European Theatre Flashcards
What kind of characters were featured in Italian comedy during the Renaissance era?
Exaggerated characters that would represent different towns or districts.
What were the four main character groups in Italian comedies during the Renaissance era?
- Servants
- Wealthy men
- Young lovers
- Braggarts
What did the Italian theatre invent during the Renaissance era?
Proscenium Arch
What was the most famous Italian theatre during the Renaissance era?
Teatro Farnese
During what era did the theatre industry begin?
Renaissance with Italian theatre
Who were the three major famous playwrights during the English Renaissance?
- William Shakespeare
(Romeo and Juliet) - Christopher Marlowe
(Dido, Queen of Carthage) - Ben Jonson
(Epicene)
What play was William Shakespeare famous for during the English Renaissance era?
Romeo and Juliet
What play was Christopher Marlowe famous for during the English Renaissance era?
Dido, Queen of Carthage
What play was Ben Jonson famous for during the English Renaissance era?
Epicene
What was the most famous theatre during the English Renaissance era?
The Globe Theatre
During the Restoration period, what major event happened in 1642 that influenced theatre?
The English Civil War
The Puritans took over and banned theatre
What happened during the Restoration period in 1660 that resulted in the return of theatre in England?
The Restoration of the Monarchy
What types of plays were popular during the Restoration period?
Machine Plays
Excessive use of:
- Special Effects
- Scene-Changes
What were the plays like during the Restoration period?
Risqué
Rebelled against Puritan standards
When did England have a moral crisis?
After the Restoration period
What was the Stage Licensing Act of 1737 during the Post Restoration period?
Act that limited theatres to two
Post Restoration ➡
Parliament Censorship of theatre
What type of comedies were there during the Post Restoration period?
Sentimental comedies
- People are good unless acted upon by an outside force
What ideas were sentimental comedies based on during the Post Restoration period?
People are good unless acted upon by an outside force
What was nationalism in German theatre?
The rejection of French domination in German lands.
What did Johann Von Herder do? (German Theatre)
He pushed Germans to create works based on their own myths and legends and create a German culture
What did German theatre focus on?
Propaganda to drum up support for the German nation-state
Early 20th Century - Pre and Post World War I, theatre focused on…
Expressionism
During the early 20th century, people believed that..?
War was good and would purify Europe
After the war in the early 20th century, people believed that..?
War is very bad.
This resulted in theatre evolving to show the horrors of war.
The modern age of theatre: What is the district in London called?
Theatreland
How many venues does Theatreland in London contain?
40 different venues - many privately owned
What is the longest-running musical?
Les Misérables
What is the longest-running non-musical?
Mousetrap
What is the Greek word for theatre?
Theatron
What does theatron mean in Greek?
“A place of seeing”
What was the first and largest theatre built in Athens?
The Theatre of Dionysus
How many people did the Theatre of Dionysus seat?
Up to 17,000 people
Who were the seats in the front row of the Theatre of Dionysus dedicated to?
The priests
In old comedy in Ancient Greece, what was considered off-limits?
Higher gods
Who developed the auditorium?
The Romans, using Greek and Hellenistic designs
Were Roman plays more or less religious than Greek plays?
Roman plays were less religious
What were the 3 main performances in Roman theatre?
- Atellan Farces
- Phlyax Plays
- Fescennine
What kind of shows developed during the Medieval era?
Secular plays, larger productions, and morality plays
During the Medieval era, why did the Catholic church deem acting sinful?
Its imitation of life was considered a mockery of God’s creation
What organization gained power during the Medieval era?
The House of Revels - abolished in 1968
