History of Theatre The High Points
First Known Play 3100 BC Memphis, Egypt Presented in honor of dead kings
Pyramid Plays Dealt with death, dismemberment, and reassembling by Osiris
Ancient Greeks 6 th century BC: festivals honoring Dionysus, god of fertility, started doing plays Tragedies
Performed in large outdoor amphitheatre
Theatres Festival of Athens turned into a drama competition Outdoors
Compensated for Distance with 1. Padded Clothing 2. Big masks with built in megaphones 3. Platform shoes
Thespis First actor Invented dialogue Actors today are called “thespians”
Major Playwrights Aeschylus ( B.C.) Sophocles (496-c. 406 B.C.) Euripides (c B.C.) Aristophanes (c B.C.)
Aeschylus “Father of Tragedy” Added 2 nd actor Oresteia (trilogy)
Sophocles Greatest Greek playwright Added 3 rd actor Oedipus Rex Antigone
Euripides More concerned with human interest than religious views Medea
Aristophanes Started Greek comedy Mocked leaders and gods Lysistrata
Roman Theatre Two major influences on Roman theatre: 1. Greek Drama 2. Etruscan influences – emphasized circus-like elements
Characteristics of Roman Theatre Short improvised farces Stock characters Similar costumes and masks Based on domestic life or mythology
Roman Theatre May have influenced commedia dell ‘Arte
Commedia dell’arte Gypsies went around countryside on wagons Would perform stereotyped characters
Medieval Theatre A.D.
Medieval Theatre After 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 Opposition 1. Association with pagan gods 2. Licentiousness (decadence) 3. Ridicule of church by mimes (sacrament and baptism)
The Church Only stable "government" Exerted increasing influence. Ended theatre because it was so vulgar Persecuted performers (508 A.D.)
Church started theatre again 925 and 975 Drama re-introduced into the church services
Church started theatre again Explained Bible stories At first, the church had control of the drama, but then it gradually became more controlled by secular groups.
The Guilds (tradesmen or Confraternities) took over in some cities based in some way on the Bible or religious teachings. Did plays on wagons (like floats) that went through
Guilds the Bakers’ Guild would control the play about the Last Supper Shipwrights’ Guild would get plays about Noah
Two Types of Plays Popular Mystery or Miracle Plays (Bible stories) Morality plays (secular, characters represented human or moral attributes) Everyman
Commedia del Arte “Comedy of Artists” (professionals) Popular from 14 th to 16 th century Type of improvisational theatre Stock characters Pantomime
Elizabethan Theatre Theatre had a bad reputation City Leaders in London (Puritans) didn’t allow plays within the city limits
Elizabethan England Queen Elizabeth liked plays Before 1576, no formal theatre buildings
Public Theatre Buildings The Theatre (1576) built by James Burbage (built outside city) Other famous theatres: The Rose, Swan, Hope Most Famous: Globe Theatre ( )
Private Theatres Blackfriars 1576 Indoor performances Lit by Candlelight Small Wealthier audience
Shakespeare’s Theatre Shakespeare’s Theatre Men played women Worked in a troupe Shakespeare: actor, writer, director, producer
Famous Elizabethan Playwrights William Shakespeare Ben Jonson Christopher Marlowe
Masques Extravagant productions for royalty James I
Masques Spectacular productions, scenery, costume Purpose was to honor the nobles by comparing them to mythical characters
Puritan England Banned plays for 18 years (until 1660) Closed theatres because of religion (moral reasons) Plague may have been a reason
Two 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 Theatre 17 th Century Built inside other existing buildings Audience usually sat in balconies Actresses wouldn’t play anyone ugly or old
Comedie-Francaise French Academy 1673 Neoclassic plays (revival of the ancient classics) French comedy at its best Italian opera very popular
English Restoration Didn’t want to be outdone by the French Started theatre again: 1660 Comedy of Manners (Set among wealthy and sophisticated.)
English Restoration Theatre Plays were more explicit comedies Women started acting
Famous English Restoration Performers Nell Gwyn (first actress) Elizabeth Barry Thomas Betterton
3 types of Musical Theatre Opera Operetta Musicals
Musical Theatre Opera (Classical, usually foreign language) Operetta: 1728 (Easier to understand, more modern, popular music) (Musical theatre didn’t start until after WWI in America)