1. 17th Century French Theatre Neo-Classicism

2. Neo-Classicism After 1625 French theatre began to grow and develop.
The political climate in France was becoming more stable.
Previously, in the 1500s there had been battles to fight during the Civil War, meaning little time and energy went into theatre.

3. King Louis 14

4. Cardinal Richelieu set out to reform the theatre
He looked at what other European countries were doing.
He adopted some ideas from these countries, especially Italy. This included using a proscenium arch and scenery
He believed in an ideal of drama which became known as ‘neo-classical’

6. Neo-classical Ideals
Neo-classical drama was very ordered and ideals or rules had to be followed
Plays were either all tragedy or all comedy
Tragedies: noble characters who were based on royalty
Comedies: ordinary, everyday people
The plays were written in 5 acts
All action on stage took place within the same place and day

7. The plot or storyline had to be simple
The ending had to have a positive outcome, ie a happy ending
Evil characters had to be punished
Good characters had to be rewarded
Plays that were performed in France and did NOT follow these neo-classical guidelines were often disregarded or attacked

8. The Theatres
The best places to perform these plays was in a purpose built theatre
These theatres had a proscenium arch
In a proscenium arch theatre, the audience sits in front of the stage
The stage is framed within a border around the sides and across the top, forming a picture frame effect

10. When watching a play the audience was ‘looking into another world’
Proscenium arch stages became the most popular form of stage
They are still popular today
This sort of theatre is often referred to as ‘4th wall’. Why?

11. Famous Playwrights – Racine, Corneille and Moliere
Corneille and Racine were famous for their tragedies
Moliere ( )
Moliere was considered the outstanding French playwright or the era
He wrote comedies
Moliere had spent many years touring with his theatre company

12. Corneille

13. Racine

14. Moliere

15. Moliere had spent many years touring with his theatre company
He learnt much from Commedia dell’arte troupes
Once established again in Paris, he worked at the Palais Royal Theatre with a variety of other companies

17. Moliere ran his own company
He also wrote the plays
And acted in them!

18. French theatre companies like Moliere’s were comprised of 10 – 20 members
This included musicians and backstage crew
Women actors were allowed
All profits were shared

19. Tartuffe Tartuffe was one of Moliere’s most popular plays
It was religious satire
It attacked groups who spent their time judging other people’s morals
Tartuffe is still enjoyed today

20. Moliere’s whole life was theatre
His wife was an actress in his company
Moliere wrote excellent female parts for her in his plays
His company was immensely successful
Moliere became very ill during a performance of one of his plays “The Imaginary Invalid”
He died only a few hours later
His comedies were his greatest achievements

21. The Stage The French adopted the proscenium arch stage
Fully indoor theatres

22. Lighting Light was provided by candles and oil lamps
Lighting included chandeliers and footlights
Audience lights were left on to help light up the stage
Lighting effects were very difficult
Stage was not as well lit as today

23. Scenery Simple and minimal No scene changes
Same settings used for many plays
Furniture and props were used sparingly
It was common for some audience to sit on stage!
On stage seating more expensive
Too disruptive and was abolished in the 1750s

24. The French Actors Professionals Earned their living from their craft
Companies had to make good money just to survive
Shareholders bought shares or parts in the companies
Shareholders were allowed to vote on which plays were to be produced

25. Each company had a set of plays it performed at different times
Actors specialised in the type of role they played, which were fairly stereotyped – bit like Commedia
Actors had to provide their own costumes which was expensive
Costumes were the contemporary dress of the time