History of Theatre The High Points. First Known Play 3100 BC Memphis, Egypt Presented in honor of...
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Transcript of History of Theatre The High Points. First Known Play 3100 BC Memphis, Egypt Presented in honor of...
Ancient GreeksAncient Greeks6th century BC: festivals honoring
Dionysus, god of fertility, started doing plays
Tragedies
Compensated for Distance Compensated for Distance withwith
1. Padded Clothing2. Big masks with built in megaphones3. Platform shoes
Major PlaywrightsMajor PlaywrightsAeschylus (525-456 B.C.)Sophocles (496-c. 406 B.C.)Euripides (c. 485-406 B.C.)Aristophanes (c. 448-385 B.C.)
Roman TheatreRoman TheatreTwo major influences on Roman
theatre:
1.Greek Drama
2.Etruscan influences – emphasized circus-like elements
Characteristics of Roman Characteristics of Roman TheatreTheatre
Short improvised farcesStock charactersSimilar costumes and masksBased on domestic life or mythology
Commedia dell’arteCommedia dell’arteGypsies went around countryside on
wagonsWould perform stereotyped characters
Medieval TheatreMedieval TheatreAfter the fall of Rome the 600’s A.D.,
came a period known to us as the "dark ages."
Much political turmoil – no reliable political structure
Church OppositionChurch Opposition
1. Association with pagan gods
2. Licentiousness (decadence)
3. Ridicule of church by mimes (sacrament and baptism)
The ChurchThe ChurchOnly stable "government" Exerted increasing influence. Ended theatre because it was so vulgarPersecuted performers (508 A.D.)
Church started theatre againChurch started theatre again
925 and 975Drama re-introduced into the church
services
Church started theatre againChurch started theatre again
Explained Bible storiesAt first, the church had control of the
drama, but then it gradually became more controlled by secular groups.
The Guilds The Guilds (tradesmen or Confraternities(tradesmen or Confraternities) )
took over in some citiesbased in some way on the Bible or
religious teachings. Did plays on wagons (like floats) that
went through
GuildsGuilds
the Bakers’ Guild would control the play about the Last Supper
Shipwrights’ Guild would get plays about Noah
Two Types of Plays PopularTwo Types of Plays PopularMystery or Miracle Plays (Bible
stories)Morality plays (secular, characters
represented human or moral attributes) Everyman
Commedia del ArteCommedia del Arte“Comedy of Artists”
(professionals)Popular from 14th to 16th centuryType of improvisational theatreStock charactersPantomime
Elizabethan TheatreElizabethan Theatre Theatre had a bad
reputationCity Leaders in London
(Puritans) didn’t allow plays within the city limits
Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandQueen Elizabeth liked playsBefore 1576, no formal theatre buildings
Public Theatre BuildingsPublic Theatre BuildingsThe Theatre (1576) built
by James Burbage (built outside city)
Other famous theatres: The Rose, Swan, Hope
Most Famous: Globe Theatre (1599-1644)
Private TheatresPrivate Theatres
Blackfriars 1576Indoor performancesLit by CandlelightSmallWealthier audience
Shakespeare’s Theatre Shakespeare’s Theatre
Men played women Worked in a troupeShakespeare: actor, writer,
director, producer
Famous Elizabethan Famous Elizabethan PlaywrightsPlaywrights
William ShakespeareBen JonsonChristopher Marlowe
MasquesMasques
Spectacular productions, scenery, costumePurpose was to honor the nobles by
comparing them to mythical characters
Puritan EnglandPuritan England
Banned plays for 18 years (until 1660)Closed theatres because of religion (moral
reasons)Plague may have been a reason
Two types of theatresTwo types of theatres
Public theatre (like Elizabethan England)
New Proscenium stage (like in Italy for operas): elaborate scenery
Proscenium stage created a new job: Stagehand
French Neoclassical TheatreFrench Neoclassical Theatre17th CenturyBuilt inside other existing buildingsAudience usually sat in balconiesActresses wouldn’t play anyone ugly or
old
Comedie-FrancaiseComedie-Francaise
French Academy1673Neoclassic plays (revival of the ancient
classics)French comedy at its bestItalian opera very popular
English RestorationEnglish Restoration
Didn’t want to be outdone by the FrenchStarted theatre again: 1660Comedy of Manners (Set among wealthy
and sophisticated.)
English Restoration TheatreEnglish Restoration TheatrePlays were more explicit
comedies Women started acting
Famous English Restoration Famous English Restoration PerformersPerformers
Nell Gwyn (first actress)Elizabeth BarryThomas Betterton
Musical TheatreMusical TheatreOpera (Classical, usually foreign language)Operetta: 1728 (Easier to understand,
more modern, popular music)(Musical theatre didn’t start until after
WWI in America)