1 / 7

The Origins of Theatre

The Origins of Theatre. Rituals Included theatrical elements. Ex: Weddings, funerals, sacrifices, harvest celebrations, etc. Storytelling: Included theatrical elements. Epic poems and  myths were performed by bards (travelling poets).

tal
Download Presentation

The Origins of Theatre

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Origins of Theatre

  2. Rituals Included theatrical elements. Ex: Weddings, funerals, sacrifices, harvest celebrations, etc. Storytelling: Included theatrical elements. Epic poems and  myths were performed by bards (travelling poets). Rituals and StorytellingPrimitive cultures had little understanding of natural causes.

  3. Egyptian (3000 BCE) • First to perform drama? Proof = hieroglyphics •  Five types of plays: •  Pyramid: Soul's journey to next world •  Coronation Dance: good fortune for new rule • Heb sed: 30 year reign celebration • Medicinal Play: brings magical healing • Abydos Passion Play: mock battle and funeral

  4. Other Early FormsHowever, no solid script or proof of dramatizations. • Indian Theatre (2000BCE) • Religious ritualism: hunting role-play and Hindu sacred text  Vedas recited as hymns (choral reading) • Chinese Theatre (1500BCE) • Shang Dynasty: entertainment with music, clowning and acrobatics • Han Dynasty: Shadow puppetry • Hebrew Theatre (300BCE) • Song of Solomon: poetic language • Book of Job: 5 act play

  5. Greek Theatre (500BCE) • Bards turned to traveling actors. • Priest and chorus became part of theatre  • Dithyramb Festival • honours the god Dionysus •  competition style in an arena theatre • tragedies versus comedies • Thespies: famous actor • limit chorus to 15 • added masks

  6. Roman (Italian) Theatre (500BCE) • Romans borrowed; like entertainment value • Added many new elements • Christianity block • Renaissance revival

  7. English (UK) Theatre (400ACE) • Medieval times: troupes and minstrels • Myster plays: plot push • Morality plays: religious influence • Licensing and business • Pop writers: • Christopher Marlowe • Shakespeare • Thomas Kyd • Ben Johnson • Theatre spaces

More Related