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History of Theater Arts

The Greeks were the first to present dramatic presentations in the 6th century BC. Theater then consisted of tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays. In medieval times, religious plays became popular forms of entertainment. Elizabethan theaters were large structures that could hold over 1000 people and featured elaborate costumes. A play contains elements such as style, theme, setting, characters, and plot which follows a beginning, middle, and end structure. Both literary and technical elements come together with performance to bring a play to life on stage.

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Dominic Panis
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265 views

History of Theater Arts

The Greeks were the first to present dramatic presentations in the 6th century BC. Theater then consisted of tragedy, comedy, and satyr plays. In medieval times, religious plays became popular forms of entertainment. Elizabethan theaters were large structures that could hold over 1000 people and featured elaborate costumes. A play contains elements such as style, theme, setting, characters, and plot which follows a beginning, middle, and end structure. Both literary and technical elements come together with performance to bring a play to life on stage.

Uploaded by

Dominic Panis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HISTORY OF THEATER ARTS

 During 6th Century B.C. where ancient Greeks


first to present dramatic presentations. One of the
most popular forms of entertainment for people is
a visit to the theater. 
 For centuries people have enjoyed drama,
comedy, music and other forms of entertainment
 In the 6th century BC, a priest of Dionysus by the
name of Thespis, introduces a new element which
can validly be seen as the birth of theater
The Theater of Ancient Greece consisted of 3 types:
 Tragedy
 Comedy
 Satyr play
6 Elements of Theater (specifically tragedy)
 Plot
 Character
 Thought
 Diction
 Music
 Spectacle

MEDIEVAL THEATER
 Began with liturgical plays depicting the birth and the resurrection of
Christ at the appropriate time in order to instruct the laity
 Dramatizations of Biblical events became the mystery plays and
events in saints’ lives became the miracle plays. 
 Allegories of moral problems and religious doctrines were known as
the morality plays.
 Common feature of the medieval theater was the use of “mansions”
or small houses,places around the edge of the stage ( churches
aisles, a chapel, the elevated platform of a pageant wagon, a street
or an open field)
 These mansions were actually small booths, either plain or decorated
to resemble the place they represented such as temple, heaven or
the mouth of hell.
 Evey character had his particular mansion which suggested his
condition of being.
 The medieval theater was lively and spectacular

ELIZABETHAN THEATER

 Ornate and richly decorated, large enough to accommodate between


one to three thousand
 On one side of the circular or many- sided buildings was a gate
through which the playgoer passed by paying a penny. This entitled
him to stand in the pit an open area in the center of the building
 Around rose 3 to 4 galleries of seats. Entrance to these roofed
galleries cost another two pennies
 The platform stage projected out into the pit. It had one or more  It
has trapdoors to hell below. Above the stage was a cover (the
shadow or heaven) to protect the actors and their costumes. It was
painted underneath with stars and the zodiac signs.
 At the rear of the stage was the tiring house which has to be called
the backstage. It had one or more doors for the actors, an inner
stage, an upper stage which could serve as a balcony or battlement
scene.
 Above the stage were the musician’s gallery and behind it, the sound
effects and machinery room.
 Lightning and thunder were simulated; Gods were lowered and spirits
went flying through the air.
 Gorgeous costumes were used.
 The stage was unlocalized with no scenery. This explains why
Shakespeare’s characters make frequent references to their
surroundings. The dialogue sets up the scenery in the spectator’s
imagination.
Elements of Play

1. Style - refers to the mode of expression or presentation of the play which


points out the playwright’s position or viewpoint in life

2. Theme- considered as the unifying element that defines the dramatized


idea of the play. It is the over-all sense or implication of the action. It
defines the problem, emphasizes the ethical judgment and suggest attitude
or course of action that eliminates the crisis in an acceptable way.

3. Setting-identifies time and place in which the events occur. It consists of


the historical period, moment, day and season in which the incidents take
place. It also includes the sceneries in the performance which are usually
found in the preliminary descriptions.

4. Characters- the people in the play and thus considered as the principal
material in drama.

Framework of Plot

1. Beginning- identifies information about the place such as geographical


___location, social, cultural, political background or period when the event took
place.

Exposition - the point where the playwright commences his story. It reveals the
identity of story’s initial crisis.

2. Middle- composed of series of difficulties

Obligatory scene- identifies the open collision between two opposing characters
or forces.

Discovery- discloses points which are previously unknown, characterized as


something mysterious, strange, unfamiliar and thus revealed through objects,
persons, facts, values, or self-discovered.
3. Ending- the final major component of the story which brings the condition
back to its stability. This part brings satisfaction to the audience which
extends to the final curtain as peace is completely restored.

PLOT - lays out the series of events that form the entirety of the play. It serves as
a structural framework which brings the events to a cohesive form and sense.

Literary Elements:
- character
- exposition
- story organization
- conflict
- suspense
- theme
- language
- style

Technical Elements
 Scenery/set
 Costumes
 Props
 Lights
 Sound
 Make-up

Performance Elements
 Verbal Expressions
 Speaking
 Breath Control
 Vocal Expressions
 Inflections
 Projections
 Speaking Style
 Diction

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