1. Theatre History

2. Why Theatre History?  Theatre reflects: human life human life desires desires needs needs society society politics politics economy economy religion religion

3. Primitive Theatre  Drama= “to do” or “to act” Greek word  Roots: dance danceimitationmimicking telling a story

4. Primitive Theatre  Dances- a major component to celebrate or prepare for an event -war-hunts-battles -keeping spirits happy -passing into adulthood

5. Primitive Theatre  Ritual- chanting, singing -medicine man -witch doctor -priests  Circles  Temples  Fires  Some still exists today in tribes/reenactments

6. Egyptian Theatre  3000 BC  Life after death- focus  Pyramids  Afterworld

7. Egyptian Theatre- 5 categories  1. Pyramid Plays priests performed these priests performed these painted on tomb walls: plotcharacters stage directions  Plot: ascent of the soul to the stars and resurrection resurrection

8. Egyptian Theatre- 5 categories  2. Coronation plays new pharoah-pageantry new pharoah-pageantry  3. Heb Sed- Coronation Jubilee 30 th year on throne remembering great events of reign

9. Egyptian Theatre- 5 categories  4. Medicinal Plays the magic of healing Goddess Isis of the Nile her child bitten by a scorpion saves her child with magic and CPR

10. Egyptian Theatre- 5 categories  5. Abydos Passion Plays- Annual event Story: Set, the god of evil, is jealous of his brother, Osiris, and puts him in a coffin, nails it shut and throws him in the Nile. Osiris’s wife, Isis, finds Osiris and buries him. Set takes the body, chops it up, and scatters the body. Isis collects it and reburies Osiris- he becomes the King of the Dead. Set, the god of evil, is jealous of his brother, Osiris, and puts him in a coffin, nails it shut and throws him in the Nile. Osiris’s wife, Isis, finds Osiris and buries him. Set takes the body, chops it up, and scatters the body. Isis collects it and reburies Osiris- he becomes the King of the Dead.

11. Hebrew Theatre  Israelites had theatre  Stated in Bible that they had plays and ceremonies  Two books of the Bible are actually plays: poetic drama Song of Solomon- poetic drama used at weddings 5 act play with prologue and epilogue about the trials in Job’s life Book of Job- 5 act play with prologue and epilogue about the trials in Job’s life  Modern version called JB