The Theatre of AsiaThe Theatre of AsiaBy: Seth Wilmes,By: Seth Wilmes,Anjuli Mostek, Anjuli Mostek,

Kasey Laber,Kasey Laber,Suzanne Shepherd,Suzanne Shepherd,Michael Bissen, Michael Bissen, and John Franceand John France

Theatre of AsiaTheatre of Asia3 Main Sections3 Main Sections

IndiaIndia ChinaChina JapanJapan

The Drama of IndiaThe Drama of India

Started from the Middle East RootsStarted from the Middle East RootsBased on Greek Texts Based on Greek Texts

Sanskrit Dance-Theatre Sanskrit Dance-Theatre

Sanskrit dance theatre was achieved around Sanskrit dance theatre was achieved around 200 B.C and remained popular200 B.C and remained popular

The Natyasastra is the most comprehensive The Natyasastra is the most comprehensive study of theatre from the ancient worldstudy of theatre from the ancient world

Two primary genres of Sanskrit TheatreTwo primary genres of Sanskrit Theatre Praka- based on theme of lovePraka- based on theme of love Nataka- based on well-known heroic stories of Nataka- based on well-known heroic stories of

kings or sages kings or sages

Sanskrit Dance-Theatre Continued Sanskrit Dance-Theatre Continued

This theatre was performed indoors within a This theatre was performed indoors within a roofed building that was rectangular roofed building that was rectangular

4 Columns hold the roof or an upper pavilion 4 Columns hold the roof or an upper pavilion up up

Sanskrit drama died out around the tenth Sanskrit drama died out around the tenth century. century.

Kathakali Kathakali

The most widely known dance-drama The most widely known dance-drama Kathakali means story playKathakali means story play The audience could leave anytime, eat, or even The audience could leave anytime, eat, or even

sleep during the performance sleep during the performance Actors had to train from early childhood Actors had to train from early childhood

because it is so difficult because it is so difficult Based on two Indian epicsBased on two Indian epics

Ramayana Ramayana Mahabharata Mahabharata

Drama of ChinaDrama of China

Chinese Opera: XiquChinese Opera: Xiqu

China = oldest home of Asia’s oldest China = oldest home of Asia’s oldest continuous theatre tradition.continuous theatre tradition.

Provides common metaphors for daily lifeProvides common metaphors for daily life Proverb wentai jiaphua = we learn our real Proverb wentai jiaphua = we learn our real

world behaviors from stage performance.world behaviors from stage performance.

Xiqu’s OriginsXiqu’s Origins

Zaju (“various plays” – in China during Song Zaju (“various plays” – in China during Song DynastyDynasty

Zaju = comedic music-dance-drama; Zaju = comedic music-dance-drama; acrobatics and clowningacrobatics and clowning

By 1644 Zaju succeeded by kunquBy 1644 Zaju succeeded by kunqu

KunquKunqu

Still preformed today.Still preformed today. ““Clapper Opera” Clapper Opera”

Staging of XiquStaging of Xiqu

Xiqu is sceneryless, and presented in a wide Xiqu is sceneryless, and presented in a wide variety of surroundingsvariety of surroundings

Usually outdoors : parks, restaraunts etc.Usually outdoors : parks, restaraunts etc. Audience is free to talk & eat (very laid back)Audience is free to talk & eat (very laid back)

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

Plays are almost always anonymousPlays are almost always anonymous Based on well known stories from Chinese Based on well known stories from Chinese

history or myth.history or myth. All plays include both serious and comic All plays include both serious and comic

elementselements

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

Serious and Comic not tragedy and comedySerious and Comic not tragedy and comedy Instead…Instead… Civil plays (wenxi)=love, marriage, and Civil plays (wenxi)=love, marriage, and

domestic justicedomestic justice Martial plays (wuxi)=battles, banditry, and Martial plays (wuxi)=battles, banditry, and

armed rebellions.armed rebellions.

