Asian Theater

Indian Theater Presents the epic poem of Ramayana and Mahabharata Performances include dance plays

Thailand theater The drama is based on formalized dances, presenting stories from Hindu literature. Grotesque masks and jeweled costumes are used

Chinese Theater Shows many battles and long journeys of characters Movements, properties and make-up are highly symbolic

Japanese Theater The forms of drama in Japan are the Noh, Kabuki and the Doll theater

Noh Also called “ Nogaku” Derived from the Japanese word for "skill" or "talent“ Major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century.

Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. They use fans to depict emotions. Noh became the aristocratic entertainment in Japan in 1650.

Kabuki The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing ( 歌 ), dance ( 舞 ), and skill ( 伎 ). Kabuki is therefore sometimes translated as “the art of singing and dancing.“ Kabuki plays are about historical events, moral conflicts, love relationships and the like. The actors use an old fashioned language which is difficult to understand even for some Japanese people. Actors speak in somewhat monotonous voices accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments.

Kabuki takes place on a rotating stage (kabuki no butai). The stage is further equipped with several gadgets like trapdoors through which the actors can appear and disappear. Another specialty of the kabuki stage is a footbridge (hanamichi) that leads through the audience. In the early years, both men and women acted in kabuki plays. Later during the Edo Period, the Tokugawa Shogunate forbade women from acting, a restriction that survives to the present day. Several male kabuki actors are therefore specialists in playing female roles (onnagata).Tokugawa Shogunate

The Doll theater Uses magnificent gowned marionettes about four feet high. Each doll is manipulated by three attendants who wear black clothes and gauze mask to symbolize their invisibility The lines are spoken and sung by narrators.

The theater in the Philippines

Pre-spanish period Duplo and Karagatan A game of wit expressed through riddles. To be played during a wake and a death anniversary commemoration.

Carillo A shadow play Projected cardboard figures on a makeshift screen were manipulated so as to appear moving and acting.

Spanish Period Cenaculo A dramatic presentation held during holy week commemorating the passion of Jesus Christ. Moro-moro A presentation depicting the battle between Christians and Moro.

Zarzuela A perpetuation consist of short pieces of songs, music and dialogues.

American Period Zarzuela continued to be a vehicle used to vent propagation of nationalism against the spanish and americans. Patriotic Zarzuelas: Tanikalang Ginto by Juan Abad Hindi Ako Patay by Juan Matapang Cruz Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas by Aurelio Tolentino

The Americans banned nationalistic zarzuelas. Zarzuela presentation deals with more accepted themes as love, sufferings and death. Vaudeville and Hollywood replaced Zarzuela

Japanese period Banned of local and foreign films except those about Japanese propaganda.

New era in Philippine theater Theater groups were organized in 1953 Dr. Severino Montano organized the Arena Theater in the Philippine Normal College. In 1960s, the theater started to use venacular, focusing on societal issues and concerns. Examples are: Paul Dumol’s Ang paglilitis ni Mang Serapio

Theater companies establisged: Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) founded by Cecile Guidote Teatro Pilipino founded in 1976 by Rolando Tolentino CCP’s Tanghalang Pilipino headed by Fernando C. Josef

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