2020thth

Century TheatreCentury Theatre

Some Important InnovatorsSome Important Innovators

As Modern Theatre opened up to the As Modern Theatre opened up to the influences of non-realistic movements influences of non-realistic movements such as Symbolism and Expressionism, as such as Symbolism and Expressionism, as well as the demands of staging works of well as the demands of staging works of Realism, there was a need for change in Realism, there was a need for change in the area of acting style, stage design and the area of acting style, stage design and directing.directing.

Many individuals made valuable contributions Many individuals made valuable contributions that both shaped the theatre and influenced that both shaped the theatre and influenced othersothers

The innovators listed are just a few of those The innovators listed are just a few of those people:people:

-Appia-Appia-Craig-Craig-Reinhardt-Reinhardt-Meyerhold-Meyerhold

Adolphe AppiaAdolphe Appia

1862 – 19281862 – 1928 Born in SwitzerlandBorn in Switzerland He sought to unify the stage elements He sought to unify the stage elements

such as set and lightingsuch as set and lighting He wanted to create a harmony that would He wanted to create a harmony that would

better serve the play being performedbetter serve the play being performed

ProblemsProblems

He didn’t always achieve harmony and He didn’t always achieve harmony and unity on stageunity on stage

Many plays were spoilt the clashing Many plays were spoilt the clashing elements and flat scenery and floors which elements and flat scenery and floors which did nothing to enhance the actor on stagedid nothing to enhance the actor on stage

To ‘blend’ such elements together he To ‘blend’ such elements together he introduced differing heights on stage, ie. introduced differing heights on stage, ie. small platforms and blocks, which opened small platforms and blocks, which opened up the stageup the stage

LightingLighting

Appia used the newer, better lights Appia used the newer, better lights available due to advances in technologyavailable due to advances in technology

He lit the stage from different angles, He lit the stage from different angles, creating many special effects and moodscreating many special effects and moods

He set high standards that inspired He set high standards that inspired directors and designersdirectors and designers

Adolphe AppiaAdolphe Appia

Appia’s stage designsAppia’s stage designs

Gordon CraigGordon Craig

1872 – 19661872 – 1966 An English actorAn English actor He elevated the status of the director as He elevated the status of the director as

someone whose vision should be created someone whose vision should be created on stageon stage

He favoured simplicityHe favoured simplicity He believed all aspects of theatre should He believed all aspects of theatre should

work together to manifest this ‘vision’work together to manifest this ‘vision’

StagecraftStagecraft

Craig moved away from the use of Craig moved away from the use of naturalistic setsnaturalistic sets

He worked with the abstract and symbolic, He worked with the abstract and symbolic, creating stunning and original designs and creating stunning and original designs and effectseffects

Every bit of space, and what filled it (or did Every bit of space, and what filled it (or did not fill it) mattered and was used to carry not fill it) mattered and was used to carry his conceptshis concepts

Craig emphasised the visual aspects of Craig emphasised the visual aspects of theatre to create the marriage of the playtheatre to create the marriage of the play

Everything was united and important in Everything was united and important in Craig’s theatreCraig’s theatre

Gordon CraigGordon Craig

Craig’s Set DesignsCraig’s Set Designs

Max ReinhardtMax Reinhardt

1872 -19431872 -1943 German directorGerman director

Further developed the role of the directorFurther developed the role of the director

He studied past theatrical traditions to He studied past theatrical traditions to learn from their staging of playslearn from their staging of plays

If an historical play was staged, Reinhardt If an historical play was staged, Reinhardt introduced the importance of recreating introduced the importance of recreating elements from that timeelements from that time

This was different because in the past very little This was different because in the past very little attention was given to theatrical historyattention was given to theatrical history

Reinhardt believed the director was free to Reinhardt believed the director was free to choose and combine any elements in staging a choose and combine any elements in staging a play in the best possible wayplay in the best possible way

Max ReinhardtMax Reinhardt

The immense set for the 1939 Max Reinhardt production of The immense set for the 1939 Max Reinhardt production of FaustFaust. The . The houses were some 35 feet high, and the windows, doors, and houses were some 35 feet high, and the windows, doors, and

stairways were functional. Much of the action took place in the rooms of stairways were functional. Much of the action took place in the rooms of the buildings, to be glimpsed through doors and windows by the the buildings, to be glimpsed through doors and windows by the

audience audience

Vsevolod MeyerholdVsevolod Meyerhold

1874 – 19401874 – 1940 Meyerhold began his career at The Meyerhold began his career at The

Moscow Art TheatreMoscow Art Theatre He worked with the famous director-actor, He worked with the famous director-actor,

StanislavskiStanislavski Meyerhold left after disagreeing with the Meyerhold left after disagreeing with the

Company’s ideasCompany’s ideas

Stanislavski emphasised creating the Stanislavski emphasised creating the appearance of realityappearance of reality

Meyerhold disagreed believing instead in Meyerhold disagreed believing instead in theatre for theatre’s saketheatre for theatre’s sake

The audience did not need to be fooled The audience did not need to be fooled that they were anywhere else other than a that they were anywhere else other than a theatretheatre

Meyerhold’s IdeasMeyerhold’s Ideas

No curtainsNo curtains Extending the stage into the auditoriumExtending the stage into the auditorium Fully lighting the auditoriumFully lighting the auditorium The key factor was the actorThe key factor was the actor Sets, costumes and words were not Sets, costumes and words were not

essentialessential

BiomechanicsBiomechanics

Meyerhold’s interest in human movement Meyerhold’s interest in human movement led him to develop ‘Biomechanics’led him to develop ‘Biomechanics’

Biomechanics was a detailed form of Biomechanics was a detailed form of physically training actors that enhanced physically training actors that enhanced focusfocus

Vsevolod MeyerholdVsevolod Meyerhold

Meyerhold’s BiomechanicsMeyerhold’s Biomechanics

Meyerhold’s ProductionsMeyerhold’s Productions

These innovative theatre practitioners had These innovative theatre practitioners had a great effect on theatre in the later 20a great effect on theatre in the later 20thth and early 21and early 21stst century. century.