" Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage."
Introduces the origins, development and evolution of theater over the ages.
Ancient Greek Theater: The origins and development of theater in ancient Greece, including the playwrights, actors, and staging techniques.
Roman Theater: The development of theater in ancient Rome, focusing on the influence of Greek theater and the emergence of gladiatorial games.
Medieval Theater: The development of theater during the Middle Ages, including the emergence of religious dramas and traveling theater troupes.
Renaissance Theater: The flourishing of theater during the Renaissance period, including the works of William Shakespeare and the emergence of the proscenium stage.
Elizabethan Theater: The development of theater during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, including the Globe Theatre and the importance of theater in society at the time.
Restoration Theater: The resurgence of theater in England after the English Civil War, including the influence of French theater and the rise of female actresses.
19th Century Theater: The evolution of theater during the 19th century, including the popularity of melodramas and the emergence of Realism.
20th Century Theater: The developments in theater during the 20th century, including the rise of experimental theater and the impact of political and social movements.
Musical Theater: The history of musical theater, including its development in America and the contributions of composers and playwrights.
Contemporary Theater: The current state of theater, including new forms of performance and the challenges facing the industry.
Asian Theater: The history of theater in Asia, including the various forms of traditional theater from countries like China, Japan, and India.
African Theater: The history of theater in Africa, including traditional and contemporary forms of theater and the way it reflects the diverse cultures of the continent.
Latin American Theater: The history of theater in Latin America, including the influence of indigenous cultures and the impact of political turmoil on theater.
Gender and Theater: The role of gender in theater, including the contributions of female playwrights and the experiences of actors and actresses.
LGBTQ Theater: The history and development of LGBTQ theater, including the portrayal of LGBTQ characters and themes in mainstream and independent productions.
Ancient Theater History: Deals with theater in ancient Greece and Rome, its origins, development and influence on modern drama.
Medieval Theater History: Covers the period from the fall of the Roman Empire to the Renaissance and includes the development of religious drama, morality plays and mystery plays.
Renaissance Theater History: Covers the period from the 14th to the 17th century and includes the emergence of humanism, the rise of classical scholarship, and the development of new forms of drama.
Elizabethan Theater History: Focuses on the theater in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, including the works of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson.
Restoration Theater History: Covers the period from 1660 to 1700 and includes the revival of theater after the English Civil War, the development of the comedy of manners and the rise of women playwrights.
Eighteenth-Century Theater History: Covers the period from 1700 to 1800 and includes the growth of theater in Europe and America, the development of sentimental drama, and the emergence of romanticism.
Nineteenth-Century Theater History: Covers the period from 1800 to 1900, including the rise of realism, the birth of modern theater, the emergence of the director and the evolution of stage lighting and design.
Twentieth-Century Theater History: Covers the period from 1900 to the present day and includes the development of avant-garde theater, the rise of musical theater, the emergence of postmodernism, the influence of film and television, and the globalization of theatrical performance.
African Theater History: Covers the development of theater traditions in Africa, including the influence of folklore, ritual, and dance on theatrical performance.
Asian Theater History: Covers the evolution of theater traditions in Asia, including Chinese opera, Japanese Noh drama, and Indian Sanskrit theater.
Latin American Theater History: Covers the emergence of theater in Latin America, including the influence of indigenous cultures, European colonization, and political revolution on theatrical performance.
American Theater History: Covers the evolution of theater in the United States, including the development of Broadway, the emergence of experimental theater, and the role of theater in social and political movements.
"Usually actors or actresses."
"The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music, and dance."
"Elements of art, such as painted scenery and stagecraft such as lighting are used to enhance the physicality, presence, and immediacy of the experience."
"The word 'theatre' is derived from the Ancient Greek θέατρον (théatron, 'a place for viewing')."
"...it borrows technical terminology, classification into genres, and many of its themes, stock characters, and plot elements" from ancient Greek theatre.
"Theatre artist Patrice Pavis defines theatricality, theatrical language, stage writing and the specificity of theatre as synonymous expressions that differentiate theatre from the other performing arts, literature and the arts in general."
"A theatre company is an organisation that produces theatrical performances, as distinct from a theatre troupe (or acting company), which is a group of theatrical performers working together."
"Modern theatre includes performances of plays and musical theatre. The art forms of ballet and opera are also theatre."
"...use many conventions such as acting, costumes, and staging."
"It is the oldest form of drama, though live theatre has now been joined by modern recorded forms."
"Theatricality, theatrical language, stage writing, and the specificity of theatre... differentiate theatre from the other performing arts, literature and the arts in general."
"To present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience."
"To present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience."
"...in a specific place, often a stage."
"The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music, and dance."
"Modern Western theatre comes, in large measure, from the theatre of ancient Greece, from which it borrows technical terminology, classification into genres, and many of its themes, stock characters, and plot elements."
"Places, normally buildings, where performances regularly take place are also called 'theatres'."
"...live theatre has now been joined by modern recorded forms."
"They were influential in the development of musical theatre."