The Dawn Of Theatre

1. The Dawn Of Theatre

2. Audiences • There audiences were to be just the middle class people except if you were performing for the king then it was considered high class

3. Dawn of theatre {ancient theatre} • The dawn of theatre is divided into three > The Primitive People > The Egyptian Theatre > The Hebrew Theatre The primitive period had No definite theatre or auditorium. This era was filled with lots of shamanism, rituals, dances and a lot of fireside storytelling and they had a SHAMAN who served as a representative of their god. Their dances are done to express the rhythm of life and to pacify the spirits in which they believed.

4. The Egyptian theatre • Theatre was set to have started between 2000-3000 B.C. • Plays were sometimes written in HIEROGLYPHICS, and the plays were said to have been inspired by the plays on the pyramid walls. However, many were simply ceremonies past from generation to generation such as rites of passage, war dances, etc. • Plays were often written for important events such as coronations, so basically the audience was the whole community. The earliest form of dramatic production comes from the river Nile, made for IKHERNOFRET. • First recorded play “Passion” around 2000 B.C.

5. Hebrew theatre • The Hebrew theatre can be linked to: >The old Testament >The book of JOB >The songs of Solomon One of the modern plays was written by Archibald MacLeish based on the Book of Job. During this period the bible serves as a raw material for actions and characters. The Hebrew theatre are closely linked with Jewish national renaissance movement of the twentieth century.

6. Greek and Roman Theater Roman is better!!!!

7. Greek • History • Ancient Greek civilization flourished during the 8th to 6th centuries BC to 146 BC. • Alexander the Great was one of last rulers of Greek until it was taken control by the Romans after his deaths. • Many problems raised like who gets the power of the empire which made Greek Empire corrupted. • Many celebrations were thrown for Dionysus, the patron God of the Arts.

8. Famous Plays • AESCHYLUS -The Persians (472 BC) • Euripides- Rhesus, Medea, Herecles, Alcestis (450 BC) • Sophocles-Ajax, Oedipus, Antigone (440 BC) • Aristophanes-The Frogs,The Birds (414 BC) • Actors were the play writers.

9. Thespis • Thespis was the first man to win a documented competition in theatre. • All Actors, or “Thespians”, are named after him

10. Theaters • Proscenium Stage • The plan of Greek theater has three major parts: the Orchestra, the Scene and the main theatre, called Koilon. • The Greek theaters were performed with many types of plays like comedy, satiric drama, and tragedy.

12. Audience/Theme • The audience of the Greek times were very respectful to the actors and writers at the time. • In Greek Theater, the main themes were comedy and tragedy. Many plays had the Greek gods in the story.

13. Costuming • In Greek Theater, the costume was a very important factor of the production, because they could determine the characters by gender or class. For example the color of a chiton would determine rank. • Actors started to use masks so it can create a effect of personality. Few believe that the mask added resonance to the voice of an actor so that everyone in the huge ancient theater could hear him. It was also used to express emotion.

14. Roman • History • After the fall of the Greek empire through 396-264BC, the Roman Empire took full control. • The Roman empire was split into two. The West Roman and East Roman. • The Western Roman fell very easily while the Eastern Roman flourished.

15. Famous Plays • Plautus-comedies • Rudens • Persa • Cansina • Braggart Warrior • The Casket and Pot of Gold • Terence-comedies • The Brother • The Mother-In-Law • Self-Tormentor • Most of the plays Found in Rome were copied or Stolen from the Greeks.

16. Famous Plays Con’t • Seneca-tragedies -The Trojan Women -Medea -Oedipus -Phaedra -Hercules on Oeta

17. Theaters • Mainly Proscenium stages and also arena stages as well. Many participants in the arena Coliseum were mainly criminals • The Theaters and stages were very similar to the Greek theater. • The main difference was the theaters started to be for Roman. • mainly entertainment Mainly men performed in most theatrical shows, but women could perform in pantomime shows. The most famous actor was Robert Gallus, Quintus who eventually had his face put on the currency coins for his achievements in acting • Music was involved in these plays. Many of the music were played on wind instruments. (Pipes, cornus, flutes, etc.)

18. Costuming • Masks were used to show expressions and emotions to the audience. • High silk cloths (Toga) were worn which were very expensive at their time. • Greeks wore chitons • While performing, Roman actors wore different colors on their robes to represent the role that actor was playing. Wearing a purple robe meant acting as a young man. Wearing a yellow robe meant acting as a young women. Wearing a yellow tassel meant acting as a god.

