Introduction To Theatre

Reget/Julious: 3,5,6,8,9

Introduction to Theatre

Theatre: Dramatic literature or its performance; drama

While elements of theatre date back thousands of years, the Greeks truly established theatre and drama as we know it today.

Intro to Theatre

Why would theatre begin?

1. Preservation of culture

2. Payment to the gods/God

3. Entertainment

Preservation of culture

Initially rituals and celebrations were developed to honor the gods.

The rituals included: song, dance, sacrifice, and prayer

Through these traditions, a people’s culture and tradition could easily be preserved

Payment to the Gods/God

The Greeks had a festival known as the City of Dionysia to honor the god Dionysus

Dionysus – the Greek god of wine and fertility Rituals, songs, and sacrifices began to take

shape in to standard story lines and developed in to what we now see as theatre

Ancient Greece

Eventually the Greeks assembled a massive theatres to honor the gods and traditions of theater

One such theatre is the Theatre at Mt. Parnassus or The Theatre of Dionysisus in athens

Theatre of Dionysius - Athens

Ancient Greek Theatre

The theatres were built in to hillsides and designed so everyone could hear and see the play

Ancient Theatres sat roughly 12,000 – 14,000 spectators (The United Center seats 22,00)

Greek Drama

Greek Drama fit in to 2 main concepts

1. Tragedy – a play that ends in a funeral

2. Comedy – a play that ends in a wedding

Greek Drama

Aristotle wrote a piece known as Aristotle’s Poetics

In his writing he identified the six elements of Theatre that are still applied today

6 elements of theatre

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Thought

4. Diction

5. Music

6. Spectacle

Plot

Def: The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama

There are seven elements to a plot line

Elements of Plot

1. Exposition – when the audience learns any new information about character, setting, or plot Exposition can take place at any point

throughout the story. EXPOSTION IS NOT ONLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY!!!

Setting: Any information about time, location, and any other information about where the story takes place.

Elements of Plot

2. Inciting Incident - point in the story that sets all the events of plot in to motion Think of the inciting incident like lighting the

wick of a giant firework or knocking over the first domino in a pattern

Elements of Plot

3. Rising action – builds up the tension and eventually leads the story in to the climax Includes complications, and plot twists,

betrayals, etc.

Plot Elements

4. Climax – The peak, or turning point, in a a plot dramatic or dramatic action

If the story is a tragedy, this where everything turns ugly and goes wrong for the protagonist

If the story is a comedy, this where the protagonist begins to do well.

Plot Elements

5. Falling Action – The decline of action in a plot line immediately following the climax

6. Denouement - the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work

Translation: An untying

6 elements of theatre

1. Plot

2. Character3. Thought

4. Diction

5. Music

6. Spectacle

Character

2. A person portrayed in an artistic piece or novel (play); Characterization in fiction or drama

Character’s are the people that carry out the actions and drama of the plot line.

Character and Conflict

There are three types of conflict in which a character can be involved

1. Man v. Man

2. Man v. Self

3. Man v. Nature

Character

In order to build on some traits, strengths or weaknesses of some characters, many writers will create what is known as a foil character

Foil – one that by contrast underscores or enhances the characteristics of another

6 elements of theatre

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Thought4. Diction

5. Music

6. Spectacle

Thought

3. Thought is the main idea of the play. Think of thought to be the same as the theme of the play.

Theme – an implicit or recurrent idea Aristotle wrote, “Thought is required

wherever a statement is provided, or, it may be, a general truth said.”

6 elements of theatre

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Thought

4. Diction 5. Music

6. Spectacle

Diction

Diction is the way in which the words of the of the play are spoken

Purpose– Diction is the language of the play – it reinforces

and builds upon theme and character

Definition– Diction - Choice and use of words in speech or

writing

Diction

How would a character speak if the author wanted the character to sound:

Intelligent – examples Foolish – examples Brave – examples Frightening – examples

6 elements of theatre

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Thought

4. Diction

5. Music6. Spectacle

Music / Rhythm

Music reinforces plot, character, thought, and diction

Music heightens the tone and mood of the play – it can make moments seem more intense, romantic, frightening, uplifting, depressing, etc.

Music

Discussion: How does music affect the way you interpret or enjoy plays or movies?

6 elements of theatre

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Thought

4. Diction

5. Music

6. Spectacle

Spectacle

6. Purpose – Spectacle is used to embellish the plot of the play. It is by far the least essential of the 6 elements of theatre

Aristotle wrote, “The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry.”

Spectacle

Definition – Something that can be seen or viewed, especially something of remarkable or impressive nature.

The most obvious representation of spectacle would be special effects.