What is Theatre? Flashcards
What is theatre - 4 meanings
- A play is theatre
- The theatre requires an audience
- Theatre requires a performer
- Theatre requires that the audience and performer(s) share a space (maybe)
What makes theatre an art form?
- We go to theatres looking for enlightenment, awakening or catharsis
- A shared catharsis - An awareness of oneself and others
- Art requires unity. Theatre is an expression of something about society, human nature.
- Theatre, by nature is a community art form.
What are the features of a Proscenium Theatre? [5]
- Audience on one side
- Stage behind proscenium arch
- “apron” in front of arch
- Implies a world beyond the edges of the stage
- Creates a barrier between audience and actors - the fourth wall
What are the features of a Thrust Theatre? [6]
- Best known for Elizabethan theatre
- Audience on 3 sides
- Scenery kept mostly upstage
- Entrances both up and downstage
- configuration brings the audience closer to the action of the play
- Careful attention is paid to sightlines and angles.
What are the features of a Alley or Traverse Theatre? [6]
- Audience on both sides
- Intimate, audience is close to actors and can see the rest of the audience
- Usually entrances and major scenery are only at the entrances of the alley
- Close to impossible to hide the mechanics of the play
- Lighting comes from many angles
- Plays are fairly difficult to stage
What are the features of a Theatre in the round/ arena Theatre? [5]
- Audience on all sides
- Intimate
- Scenery at entrances, or small enough to see over
- Impossible to hide mechanics
- Lighting is difficult
Traditional/Hierarchical model of a theatre [6 roles]
- Playwright writes script - sends to dramaturge - sends it back with suggestions
- Script goes to director - sends to actors and designer
- Audiences feedback used to rework script sometimes
Collective/ Devised model of a theatre
Designers + director + actors create a script
Playwright (Traditional vs. Devised) [3 + 2]
T
- Writes the play
- Works with dramaturge to refine it
- May attend rehearsals and do ongoing edits
D
- There may not be one
- Takes and refines/ codifies devised material
Dramaturge (Traditional vs. Devised) [4 + 2]
T
- Does research
- Assists w play selection/ season planning
- assists director with casting, context and continuity
- works w playwright on structure, continuity and historical content
D
- Works w creative team on script development, continuity and structure
- May collect audience responses and advise on script revisions
Director (Traditional vs. Devised) [4 + 3]
T - Researches/analyses play - develops vision of the play - casts the play - guides actors in character dev. brings together elements of production - unity D - provides inspiration - generates content via actors - unity
Actor/ Performer (Traditional vs. Devised) [1 + 1]
T
- Becomes expert one one/ many characters and then performs them
D
- Develops material for play
Becomes expert and performs one/many characters
Designer (Traditional vs. Devised) [4 + 3]
T
- Consults w/ director about overall vision of play
- Researches historical context
- Designs sets, lights, costumer, sound and projection
- creates meaning through visuals
D
- Apart of creative process
works with director/ dramaturg on developing visual story
- Designs elements
- Creates meaning
Stage Manager [2]
- Schedules rehearsals
- Calls the show
Producer [3]
- Controls budget
- has a say in casting / design decisions
- decides which specific script to do
