History of TheatreHistory of Theatre

The High Points

First Known PlayFirst Known Play

3100 BCMemphis, EgyptPresented in honor of dead

kings

Pyramid PlaysPyramid Plays

Dealt with death, dismemberment, and reassembling by Osiris

Ancient GreeksAncient Greeks6th century BC: festivals honoring

Dionysus, god of fertility, started doing plays

Tragedies

Performed in large outdoor amphitheatre

TheatresTheatres

Festival of Athens turned into a drama competition

Outdoors

Compensated for Distance Compensated for Distance withwith

1. Padded Clothing2. Big masks with built in megaphones3. Platform shoes

ThespisThespis

First actorInvented dialogueActors today are called “thespians”

Major PlaywrightsMajor PlaywrightsAeschylus (525-456 B.C.)Sophocles (496-c. 406 B.C.)Euripides (c. 485-406 B.C.)Aristophanes (c. 448-385 B.C.)

AeschylusAeschylus“Father of Tragedy” Added 2nd actorOresteia (trilogy)

SophoclesSophoclesGreatest Greek playwrightAdded 3rd actorOedipus RexAntigone

EuripidesEuripidesMore concerned with human interest

than religious viewsMedea

AristophanesAristophanes

Started Greek comedyMocked leaders and godsLysistrata

Roman TheatreRoman TheatreTwo major influences on Roman

theatre:

1.Greek Drama

2.Etruscan influences – emphasized circus-like elements

Characteristics of Roman Characteristics of Roman TheatreTheatre

Short improvised farcesStock charactersSimilar costumes and masksBased on domestic life or mythology

Roman TheatreRoman TheatreMay have influenced commedia dell

‘Arte

Commedia dell’arteCommedia dell’arteGypsies went around countryside on

wagonsWould perform stereotyped characters

Medieval TheatreMedieval Theatre

500-1450 A.D.

Medieval TheatreMedieval TheatreAfter 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 OppositionChurch Opposition

1. Association with pagan gods

2. Licentiousness (decadence)

3. Ridicule of church by mimes (sacrament and baptism)

The ChurchThe ChurchOnly stable "government" Exerted increasing influence. Ended theatre because it was so vulgarPersecuted performers (508 A.D.)

Church started theatre againChurch started theatre again

925 and 975Drama re-introduced into the church

services

Church started theatre againChurch started theatre again

Explained Bible storiesAt first, the church had control of the

drama, but then it gradually became more controlled by secular groups.

The Guilds The Guilds (tradesmen or Confraternities(tradesmen or Confraternities) )

took over in some citiesbased in some way on the Bible or

religious teachings. Did plays on wagons (like floats) that

went through

GuildsGuilds

the Bakers’ Guild would control the play about the Last Supper

Shipwrights’ Guild would get plays about Noah

Two Types of Plays PopularTwo Types of Plays PopularMystery or Miracle Plays (Bible

stories)Morality plays (secular, characters

represented human or moral attributes)  Everyman

Commedia del ArteCommedia del Arte“Comedy of Artists”

(professionals)Popular from 14th to 16th centuryType of improvisational theatreStock charactersPantomime

Elizabethan TheatreElizabethan Theatre Theatre had a bad

reputationCity Leaders in London

(Puritans) didn’t allow plays within the city limits

Elizabethan EnglandElizabethan EnglandQueen Elizabeth liked playsBefore 1576, no formal theatre buildings

Public Theatre BuildingsPublic Theatre BuildingsThe Theatre (1576) built

by James Burbage (built outside city)

Other famous theatres: The Rose, Swan, Hope

Most Famous:  Globe Theatre (1599-1644)

Private TheatresPrivate Theatres

Blackfriars 1576Indoor performancesLit by CandlelightSmallWealthier audience

Shakespeare’s Theatre  Shakespeare’s Theatre  

Men played women Worked in a troupeShakespeare:  actor, writer,

director, producer

Famous Elizabethan Famous Elizabethan PlaywrightsPlaywrights

William ShakespeareBen JonsonChristopher Marlowe

MasquesMasquesExtravagant productions for royaltyJames I

MasquesMasques

Spectacular productions, scenery, costumePurpose was to honor the nobles by

comparing them to mythical characters

Puritan EnglandPuritan England

Banned plays for 18 years (until 1660)Closed theatres because of religion (moral

reasons)Plague may have been a reason

Two types of theatresTwo 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 TheatreFrench Neoclassical Theatre17th CenturyBuilt inside other existing buildingsAudience usually sat in balconiesActresses wouldn’t play anyone ugly or

old

Comedie-FrancaiseComedie-Francaise

French Academy1673Neoclassic plays (revival of the ancient

classics)French comedy at its bestItalian opera very popular

English RestorationEnglish Restoration

Didn’t want to be outdone by the FrenchStarted theatre again:  1660Comedy of Manners (Set among wealthy

and sophisticated.)

English Restoration TheatreEnglish Restoration TheatrePlays were more explicit

comedies Women started acting

Famous English Restoration Famous English Restoration PerformersPerformers

Nell Gwyn (first actress)Elizabeth BarryThomas Betterton

3 types of Musical Theatre3 types of Musical Theatre

OperaOperettaMusicals

Musical TheatreMusical TheatreOpera (Classical, usually foreign language)Operetta: 1728 (Easier to understand,

more modern, popular music)(Musical theatre didn’t start until after

WWI in America)