THEA 112

Basics of the Living Theatre

• Theatre is said to be living because of the materials it uses—namely,

the human body in space. This is so because theatre closes the gap
between art and life, and brings theatre into reality.
Theatre in Greek and Roman Period
• The English word “theatre,” is derived from the Greek word theatron,
which comes from thea “show” or “to look on”. “tron” a watching place”

• The word theatron was used to describe a gathering place for celebratory,
cultic, political, and athletic events.

• The term was used in a general sense to denote a place for watching a
wide variety of events.
• The theatres were fashioned out of natural hillslopes, thresh floors,
market squares etc.
Elements of Drama
• In the second half of the eighteenth century, the usage of the term
became more specific, referring to performances of drama, opera
(music/ concert), and ballets (dance); in other words, to institutional
art-theatre.
• Spectacles such as circuses, variety shows, stripteases, and colonial
expositions that developed in the nineteenth century fell outside the
category of “theatre” proper.
Elements of Theatre
• The various technical elements found in the theatre includes

• Costume and Make-up

• Set and Props
• Sound and Light
Definition of Theatre
• Theatre can be defined in three ways such as:

• Theatre as a place (building, architecture)

• Theatre as a Performance
• Theatre as an institution
Defining Theatre
• Key Words
• Human
• Artistic
• Collaboration
• Endeavour
• Convergence
• Remarkable
Amphi-Theatre
• The arrangement of rows of seats and viewing platforms allowed
spectators to watch the entrance of processions, dances with song
and music, performances of tragedies and comedies, athletic
competitions, and various acts of self-fashioning by the polis of
Athens.
Types of Ancient Amphi-Theatres
Commonwealth Hall Amphi-theatre
Features of the Amphi-Theatre
• An Amphi-theatre is an open-air oval arena
• It is surrounded by raised seating
• Ancient Greek has a circular orchestra
• The orchestra is a hard surfaced circle where the chorus comments on
the performance
• The Roman Amphi-theatre reduces the seating arc to 180%
• The theatre has a stagehouse called the skene erected behind the
actors.
• A raised acting area for the actors is called the proskene/proskenion
• The Roman advanced the early Greek architecture of the Amphi-
theatre and added the arch and vault.
• The Roman did not limit the building of the Amphi-theatre to the
natural hillsides