what is a theater

8/6/2019 What is a Theater

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Republic of the Philippines

Matiao National High School

Special Program in Arts

A Compilation

On

THEATER

Submitted To:

Rudy B. Pascua, JR THEATER Arts Teacher

Submitted By:

Nadine Morales BarrosSPA-3 Student

Date of SubmissionMarch 21, 2011



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What is a theater?

Theatre (or theater, see spelling differences) is a branch of the performing arts. Any

performance may be considered theatre; however, as a performing art, theatre focuses almost

exclusively on live performers creating a self-contained drama. A performance qualifies as

dramatic by creating a representational illusion.

By this broad definition, theatre had existed

since the dawn of man, as a result of the human tendency for storytelling. Since its inception,

theatre has come to take on many forms, utilizing speech, gesture, music, dance, writing, and

spectacle, combining the other performing arts, often as well as the visual arts, into a single

artistic form. The word derives from the Ancient Greek theatron ( ) meaning "a place for

viewing."[3]

Modern Western theatre derives in large measure from Greek drama, from which it

borrows technical terminology, classification into genres, and many of its themes, stock

characters, and plot developments.

Reference: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_a_theater#ixzz1GxOYQcZJ

The Basic Elements of Theatre

Script/Text, Scenario, Plan:

This is the starting point of the theatrical performance. The element most often

considered as the domain of the playwright in theatre. The playwrights script is the

text by which theatre is created. It can be simplistic, as in the 16th

century, with the

scenarios used by the acting troupes of the Commedia dell arte, or it can be

elaborate, such as the works of William Shakespeare. The script, scenario, or plan is

what the director uses as a blue print to build a production from.

The Process:

This is the coordination of the creative efforts usually headed up in theatre by the

director. It is the pure process by which the playwrights work is brought to

realization by the director, actors, designers, technicians, dancers, musicians, and



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any other collaborators that come together on the script, scenario, or plan. This is

the works in progress stage.

The Product:

This is the end result of the process of work involved. The final product that results

from all of the labors coming together to complete the finished work of script,

scenario, and plan, in union with all of the collaborators in the process to create the

final product. This is what the audience will witness as they sit in the theatre and

view the work.

The Audience:

Theatre requires an audience. For all of the arts public is essential. The physical

presence of an audience can change a performance, inspire actors, and create

expectations. Theatre is a living breathing art form. The presence of live actors on

the stage in front of live audiences sets it apart from modern day films and

television.

What are the different kinds of plays?

Tragedy; comedy; drame, or Schauspiel; the society play, otherwise known as the pièce,

or the emotional drama; melodrama; spectacular drama; musical drama; farce comedy, or

farcical comedy; farce; burlesque; burletta; comedietta.

The importance of theater

Theatre has been an influential factor in many people's lives, creativity can flourish,

academics can improve and means of self-expression can be developed. It is important to have

mandatory theatre classes because when a student participates, they benefit significantly.

Theatre can be influential in all aspects of life. Participating in theatre classes can stimulate

student's creativity and thought process. Developing a creative mind can lead to a more



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tolerant attitude because, "The creative process of theater leads children to be more open-

minded and acceptable because of the diverse roles they portray."1 In the future, students who

have grown up with theatre will become more tolerant of sensitive issues, which could create

better living conditions globally.

The role of theater in our society

What role does theatre play in society? According to the theorists who write treatise

after treatise about it, the theatre has quite an influential role in our world. But how is its role

defined? Is it a social institution, a place of cathartic release, or a purveyor of simple

entertainment? Each move these descriptions has been applied to theatre and to its multiple

roles. One of the most controversial roles of theatre is its function in teaching. The theatre has

been shown to be didactic, but opinions vary on whether this type of instruction is a good thing.

Theatre has also provided evidence of having influence on politics. Once again, theorists

debate the benefits and detriments of this influence. More specifically, the theorists Schiller,

Zola, and Plato individually discuss this concept of social influence in their works. Though their

opinions vary, they each focus on truth in the theatre. Truth seems easy enough to define:

that which is not false. But how does one define truth on the stage? What is happening on

stage is not actually happening, but the actors are actually doing it, so is it true or not?

Mimesis is a subjective term that somewhat encompasses this concept of truth by

characterizing theatre in terms of imitation and representation. Schiller, Zola, and Plato write

about theatres role in society and attempt to define and evaluate the concept of truth on

stage. Schiller approaches theatre as a moral institution, arguing that a mixture of imagination

and accuracy is the best route to influencing society; he feels this influence is positive. Another

who feels theatres ability to influence society is a good thing is Zola; he finds the didactic

qualities will come out of pure truth on stage, which involves meticulous authenticity.

Conversely, while Plato acknowledges the mimetic qualities of theatre, he finds them to be

removed from the truth and their influence on society to be negative. Overall, the concept of

theatre representing truth through mimesis is addressed by Schiller, Zola, and Plato in their

analyses of how the theatre plays a didactic and politically influential role in society. It is

interesting, though, that the overall implications on society arise in their discussions of how



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truth is portrayed on stage to an audience instead of how an audience interprets what is

truthful to them. With their focus on the power of the stage, each theorist has overlooked the

power of the audience. In his treatises, The Stage as a Moral Institution and On the Use of

the Chorus in Greek Tragedy, Schiller expresses his belief that theatre can and should play a

didactic role because it is positive for society. Schiller works on the basic principle that the

creative process liberates humankind by allowing the spectator to see through sensuous matter

and discover the free working of the mind (250). Through the theatre, Schiller feels that

moral instruction can be given, and that this process is a good thing. The reason Schiller

believes the theatre is so powerful is that he feels that sight is always more powerful than

description; thus, both the understanding of religion and laws can be heightened if the stage is

used to display their truths (250). However, the stage needs to display these truths in a certain

way in order for the play to be the most didactic. Schiller explains theatre as a mirror for

society, suggested his concept.



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