A Brief History of Theatre

Theatre History The first theatre was performed by Abu Unk, the caveman, who, unable to communicate verbally, used a form of dance to tell his fellow cavemen where the hunt was the best.

The first recorded theatre Egyptian theatre was the first, but the first that held influence was Greek theatre. The patron god of theatre is Dionysus who is also the god of wine. Theatre came from the Greek word theatron which mean seeing place. The first actor was Thespis this is the reason we call actors thespians.

Greek Theatre The reason we have masks as the symbol for theatre… The Greeks used them to denote emotion because the audience was too far away from the action, and couldn’t see facial expression. http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=pZ2iEm7zeX8

The Romans They added the curtain They were actually more interested in watching gladiators battle viscous animals and other men to the death, which is a kind of theatre, in which an actor only performs once… 

Flash forward to the glory days of theatre… Elizabethan times Performed in theatres referred to as “Wooden O”s. Famous theaters – The Rose, the Curtain, and the Globe. Famous playwrights of the time William Shakespeare – Hamlet Christopher Marlowe – Dr. Faustus Ben Johnson – The Alchemist http://video.answers.com/learn-about-william-shakespeare-and-the-globe-theatre-311409278

Across the pond…American Theatre Vaudeville, Follies and Melodrama Realism Absurdist Revolutionary American Tragedy Musicals Rock Opera

Vaudeville, Follies and Melodrama Variety shows Dancing girls Over exaggerated movements and expressions http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=sShMA85pv8M

Realism Acting and scenery (infact all technical elements) are all like real life, but dramatized. The first realistic playwright was Henrik Ibsen and his most famous play was “A Doll’s House”. http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=y3wyIqxc7gc

Absurdist The typical setting is nowhere Famous absurdists Jean Paul Sarte – “No Exit” Samuel Beckett – “Endgame”, “Waiting for Godot” Eugene Ionesco – “The Bald Soprano”, “The Lesson”, “The Chairs” Harold Pinter – “The Dumbwaiter” Edward Albee – “The Sandbox” http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=YfQUIy7TNIk

Revolutionary The most famous play from the period of revolutionary theatre that deals with the continuing cycle of racism is “The Dutchman”.

American Tragedy Famous American Tragedians Eugene O’Neill – “Long Day’s Journey into Night” Thorton Wilder – “Our Town” Tennessee Williams – “Glass Menagerie”, “Streetcar Named Desire”, “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” Arthur Miller – “Death of a Salesman” and “The Crucible” http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=S1A0p0F_iH8

Musicals Famous musical playwrights http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=GHAauiJwwmU Famous musical playwrights Rodgers and Hammerstien – “Oklahoma”, “The King and I”, “Carousel” Lerner and Lowe – “Brigadoon”, “My Fair Lady” Andrew Lloyd Webber – “Phantom of the Opera”, “Cats”, “Evita” Stephen Sondheim – “Into the Woods”, “Gypsy”, “Sweeny Todd”

Rock Opera Hair Rent Tommy Jesus Christ Superstar Godspell Rocky Horror Picture Show http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?videoId=BkScM71Pngc

Theatre Superstition Never say Macbeth in a theatre. You should say “Break a leg” to wish an actor good luck. Never whistle on stage unless you want something to drop on your head. The difference between theatre and theater. -re – genre -er - building

The End