TheatreTheatre

Chapter 1: The Chapter 1: The EssentialsEssentials

Chapter 1: The Art of the Chapter 1: The Art of the TheatreTheatre

Theatre: Theatre:

a performing art that requires an actor a performing art that requires an actor performing some form of story or performing some form of story or

idea for a live audience. It is also the idea for a live audience. It is also the modern English term for a building or modern English term for a building or

structure where performances are structure where performances are held.held.

The Key Elements of DramaThe Key Elements of Drama

According to Aristotle, a piece of theater According to Aristotle, a piece of theater should contain most or should contain most or allall of the of the

following things: (in order of importance)following things: (in order of importance)

Plot: the story, what’s being told, what’s Plot: the story, what’s being told, what’s going on.going on.

Character: the people that hold your Character: the people that hold your interest. interest.

The Key Elements of DramaThe Key Elements of Drama

Diction: (speech) Diction: (speech)

Music: sets the mood or tone. This Music: sets the mood or tone. This comes from actor’s voice, sound comes from actor’s voice, sound effects (door slamming, glass effects (door slamming, glass breaking)breaking)

Spectacle: the gimmick or thing that Spectacle: the gimmick or thing that drives us to go see something.drives us to go see something.

The Key Elements of DramaThe Key Elements of Drama

Thought: The central theme around a Thought: The central theme around a play. Can I sum this whole play up in play. Can I sum this whole play up in one sentence? That is what this is.one sentence? That is what this is.

The Key Elements of DramaThe Key Elements of Drama

Theatron: [TE-AT-RON] :Theatron: [TE-AT-RON] :

origin of the word Theater. Ancient Greek origin of the word Theater. Ancient Greek word that means “seeing place”. This word word that means “seeing place”. This word defined the area where the audience sat defined the area where the audience sat

during the performance. during the performance.

Dran: Dran:

Ancient Greek verb meaning “to take action Ancient Greek verb meaning “to take action or to do something”. It is from this word or to do something”. It is from this word

we get drama.we get drama.

DRAMA!DRAMA!

Drama:Drama:

A specific form of theater that tells a A specific form of theater that tells a story. Most plays are dramas.story. Most plays are dramas.

What is the essence of drama? If What is the essence of drama? If someone is dealing with drama in their someone is dealing with drama in their

life, they are experiencing conflict. life, they are experiencing conflict.

The essence of drama is conflict.The essence of drama is conflict.

Licensing Act of 1737:Licensing Act of 1737:

An English law that gave the Lord An English law that gave the Lord Chamberlain the authority to license Chamberlain the authority to license

plays. Fr over 200 years, no play plays. Fr over 200 years, no play could be performed on the English could be performed on the English stage without authorization. This is stage without authorization. This is

often cited as one of the primary acts often cited as one of the primary acts of theatrical censorship.of theatrical censorship.

The Basic Elements of Theatre:The Basic Elements of Theatre:

1) What is Performed1) What is Performed

2) The Performance2) The Performance

3) The Audience. 3) The Audience. The most basic definition of theatre The most basic definition of theatre is: someone performing something is: someone performing something for someone else. A performs B for C.for someone else. A performs B for C.

What is performed?What is performed?

What is the essence of What is the essence of theatrical performance? theatrical performance?

Possibilities: Possibilities: The Staged performance of a The Staged performance of a texttextStorytellingStorytellingEntertainment such as Entertainment such as juggling or improvisation.juggling or improvisation.

The AudienceThe Audience

The Audience completes the The Audience completes the cycle of cycle of

Creation/Communication. Creation/Communication.

It also provides immediate It also provides immediate feedback to the performers. feedback to the performers.

3 Way Theatrical 3 Way Theatrical InteractionInteraction

Performs Performs Audience Audience

Audience Audience Performers Performers

Audience Audience Audience Audience

Conventions?Conventions?

Recognized social customs Recognized social customs (shaking hands). In theatre, (shaking hands). In theatre, conventions are specific rules (no conventions are specific rules (no talking in the theatre, cell phone talking in the theatre, cell phone policies, etc.) and customs policies, etc.) and customs (ushers, flashing the lights before, (ushers, flashing the lights before, dim the lights before the show dim the lights before the show starts) traditional to certain forms starts) traditional to certain forms of theatre in certain societies. of theatre in certain societies. (Also: programs, getting (Also: programs, getting autographs, etc.)autographs, etc.)

What makes theatre a What makes theatre a unique art form?unique art form?

Theatre is often a Theatre is often a collaborative art form.collaborative art form.

Theatre is live.Theatre is live.

Theatre is ephemeral.Theatre is ephemeral.

Say What?Say What?Collaborative: multiple Collaborative: multiple

individuals combine their individuals combine their talents/efforts to achieve a talents/efforts to achieve a

goal.goal.

Ephemeral: fleeting, short lived, Ephemeral: fleeting, short lived, momentary. That which is momentary. That which is

ephemeral can ephemeral can nevernever truly be truly be repeated. repeated.

What makes theatre a unique art What makes theatre a unique art form?form?

Good theatre holds a mirror up to life: Good theatre holds a mirror up to life: We get to see ourselves, or society, We get to see ourselves, or society, and out world being acted out on and out world being acted out on

stage.stage.

What makes theatre a unique art What makes theatre a unique art form?form?

Theatre is often a collaborative art Theatre is often a collaborative art form: Theatre is live performance, form: Theatre is live performance,

and becomes a part of the past and becomes a part of the past immediately after it occurs.immediately after it occurs.

What makes theatre a unique art What makes theatre a unique art form?form?

Theatre is ephemeral: Each Theatre is ephemeral: Each performance is unique and those performance is unique and those moments in time can never be moments in time can never be

repeated; just as in real life.repeated; just as in real life.

End of Chapter 1End of Chapter 1