actors was located and this is where sound effects were done. Musicians may have sat here.Musicians may have sat here.

Above the hut was the turret for flying the flag on performance Above the hut was the turret for flying the flag on performance days. (extra credit if you find out which colors were used for days. (extra credit if you find out which colors were used for which types of plays)which types of plays)

Not much scenery was used to change of place was denoted by Not much scenery was used to change of place was denoted by the actors dialogue.the actors dialogue.

Costuming was not important – each actor dressed as they saw fit Costuming was not important – each actor dressed as they saw fit based on their character.based on their character.

No actresses in the Elizabethan theatre. Young men dressed up No actresses in the Elizabethan theatre. Young men dressed up as women to play female roles.as women to play female roles.