Stage Space (4 th Wall)

1. Backstage Stage Stage Space (4th Wall) Audience Space Audience Seating Audience Seating Audience Seating Audience Seating Stage Proscenium: Spectators watch action through a picture frame Arena: Stage surrounded by audience Thrust: Stage projects into audience space – audience on 3 sides Audience Seating Audience Seating Space in the modern theatre…

2. Columned Arches: proskenium Stage house: Skene Playing space: Orchestra Audience space: Theatron Greek Theatre

3. Other terms to know! Remember!!! Much of what we know about the Greeks is an ‘educated guess’!!! Greek Theatre

4. Other terms to know! Paraskenia: long, high walls that extended on either side of and parallel with the skene Eccyclema: A wheeled platform used in a variety of ways – revelation of dead bodies Periaktoi: (4th c. B.C.) tall, 3-sided forms that rotated on a central pivot – most likely each side painted to fit a different ‘scene’ Pinakes: Painted panels much like modern flats Greek Theatre

5. Scene house: Scaenae fons Audience Space: Cavea Roman Theatre

6. Other terms to know! Velum: An awning that covered the seating area in some theatres Periaktoi: Still in use but now painted three ways: comic, tragic, & satiric Auleum: A front curtain was lowered into a slot or trough in the floor Siparium: A curtain hung at the back of the stage – much like a backdrop Evidence points to complex scenery such as traps and moving pieces that filled the spectacles of ancient Rome! Roman Theatre

7. Church dramas & traveling stages… All follow the conventions of the church Small buildings (mansions) depict locations Development of special effects (secrets) Pageant wagons Medieval Theatre

8. Mansion Platea Heaven Hell Medieval Theatre

9. Theatres patterned after classical models… Theatre moves indoors! Interest in scenic design Key characteristics: Raked stage Use of forced perspective Stock sets Painted drops Lit by candlelight Blame Vitruvius… he’s the one who wrote about the classics! Teatro Olympico in Vicenza, Italy 1500-1650 Theatre

10. The Renaissance in England… Shakespeare’s theatre – The Globe Partial covering for the audience and players Thrust configuration Very little scenery Some use of props 1500-1650 Theatre

11. Inner above Inner below Gallery Pit Stage

12. Lighting in the Renaissance Candle-lit chandeliers over stage and auditorium Early 1600s – addition of reflectors Introduction of footlights Vertical rows of lamps hidden in the wings 1500-1650 Theatre

13. Spread of interest in the spectacle Standardization of stage designs / architecture Apron performance space Painted perspective drops, wings, & borders Interior sets Multi-tiered boxes: Nobility Galleries: Wealthy Pit: Everyone else The Restoration Stage 1650-1900 Theatre

14. The influence of Kabuki Kabuki emerges in 1603 Originally performed outdoors Moves indoors in 1724 Stage technology advances: Elevator traps Elevator stages Revolving stages Concentric revolving stages 1650-1900 Theatre

15. 1783 – Argang oil lamp • 1792 – Beginning of gas lighting (William Murdoch) Brighter & cleaner than oil/candles Intensity was easily controlled Flexible distribution systems • 1816 – Limelight (Thomas Drummond) The 1st spotlight • 1st electric light = carbon arc • By 1860 – Paris Opera House had a projector, a followspot, and some lighting effects (all carbon arc) • 1879 – Thomas Edison & the incandescent lamp • By 1900 – Theatres convert to electric light Lighting in the Restoration 1650-1900 Theatre

16. A change in the world… With the emergence of realism comes a new style of theatre Sets become environments for drama – not backgrounds! The apron shrinks… Stage space becomes more confined… Audience space only faces the stage… Movements form and dissolve quickly Shift to ‘found spaces’ for performances 20th century Theatre

17. Technological innovations… Refinements to the incandescent light Development of various lighting fixtures / instruments Introduction of dimmers in the late 1940s Digital controls introduced in the 1980s Recorded sound introduced in the 1930s / 1940s Computers and technology invade the theatres in early 1980s 20th century Theatre