THEATRICAL FORMS

IN ASIA
REPORTER:
JAMAICA NICOLE MAMUAD
JAPANESE THEATER
• The Japanese have two main forms of
Japanese theaters--- The Noh and the
Kabuki.

• A secondary form is a puppet show called

Bunrako.
Noh Plays
• The oldest surviving form of Japanese theater, originated
during the 1300s.
• Combine music, dancing, and acting to communicate
religious themes.
• The play has almost no plot and unfolds without much
action.
• During the intermission other actors perform short
comical skits known as kyogen.
Noh Plays
• The actors are wearing traditional masks and elaborate
costumes.
• All the actors are men.
• It is played by a main actor or shite, usually wearing
mask and one or more supporting actors or waki.
• One actor plays the part of God or hero and always wears
a mask.
• The plays are short and so most theater groups perform
three times in an evening.
EXAMPLE OF NOH PLAY:
Kabuki
• Is an art form rich in showmanship.
• Exciting and colorful dramas that dealt with themes such
as love and revenge.
• Kabuki plots are usually based on historical events, moral
conflicts, warm hearted dramas, love strories, tales of
tradegy, of conspiracy, and other well-known stories.
• Requires elaborate stage setting.
• Male actors play female as well as male roles.
EXAMPLE OF KABUKI:
Bunrako
• An old tradition of Japanese puppet play.
• Can be found in the theater in Osaka, Japan.
• Often adapts styles and plays from kabuki repertoire.
• It covers wide range of subject matter such as historical
subject, great warriors, court lords, ladies, middle class
merchants, and shopkeepers.
EXAMPLE OF BUNRAKO:
Wayang Kulit ( Indonesian Shadow Theater)
• One of the most popular puppet shows of the
Indonesians.
• It is performed to celebrate important accasions in
Indonesia such as wedding, birthday, circumcision, and
others.
• The stories of puppet show based on the ancient Hindu
epics or recounted the adventure of well-known heroes
and their evil enemies. Recent plays, however deal with
the current political events.
EXAMPLE OF WAYANG KULIT:
Dalang

-Operates the puppet while narrating the story.

-Recognize as a religious leader or a shaman, who
communicates with s while having the performance. The
entire narration is accompanied by the Gamelan orchestra.
Peking Opera
• Is the most watched theater performance in Beijing, China
because of this, it is considered as the “Oriental Opera”.

Costumes
• Are tailor for every role to be payed. Each costume is
designed considering age, occupation, and status of each
role. This makes expectators distinguished the ranked of
the character portrayed.
EXAMPLE OF COSTUMES:
Lianpu
• Facial painting takes a long time to practice to master,
considering and analyzing the role to play.
• This method of make-up is called “Picture of Hearts”.

Philippine Theater
• Senakulo- religious drama, usually done during Lenten
season.
• Panuluyan- usually done during christmas season.
• Sarzuela- a play that is musical and about mythology and
nobility.
EXAMPLE OF LIANPU:
THANK YOU AND
GOD BLESS US
ALL!