Theatre 1

Question 1

Greece and Rome

Answer 1

Greece

• theatre emerges in 6th bce, by 5th bce designated places for theatre to take place were built
• theatron: seating place often carved out of hillside, orchestra - circular acting area at bottom of seating
• skene: wall at back of orchestra that had opening to be used as entrances by actors
• Proskenion: area in front of skene
• Theatre of Dionysus: ritualistic approach to the building, can see other audience members, surrounding landscape and acting

Rome

Romans copied greek ancestors in 3 distinct ways:

1. amphitheatre design
2. reinterpretation of greek skene
3. raised stage in front of skene known as proskenion

some developments from greek

• romans prepared to build walls and terraces
• using arches to build upwards (not relying on surrounding landscape)
• roof could be pulled across top to protect from rain

Question 2

London

Answer 2

• red lion theatre 1st permanent structure for theatre, unsuccessful
• the theatre 1576 becomes the 1st successful theatre
• many theatres built after located just outside the city (theatre banned within london at the time)
• british victorian theatres not funded by government so have less of an impact within city > often built on cheaper land away from street >> shakespeare memorial theatre, stratford upon avon an exception to this (built on waterfront)

Elizebethan Theatres

• galleried structure
• structure responds to social structure of society & social segregation between classes
• separate seating for different classes

Blackfriars Theatre

• theatre inside converted monastery
• main difference is that its an indoor theatre - need lighting and better acoustics
• seeing introduction of music into theatre

Question 3

General Theatre

Answer 3

C12

• proscenium arch layout begins to be seen as outdated, see it as something that separated actor and audience
• Festspielhaus: result of C12 debates, stage with stepped scenery > no proscenium arch (actors and audience all occupying single space), stage stepping creates abstract backdrop
• in countries where music/performing arts funded by central administration, theatres could become large monuments
• in the round/arena theatre: audience sitting around theatre on all 4 sides, emphasises the live and 3d nature of theatre
• Walter Gropius: produces a design for theatre that can be rotated and moved to create different arrangements (never built, but seen as an influential idea)
• Derngate theatre, northampton: flexible theatre where parts of auditorium move around on hoverpads

Question 4

National Theatre

London

Answer 4

Initial Design

• design shaped by panel of actors and theatre experts
• denis lasdun gives theatre sense of civic importance, set of pure forms, modest building but uses rich finishes e.g. board-marked concrete
• three-auditorium building was opened in 1976 and comprised one of the major theatre landmarks of its age
• It was the largest of all the new theatres built in Britain between the 1950s and the 1980s

Criticism

• Theatre director Michael Elliott, 1973: ‘as one leans on the parapet of Waterloo Bridge pondering the huge mushrooming concrete of the new National Theatre, all one’s doubts centre round one question – was this the right theatre to build now?’

Question 5

Royal Exchange,

Fun Palace

Answer 5

• Manchester Royal Exchange: a former cotton trading hall, which had become redundant by the end of the 1960s
• Original tented theatre, manchester royal exchange, 1972: The tent allowed the design to be refined and tested by the company, working with Michael Elliott, the designer Richard Negri, and others.