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

A second terminology seperates them into…A second terminology seperates them into… Great plays (daxi)Great plays (daxi) Small plays (xiaoxi)Small plays (xiaoxi) Determines the degree of seriousness in the Determines the degree of seriousness in the

dramatic treatmentdramatic treatment

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

All actors are proficient in:All actors are proficient in: Individual skills (gong)Individual skills (gong) Singing (chong)Singing (chong) Speech (nian)Speech (nian) Acting and Movement (zuo)Acting and Movement (zuo) Martial Arts and Acrobatics (da)Martial Arts and Acrobatics (da)

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

Parts are played by a person who is special Parts are played by a person who is special only at the one part desiredonly at the one part desired

A person may spend their whole life only A person may spend their whole life only doing one thing in every playdoing one thing in every play

Types of roles:Types of roles: Male (sheng)Male (sheng) Female (dan)Female (dan)

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

Roles of male and female broke down even Roles of male and female broke down even moremore

Male roles (sheng):Male roles (sheng): Old man (lao sheng)Old man (lao sheng) Young man (xiao sheng)Young man (xiao sheng) Warrior (wu sheng)Warrior (wu sheng) Painted face ( always a man) (Jing)Painted face ( always a man) (Jing)

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

Female Roles:Female Roles: Quiet and Gentle (quing yi)Quiet and Gentle (quing yi) Vivacious and dissolute ( hua dan)Vivacious and dissolute ( hua dan) Old women (lao dan)Old women (lao dan) Warrior Princess (wu dan)Warrior Princess (wu dan)

Clown characters (male or female) – white painted Clown characters (male or female) – white painted face (chou)face (chou)

Staging cont’dStaging cont’d

Costuming is according to time honored Costuming is according to time honored conventionsconventions

Actors both sexes wear multilayered robes Actors both sexes wear multilayered robes patterned with multi-bold colorspatterned with multi-bold colors

Some even wear headressesSome even wear headresses

Staging cont’d Staging cont’d

What certain colors mean:What certain colors mean: Bright yellow = emperorsBright yellow = emperors Apricot = foreign rulersApricot = foreign rulers White = generalsWhite = generals Bronze and bean paste = old officalsBronze and bean paste = old officals

Theatre in AsiaTheatre in Asia

Indian, Chinese, and Japanese drama are the Indian, Chinese, and Japanese drama are the most noticed in Western Theatremost noticed in Western Theatre

Never spoken, but danced, chanted, mimed, Never spoken, but danced, chanted, mimed, and sungand sung

More concerned with performing arts than More concerned with performing arts than dialoguedialogue Dance, song, mime, gesture, acrobatics, puppetry, Dance, song, mime, gesture, acrobatics, puppetry,

music, sound, costume, and makeupmusic, sound, costume, and makeup

Chinese Opera: Chinese Opera: XiquXiqu

Sung more than spokenSung more than spoken XiquXiqu means tuneful-theatre means tuneful-theatre

We translate it as Chinese Opera We translate it as Chinese Opera Xiqu’sXiqu’s Origins Origins

ZajuZaju- “various plays”- “various plays”

Xiqu’sXiqu’s Origins Origins

Zaju- “Zaju- “various plays”various plays” First form appeared in Song dynastyFirst form appeared in Song dynasty Comedic music-dance-dramaComedic music-dance-drama

KunquKunqu Appeared in Ming dynastyAppeared in Ming dynasty Poetic and aristocratic operaPoetic and aristocratic opera

Xiqu’sXiqu’s Origins Origins

““Clapper Opera”Clapper Opera” Characterized by rhythmic beating of drumsticks Characterized by rhythmic beating of drumsticks

on a hardwood blockon a hardwood block Jingju Jingju

a.k.a. Beijing Operaa.k.a. Beijing Opera Most famous todayMost famous today Singing, music, and acrobatics and martial artsSinging, music, and acrobatics and martial arts

Staging of XiquStaging of Xiqu

First, performed outdoors, on temporary stagesFirst, performed outdoors, on temporary stages Later moved into tea gardens and restaurants Later moved into tea gardens and restaurants Today it is in international–style Chinese Today it is in international–style Chinese

theatretheatre InformalInformal

Free to talk, eat, and move during perfomancesFree to talk, eat, and move during perfomances

Staging of XiquStaging of Xiqu

Based on well-known stories from Chinese Based on well-known stories from Chinese history or mythhistory or myth

Actors must be proficient in Actors must be proficient in Singing, speech, acting , and movement, and Singing, speech, acting , and movement, and

martial arts and acrobaticsmartial arts and acrobatics

Theatre in JapanTheatre in Japan

Two Main Theatre FormsTwo Main Theatre Forms

NNōō KabukiKabuki

NNōō

Japans most revered and cerebral theatreJapans most revered and cerebral theatre Oldest continuously performed drama in worldOldest continuously performed drama in world Almost always portrays supernatural events and Almost always portrays supernatural events and

characterscharacters

NNō characters: ō characters: ShiteShite

All plays focus on a single characterAll plays focus on a single character Shite (doer)Shite (doer) Shite is usually gods, ghosts, women, animals, or Shite is usually gods, ghosts, women, animals, or

warriorswarriors Shite character always has a maskShite character always has a mask

