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6 BCE
Ancient Greek Theatre
Ancient Greek theatre originated in Athens as a form of entertainment and expression, closely intertwined with religious and cultural festivals. It explores themes of tragedy, heroism, and the human condition. FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
1. Aeschylus
2. Sophocles
3. Euripides CONVENTIONS
-Masks
-Chorus
-Prologue -
1544
Commedia Dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte theatre emerged in Italy as a form of professional, improvised comedy characterized by stock characters and masked performances. It played a significant role in the development of modern theatre, influencing the styles and techniques of later playwrights and performers. FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
1. Carlo Goldoni
2. Flaminio Scala
3. Angelo Beolco CONVENTIONS
-Stock characters
-Inverting status
-Lazzi -
1560
Shakespeare/Elizabethan
This era of theatre refers to when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England, and William Shakespeare emerged as a prominent playwright. Witnessing a flourishing of theatre, with the construction of iconic theatres like the Globe, and the production of countless plays that continue to be celebrated today. FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
1. William Shakespeare
2. Christopher Marlowe
3. Ben Jonson CONVENTIONS
-Blank verse
-Soliloquies
-Direct audience interaction -
Melodrama
Melodrama theatre is a popular form of entertainment characterized by exaggerated emotions, clear moral conflicts, and spectacle. It offered a means of escape from the challenges of modern life and appealed to a wide audience with its intense emotions, dramatic plots, and easily recognizable characters. FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
1. Victorien Sardou
2. Dion Boucicault
3. Augustin Daly CONVENTIONS
-Exaggerated emotions
-Stock characters
-Music -
Realism
The realism theatre period emerged as a response to the romantic and melodramatic conventions of the time. It aimed to present realistic portrayals of everyday life, exploring social issues, class divisions, and psychological complexities. FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS
1. Henrik Ibsen
2. Anton Chekhov
3. August Strindberg CONVENTIONS
-Depiction of ordinary characters and situations
-Detailed and accurate setting
-Cause and effect narrative structure -
Expressionism
Expressionism begun as a response to the rapid social, political, and technological changes of the time. It originated in reaction to the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and the disillusionment following World War I, and sought to depict the inner emotional and psychological states of characters. FAMOUS PLAYRIGHTS
1. Georg Kaiser
2. August Strindberg
3. Ernst Toller CONVENTIONS
-Distorted and exaggerated visuals
-Non-realistic settings
-The fragmentation and manipulation of time