19. Roman vs. Greek • The Romans where more interested in comedy plays and however many found tragedies to be boring and too depressing for the stage. • When comparing and contrasting ancient Roman theatre to that of Greek theatre it can easily be said that Roman theatre was less influenced by religion. Also, Roman theatre was more for aesthetic appeal. In Roman theatre, war was a more common thing to appear on stage as opposed to the Greek theatre where the plays were mimed and repetitive. • The Romans loved war and many of their plays involved violence. On the other hand, the Greeks focused on Comedies and Tragedies.

20. Language • Most of the plays were written in Latin.

21. Chinese, Japanese, and Hindu

22. Chinese Theatre • Goes back to 722 BC. • They would have lavish festivals • Actors were known as “children of the pear garden” • There were 2,890 plays written during the Sung Dynasty • Only males were allowed to perform • They were called Shan • Costumes were elaborate and filtered into the dramatic spectacle. • They used few props to leave more room for dancing. • A famous play was “The Fisherman’s Revenge.” • One of the oldest forms of Chinese drama was Kunqu. • It was performed at regular theater, birthday parties, harvest festivals, and deitie’s birthdays. • In China, acting was requested as a life study. • One of the elements they used to tell a story was an interpretative dance. • The symbols that they used: 1.) White paper falling from an umbrella means snow.2.)An actor carrying a flag means army. • The language they performed in is the Chinese language.

23. Japanese • Started in the 12 and 13 century • The expression “noh” meant talent • The five types of plays were “god, fighting, wig, madwomen, final or demon.” • Kyogen were performed between plays. • In the Noh plays they used masks in the Kyogen Theatre they did not. • It derived from religious ceremony, now used for entertainment and to keep the culture alive. • Zeami was a famous playwright who wrote the famous play Matsukaze • Performed mainly by men. • Three main types; Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku. • The Kabuki Theatre was based on the Noh Theatre but they wanted to make it more real and shock the audience. • Kabuki means the art of song and dance. • Mostly done for entertainment, but also religious. • Bunraku used puppets instead of actors. • They used wooden puppets, most of them had three puppeteers. • Chimkamatu Monzaemon wrote, “ Sonezaki Shinju.” • Many plays played around with the idea of loyalty over personal feelings. • The language they used to perform is the Japanese language. • Costumes: As costumes they wore robes such as a Karaori, or a Surihaku. Men would wear something lika an Atsuita under a robe, normally a Kimono.

24. Hindu • The Hindu theatre began 1500 B.C but real theatre did not emerge until the 5th century B.C. • Kalidasa was best known for Plays • Sanskrit drama and poetry were among the Gupta empire’s artistic achievements • The 8 main rasas were love, heroism, loathing, anger, laughter, terror, pity and wonder. • Hindu theatre was expressed by singing, dancing, and poetry • India and Hindu theatre is one of the few countries which can boast of an indigenous drama, unaffected by any foreign influence. • Sanskrit is a literary language used and understood only by aristocrats. • The green room is where actors change and relax before and after performances.

25. Medieval Theatre

26. History • 480 A.D.- 1300 A.D. • The middle ages sprang into being wholly influenced by the drama of the Greeks • Medieval theatre involved many church plays such as, Mystery plays, Miracle plays, and Morality plays • The medieval theatre mainly revolved around religion

27. Plays • Morality plays would instruct man in what they should do. The great focus in these plays were death • Miracle plays widened its religious horizons and focused on religion outside the bible • Mystery plays were a joined effort by the community in which different guilds where assigned a portion of the Bible to act out

28. Languages • The main language of medieval times were old English some other people spoke Latin, Hebrew, Aramaic, Old Occitan, Greek, Arabic, Cornish, and welsh.

29. Playwriting • Clergy wrote the four-line playlets • Later the dialogue was expanded • As it became more elaborate, more playwrights were recruited • This opened the door for professional playwrights • Famous play wrights included Hrosvitha, Hildegard, The Wakefield Master ( his real name was unknown), John Bale, and Adam de la Halle

30. Acting and Rehearsing • Rehearsals took place over months • Held between dawn and beginning of the work day • Actors were fined for lateness, not knowing lines or being drunk • Multiple playlets were rehearsed at the same time

31. Actors • Some received fees • At first it was to reimburse the actors • Late 1600’s began to see professional actors • Very few women performed in medieval plays • Only exceptions were for female Saints • There were two reasons: male hierarchy and trained choir boys had better projection

32. Staging • Were performed on fixed or movable stages • The fixed stage was usually against buildings on one side of town square, or in an amphitheatre • The movable stages were wagons • Usually broken into three parts from left to right Hell, Earth, and Heaven • Nothing was depicted in its entirety. Very little illusion of a real place. • All stage production was temporary and expected to be removed upon the completion of the performances.

