1. An introduction to Theatre History
Objectives:
To know the significant periods in Theatre History
To understand a range of theatrical styles and genres
To develop a basic understanding of Theatre History

2. Overview 600AD-300BC – was about the origins of theatre
12th -14th century was about the role of religion and morality
16th-17th century was about the writer and the story
18th-19th Century was about the actor and the performance
20th- today was about the director and taking risks

3. Greek Theatre 600BC to 300BC Influences
Most of the plays in Greek times were based around the religious festivals. Playwrights would compete to be allowed to put play on
Performance venues
Amphitheatre. An arena style stage
Audience
Everyone went to the theatre

4. Greek Theatre 600BC to 300BC Characteristics of Greek theatre
No Women on stage
Use of a Chorus
Actors wore masks
Only 3 actors on stage
Performed in the open air
Playwrights of Greek theatre
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
Aristophanes

5. Medieval Theatre 12th -14th Century
Characteristics
Centred on religious themes teaching the illiterate audience stories from the bible.
Actors portrayed concepts and morals rather then characters. E.g. The play Everyman where the central character represented all of mankind.
Plays
3 main types of plays: The passion plays, The morality plays, the Cycle plays.
Type of stage
The performances would travel round to the different villages to perform on a wagon stage. This held elaborate staging and scenery.

6. Renaissance Theatre 14th-16th century
Characteristics
Renaissance means new birth – it heralded the development of the arts and literature
Performed in theatres using an amphitheatre style stage - no roof
All male actors
Renaissance also included the Elizabethan Period – Shakespeare’s time.
Everyone went to the theatre as there was little other entertainment.
Theatre was censored – the plays had to have a licence and deemed to be suitable for a public audience by the Lord Chamberlain

7. Renaissance Theatre 14th-16th century
Playwrights of the day
Shakespeare
Marlowe
Audiences
They were an aural audience who expected complex storylines
Where they sat depended on their wealth.
The theatres were open air and a thrust stage
Influences Today
Many of Shakespeare's plays are still popular and performed today.

8. Commedia Dell’ Arte 16th Century
Characteristics:
Developed in Italy
Physical type of improvisational theatre that uses dance, music, tumbling, acrobatics and buffoonery.
Commedia dell'arte troupes had a repertoire of stories that they performed in fairgrounds and market places.
Commedia spread across Europe from Italy to France and by the middle of the 17th century began to be popular in England

9. Commedia Dell’ Arte 16th Century
Stock characters had set movements and gestures that represented his or her personality. The ‘old man’ (Pantalone); naughty servants including Arlecchino; a lover, his lady and her servant girl, clown or Pierrot character.
Actors wore costumes that depicted their character. Originally they also wore leather half masks over their faces.
Actors did not have a script but would improvise within the outline of a story.
Stories were often satirical and would poke fun at contemporary issues or ideas

10. Restoration 17th – 18th Century
Characteristics
1642 theatres closed in England
After a period of about 10 years theatres were re-opened.
Women were now allowed to perform on stage
Theatres were now indoors
Theatre was no longer about Kings, heroes and tragedies they were about issues important to the wealthy social classes

11. Restoration 17th – 18th Century
Acting Style
The acting was flamboyant and over the top
There were stock movements and reactions for the different emotions
This resulted in stock characters – characters were portrayed as types rather then as individuals
During this period Pantomime became popular. Based on Commedia dell’arte.
They became associated with Christmas and stories were often repeated.
Type of stage
Proscenium arch, a raised stage we traditionally see today.

12. Pantomime Characteristics
The leading male juvenile character (the "principal boy") - traditionally played by a young woman.
An older woman (the pantomime dame - often the hero's mother) is usually played by a man in drag.
The animal, played by an actor in "animal skin" or animal costume.
A slapstick comedy routine may be performed.
Use of audience participation

13. Melodrama 18th-20th Century
Characteristics:
Melodrama became popular from the 1780s to 1790s and lasted until the early 20th century.
‘Melodrama’ consisted of short scenes interspersed with musical accompaniment and was characterized by simple morality, good and evil characters and overblown acting style.
Characters in melodrama were stereotypical - there was always a villain, a wronged maiden and a hero.
The emotions of the actors were played out in the music and accompanied by dramatic tableaux.

14. Naturalism 19th-20th Century
Characteristics:
In the late 1800’s came the movement Naturalism. The aim was to portray real life through real characters.
Characters became complex and were inspired by real life situations.
Audience wanted to recognise and understand why
characters reacted as they did on stage.
The famous practitioner Stanislavski developed ‘The System’. Exercises showed the actor how to create a realistic character

15. Experimental Theatre 20th Century
In 1960 theatre was no longer censored this led to a new wave in theatre. Theatre began to take more risks e.g the stories they dealt with and the themes they chose.
Theatre also found new mediums:
Radio
Cinema
Television
This also meant more competition for an audience.
Stages began to change
Theatre in the round
Traverse
Promenade.

16. Theatre Today 21st Century
Age of choice?
Realistic dramas reflecting real life
Experimental theatre e.g. DV8, Frantic Assembly
Physical Theatre e.g. Complicite, Lecoq
Total Theatre e.g. Berkoff, Brook
Musical Theatre e.g. Broadway and West End musicals
Street Theatre e.g. Carnival, Clowning
Epic Theatre e.g. Brecht
Absurd Theatre e.g. Stoppard, Beckett