Nō charactersNō characters: Waki: Waki

Waki character also usedWaki character also used Waki is a secondary characterWaki is a secondary character Interrogates, prompts, and challenges shiteInterrogates, prompts, and challenges shite Always represents a living maleAlways represents a living male

Usually ministers, commoners, or priestsUsually ministers, commoners, or priests

NNō actorsō actors

Always maleAlways male Train for only one role typeTrain for only one role type Normally perform this role for their careerNormally perform this role for their career

NNō stageō stage

Highly polished Japanese cypress flooringHighly polished Japanese cypress flooring Earthenware jugs supporting floor resonate with Earthenware jugs supporting floor resonate with

foot stompingsfoot stompings Hashigakari – bridgelike runway providing access Hashigakari – bridgelike runway providing access

to stage right, characteristic of styleto stage right, characteristic of style Ornate, curved roof covers stageOrnate, curved roof covers stage

NNō overallō overall

Never been a mass entertainment, mostly produced Never been a mass entertainment, mostly produced for enthusiastsfor enthusiasts

In Japan however, number of In Japan however, number of NNō supporters ō supporters growinggrowing

Remains a national pastimeRemains a national pastime Sublime mystery and serenity is reflective of Sublime mystery and serenity is reflective of

Buddhist and Shinto valuesBuddhist and Shinto values

KabukiKabuki

Created during the Edo EraCreated during the Edo Era Themes consisted of conflicts of humanity and Themes consisted of conflicts of humanity and

the feudalistic systemthe feudalistic system

Kabuki Origins/HistoryKabuki Origins/History

Invented by Izumo Okuni around 1600Invented by Izumo Okuni around 1600 Started as an all women ensembleStarted as an all women ensemble In 1629 the Government banned women from In 1629 the Government banned women from

the stage because the behavior was against the stage because the behavior was against moralsmorals

Catamites (boy prostitutes) were hired to play Catamites (boy prostitutes) were hired to play the rolesthe roles

Kabuki Origins/History Cont.Kabuki Origins/History Cont.

In 1652 the government outlawed the boy In 1652 the government outlawed the boy performers as wellperformers as well

Adult males became the leads in the playsAdult males became the leads in the plays Still all male ensemble to this dayStill all male ensemble to this day Kabuki became more sober and dramatic as a Kabuki became more sober and dramatic as a

resultresult

Kabuki PlaysKabuki Plays

Most fall into 3 categoriesMost fall into 3 categories History plays (jidaimono)History plays (jidaimono)

Dramatize political eventsDramatize political events Domestic plays (sewamono)Domestic plays (sewamono)

Deal with affairs of townspeople, merchants or loversDeal with affairs of townspeople, merchants or lovers Dance dramas (shosagoto)Dance dramas (shosagoto)

Among most popular deal with spirits and animalsAmong most popular deal with spirits and animals

Kabuki TheatresKabuki Theatres

Kabuki-za theatre in TokyoKabuki-za theatre in Tokyo Minami-za theatre in KyotoMinami-za theatre in Kyoto Shinkabuki-za theatre in OsakaShinkabuki-za theatre in Osaka

Kabuki SceneryKabuki Scenery

Stage sets 2 or 3 stories highStage sets 2 or 3 stories high Revolving stagesRevolving stages Rolling stage wagons provide 3-D backgroundRolling stage wagons provide 3-D background

Kabuki MusicKabuki Music

Music room called the GezaMusic room called the Geza OrchestraOrchestra

Chief instrument is samisen banjo like 3-string Chief instrument is samisen banjo like 3-string instrumentinstrument

Almost always continuous music and sound Almost always continuous music and sound effects from the Gezaeffects from the Geza

Kabuki Actor TrainingKabuki Actor Training

Train for much of lifeTrain for much of life Actors work up from small parts to larger onesActors work up from small parts to larger ones People say actor doesn’t develop Kabuki face People say actor doesn’t develop Kabuki face

until their 50’suntil their 50’s