33. Street Pageants • When dignitaries would come to town they would set up stages all along the street • Clerks and children would then address them with songs and speeches • This provided a sense of civic pride

34. The Audience • Spectators came from surrounding towns and countryside – all classes came • Posters were put up on city gates and invitations were sent out to neighboring towns • A trumpeter rode through town announcing the events • Work was forbidden during performance time • Most were free, however in some of Europe there was a fee

35. Costumes and Props • Two types of garments: ecclesiastical robes and everyday clothes • Accessories such as wings were added • Props were used to identify characters i.e. sword, mirror, snakes etc..) • Heaven reps dressed to awe • Hell reps dressed to scare • Common humans dressed according to rank • Great detail went into designing the devil • Musical instruments included, the celtic harp, lute, and the rebec.

36. Festival Theatre • The church still had to approve • Between 1350-1500 Medieval theatre flourished • Clergy began to reduce its participation • Towns began to finance and produce the festivals • Producers oversaw everything, they got choirs, nobles loaned costumes, meals were prepared and lodging was provided. Laborers built the staging. Basically the whole community helped

37. Background • After the fall of Rome, and before the renaissance, the time is called Middle Ages. • A very active time as cathedrals were built, the crusades occurred, and kingdoms were divided and conquered • The foundations for modern languages were laid during this time

38. Background continued • The Church was extremely opposed to any other type of theatre due to the mimes. They still did exist though. • The Church developed its own dramatic ceremonies to combat the appeal of pagan rights • Pagans believed in multiple gods. (i.e.. The Ancient Greeks)

39. The York Cycle • Actors would get in costume and hop on wagons • Crowds were gather in the streets to watch them pass • The wagons would often have two levels to portray heaven and hell

40. MEDIEVAL THEATER • The middle ages was considered as the Dark Age for the lost in the arts or trading of ideas. • There are 3 types of medieval plays morality, miracle, mystery plays. • All of the plays consisted of spiritual enactments. HEAVEN AND HELL WERE IN ALL PLAYS AND EVERY PLAY!!!!!!!

41. Medieval Theatre: Costuming/Stages Hair was always covered Garments were worn tight to give skinny yet elegant waist line. Plays were usually performed outside Plays were played in cycles and were also acted out on the courtyards of churches and also played on traveling pageant wagons. No women were allowed to be part of these religious reenactments.

42. The Renaissance • The Renaissance which is French for rebirth, took place from 1454 to the 1600s, and spread across several European countries. There were eight major countries that experienced the Renaissance. Due to many ideas and philosophies, the culture of the countries of France, Spain and Italy became more secularized.

43. Theatre/Stages • People began to use wings and canvas. The Italian began to use perspective with the illusion of depth, by angling scenery as well as theaters. • Italy also began using the Chariot and Pole system to move scenery. • Sebastino Serlio-Set guidelines for theatres and design by designing stages fir for three types of plays- tragedy, comedy, and dramatic. • One of the most famous theater was the Teatro Farnese. It was the first theatre built with a permanent proscenium arch.

44. Playwrights • Many famous playwrights emerged during this time. These were some of the most famous; Moliere-French, Lope de Vega-Spanish, Lope de Rueda and Pierre Corneille. • The main writers merged from Italian playwrights. Most other writers were inspired from Italian writers.

45. Actor and actresses • The most famous actors and actresses were the following: Moliere ( a middle class man), Madeline Bejart (a middle class woman), Lope de Rueda (a middle class man), and Shakespeare.

46. Costumes • Costumes at this time were extremely extravagant. They contained a lot of puffs, slashes, and frills. • Mask worn in Commedia Dell’arte represented the character’s personality.

47. Themes • The themes of the plays were primarily love, comedy, and entertainment. Religious themes began to decline, in some of the European countries. • Spanish Theatre’s main themes were adventure, romance, chivalry. Actually many Spanish plays were based on religion and that was the main theme of their plays. • French plays used the Black death as a history theme

48. Commedia Dell’arte • It was a form of improvised comedy performed by professional actors who played the same characters every time. The comedy was conveyed through lazzi, or comedic interruptions in a play. There was no set script, but all the actors knew the plot, so entrances and exits were never missed. The actors made up the lines as they went along. Because of this, no 2 plays were the same. Moliere was the father of Commedia Dell’arte. • There was seven men and three women that performed in Commedia Dell’arte. • Italians biggest type of play • It is known an “Comedy of the Masks” in English.

49. Stock Characters • Are the professional actors of Commedia Dell’arte. The name is due to the fact that they typically play the same character for their whole career. They were established characters such as young lovers, neighborhood busybodies, sneaky villains, witty servants, and overprotective fathers that are immediately recognizable by the audience. The characters were identified by the masks they wore.

50. Gender Roles • For the first time in Europe theaters, female actors began to emerge, though it was still uncommon.