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Primitive Theatre *Write down anything underlined on each slide.
1 *Write down anything underlined on each slide. *This should go in your notes, which are subject to a note check at any time All the students need to get out a piece of paper and something to write with. There is a notebook on your desk you can tear paper from if there’s someone unprepared
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2 What is THEATRE to you? Ask several people for their input here… no answer is right or wrong as it’s an opinion
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You might think of musicals, like Bye, Bye Birdie or Oklahoma!
3 You might think of plays by Shakespeare, like Romeo and Juliet “Romeo & Juliet”
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Or you might think of mimes, dressed in black and white.
4 Or, you might think of actors in costumes from different time periods Marcel Marceau Or you might think of mimes, dressed in black and white.
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The REAL Story: There is no simple definition for theatre!
5 There is no simple definition for theatre! Theatre BEGAN thousands of years ago, probably before the start of recorded history. Early cultures used ritual, dance, and storytelling to communicate. Theatre is one of the humanities; it attempts to answer the questions: “Who am I?” “Why are we here?” and “Where are we going?” Underlined items should be written down by the student and emphasized
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Theatre is believed to originate from: Myths Storytelling Rituals
MOST IMPORTANT! 6 Theatre is believed to originate from: Myths Storytelling Rituals Dance
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During Early Development…
7 Societies become aware of things they cannot explain, such as natural disasters. Members of the societies may attribute these events to sources such as supernatural or magical forces for lack of better explanation
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Cultures search for ways to win the source’s favor.
Connections between actions performed (like a rain dance) and events (like rainfall) prompt the society to formalize and adapt ceremonies or rituals A common theme is the relationship between gods and humans 8
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Rituals A repeated action Symbolic significance Evokes emotions
9 A repeated action Symbolic significance Evokes emotions Through rituals, early humans wanted to: Achieve success in battle and hunting Ensure adequate sun and rain/needs Express their duty to the community and to the gods
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Other Facts: Rituals 10 Rituals were often performed by elders, priests or shamans. Rituals often told a story based on the culture’s beliefs. These stories are usually based in myth. Myths gained a life beyond the original rituals, Shamans employed the elements of performance such as characterization, dialogue, music, song, dance, illusion, clowning, ventriloquism, and hypnotism. This picture shows a Native American shaman.
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Stories that explain these things may grow from the ritual and be acted out
Performers may wear costumes and masks to represent mythical characters 11
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12 When societies figured out the science behind these various events (such as earthquakes and volcanoes) related to plate tectonics, do you think they continued to observe these rituals and ceremonies anyway or did they abandon them? Why or why not? Science VS Ritual?
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Even when cultures figure out science behind natural events, they may continue to perform rituals as part of the culture When this occurs, the first step to theatre becoming a separate activity has taken place! 13
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Storytelling Myths and stories = entertainment before written word
14 14 Myths and stories = entertainment before written word Stories were told in order to: - TEACH HISTORY - ENTERTAIN - SETTLE ARGUMENTS - HONOR THE GODS - MAKE SENSE OF THE WORLD - COMMUNICATE EXPERIENCES - RECORD HISTORY (Choose and know at least 3 of these!) Keep in mind that storytellers were not AUTHORS in the literal sense. They had no written language.
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The ORAL TRADITION is a way in which stories, events, etc
The ORAL TRADITION is a way in which stories, events, etc. can be transmitted without writing it down 15
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16 Are there any forms of oral tradition or common storytelling in our culture? Ask for student input. Answers that might come up here that are particularly valid are things like *stories told in families by older people, *fables and stories that have some moral *some church sermons *bedtime stories *stories we’re told before we learn to read
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Dance Dance is another probable origin of theatre.
17 Dance Dance is another probable origin of theatre. Dance comes from: - animal imitation - pantomime - rhythmic movement Dance was often used as part of rituals.
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Dance 18 This photo shows a traditional Fijian Warrior Dance – a ritual that uses dance showing the outcome of battles.
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Theatre! How it happened: Myths Stories Rituals Dance Entertainment
19 Myths Stories Rituals Dance Entertainment Or, “The Water Cycle of Theatre” Habit Tradition Theatre!
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The First Drama 20 The earliest example of ritual evolving into “theatre” comes from Ancient Egypt. First dramatic production = the Abydos passion play. The Play at Abydos is the story of Osiris. (He’s the green guy dressed all in white.)
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Historians found a stone tablet depicting the Abydos Passion Play
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Storytellers Homer was an ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey. Homer’s (and others!) stories provided many of the ideas and plots for playwrights that came after him! 22 Homer was a poet who may have been born on an island in the Aegean Sea (GREEK). He probably composed his works between and 800 B.C. We have very little concrete knowledge of who Homer was. Many historians suspect that Homer was not an INDIVIDUAL, but several poets whose stories became one throughout history. Most of what historians believe is contradictory, and it is based on evidence found in the Iliad and the Odyssey. Homer was one of the first storytellers to use repetition and dialogue in his stories.
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Some elements found in performative activities include:
Time Place Participants Scenario Clothing, masks, make-up Sound Movement 23
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What is Culture? 24 activities and ideas of a group of people with shared traditions, which are transmitted and reinforced by members of the group
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Although historians have researched the topic extensively, there is no way to know exactly what occurred in ancient cultures. Historians have done their best to determine what might have happened 25
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How did those historians figure all this stuff out?
26 Artifacts – cave paintings, vases, clothing, and other surviving materials
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There are performative/theatrical elements present in every society.
Examples: Political Campaigns Holidays Sporting Events Religious Ceremonies 27
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Some theatrical elements include: Spectacle Dialogue Conflict Audience
All of these don’t have to be present for an event to have theatrical elements. Performative/theatrical elements can be present even if it is not strictly theatre designed for entertainment 28
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Does this event have theatrical/performative elements?
29 Assess each scenario to see if it has spectacle, dialogue, or conflict (all three are not required for something to have theatrical properties)
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Are there theatrical elements in a classroom?
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Are there any theatrical elements involved in tv or using a computer?
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