1. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Stage Space (4 th Wall) Audience Space Proscenium: Spectators watch action through a picture frame Backstage Stage AudienceSeatingAudienceSeating Thrust: Stage projects into audience space – audience on 3 sides Stage AudienceSeatingAudienceSeating AudienceSeating AudienceSeating Arena: Stage surrounded by audience Space in the modern theatre…

2. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Greek Theatre Audience space: Theatron Playing space: Orchestra Stage house: Skene Columned Arches: proskenium

3. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Remember!!! Much of what we know about the Greeks is an ‘educated guess’!!! Other terms to know! Greek Theatre

4. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Other terms to know! Greek Theatre Paraskenia: long, high walls that extended on either side of and parallel with the skene Eccyclema: A wheeled platform used in a variety of ways – revelation of dead bodies Periaktoi: (4 th c. B.C.) tall, 3-sided forms that rotated on a central pivot – most likely each side painted to fit a different ‘scene’ Pinakes: Painted panels much like modern flats

5. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Roman Theatre Audience Space: Cavea Scene house: Scaenae fons

6. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Roman Theatre Other terms to know! Velum: An awning that covered the seating area in some theatres Periaktoi: Still in use but now painted three ways: comic, tragic, & satiric Auleum: A front curtain was lowered into a slot or trough in the floor Siparium: A curtain hung at the back of the stage – much like a backdrop Evidence points to complex scenery such as traps and moving pieces that filled the spectacles of ancient Rome!

7. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Medieval Theatre Church dramas & traveling stages… Pageant wagons All follow the conventions of the church Small buildings (mansions) depict locations Development of special effects (secrets)

8. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Medieval Theatre HeavenHell MansionPlatea

9. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 1500-1650 Theatre Theatres patterned after classical models… Blame Vitruvius… he’s the one who wrote about the classics! Teatro Olympico in Vicenza, Italy Theatre moves indoors! Interest in scenic design Key characteristics: Raked stage Use of forced perspective Stock sets Painted drops Lit by candlelight

10. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 1500-1650 Theatre The Renaissance in England… Shakespeare’s theatre – The Globe Partial covering for the audience and players Thrust configuration Very little scenery Some use of props

11. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. Gallery Stage Pit Inner above Inner below

12. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 1500-1650 Theatre Lighting in the Renaissance Candle-lit chandeliers over stage and auditorium Early 1600s – addition of reflectors Introduction of footlights Vertical rows of lamps hidden in the wings

13. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 1650-1900 Theatre The Restoration Stage Spread of interest in the spectacle  Standardization of stage designs / architecture  Apron performance space  Painted perspective drops, wings, & borders  Interior sets Multi-tiered boxes: Nobility Galleries: Wealthy Pit: Everyone else

14. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 1650-1900 Theatre The influence of Kabuki Kabuki emerges in 1603 Originally performed outdoors Moves indoors in 1724 Stage technology advances: Elevator traps Elevator stages Revolving stages Concentric revolving stages

15. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 1783 – Argang oil lamp 1792 – Beginning of gas lighting (William Murdoch) Brighter & cleaner than oil/candles Intensity was easily controlled Flexible distribution systems 1816 – Limelight (Thomas Drummond) The 1 st spotlight 1 st electric light = carbon arc By 1860 – Paris Opera House had a projector, a followspot, and some lighting effects (all carbon arc) 1879 – Thomas Edison & the incandescent lamp By 1900 – Theatres convert to electric light 1650-1900 Theatre Lighting in the Restoration

16. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 20 th century Theatre A change in the world… With the emergence of realism comes a new style of theatre Sets become environments for drama – not backgrounds! The apron shrinks… Stage space becomes more confined… Audience space only faces the stage… Movements form and dissolve quickly Shift to ‘found spaces’ for performances

17. Theatrical Design and Production Chapter 3: A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology © 2006 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights reserved. 20 th century Theatre Technological innovations… Refinements to the incandescent light Development of various lighting fixtures / instruments Introduction of dimmers in the late 1940s Digital controls introduced in the 1980s Recorded sound introduced in the 1930s / 1940s Computers and technology invade the theatres in early 1980s