Theatre HistoryTheatre History

Why Theatre History?Why Theatre History?

Theatre reflects:Theatre reflects:

human lifehuman life

desiresdesires

needsneeds

societysociety

politicspolitics

economyeconomy

religionreligion

Primitive TheatrePrimitive Theatre

Drama= “to do” or “to act”Drama= “to do” or “to act” Greek word Greek word

Roots:Roots:

dancedance

imitationimitation

mimickingmimicking

telling a storytelling a story

Primitive TheatrePrimitive Theatre

Dances- a major component to celebrate Dances- a major component to celebrate or prepare for an eventor prepare for an event

-war-war

-hunts-hunts

-battles-battles

-keeping spirits happy-keeping spirits happy

-passing into adulthood-passing into adulthood

Primitive TheatrePrimitive Theatre

Ritual- chanting, singingRitual- chanting, singing

-medicine man-medicine man

-witch doctor-witch doctor

-priests-priests CirclesCircles TemplesTemples FiresFires Some still exists today in tribes/reenactmentsSome still exists today in tribes/reenactments

Egyptian TheatreEgyptian Theatre

3000 BC3000 BC

Life after death- focusLife after death- focus

PyramidsPyramids

AfterworldAfterworld

Egyptian Theatre- 5 categoriesEgyptian Theatre- 5 categories

1. Pyramid Plays1. Pyramid Plays priests performed thesepriests performed these

painted on tomb walls:painted on tomb walls:plot plot characterscharactersstage directionsstage directions

Plot: ascent of the soul to the stars and Plot: ascent of the soul to the stars and resurrectionresurrection

Egyptian Theatre- 5 categoriesEgyptian Theatre- 5 categories

2. Coronation plays2. Coronation plays new pharoah-pageantrynew pharoah-pageantry

3. Heb Sed- Coronation Jubilee3. Heb Sed- Coronation Jubilee3030thth year on throne year on throneremembering great events of reignremembering great events of reign

Egyptian Theatre- 5 categoriesEgyptian Theatre- 5 categories

4. Medicinal Plays4. Medicinal Plays

the magic of healingthe magic of healing

Goddess Isis of the NileGoddess Isis of the Nile

her child bitten by a scorpionher child bitten by a scorpion

saves her child with magic and CPRsaves her child with magic and CPR

Egyptian Theatre- 5 categoriesEgyptian Theatre- 5 categories

5. Abydos Passion Plays-5. Abydos Passion Plays-Annual eventAnnual eventStory:Story:

Set, the god of evil, is jealous of his brother, Set, the god of evil, is jealous of his brother, Osiris, and puts him in a coffin, nails it shut and Osiris, and puts him in a coffin, nails it shut and throws him in the Nile. Osiris’s wife, Isis, finds throws him in the Nile. Osiris’s wife, Isis, finds Osiris and buries him. Set takes the body, chops Osiris and buries him. Set takes the body, chops it up, and scatters the body. Isis collects it and it up, and scatters the body. Isis collects it and reburies Osiris- he becomes the King of the reburies Osiris- he becomes the King of the Dead.Dead.

Hebrew TheatreHebrew Theatre

Israelites had theatreIsraelites had theatre Stated in Bible that they had plays and Stated in Bible that they had plays and

ceremoniesceremonies Two books of the Bible are actually plays:Two books of the Bible are actually plays:

Song of Solomon- poetic drama poetic drama

used at weddingsused at weddings

Book of Job- 5 act play with prologue and 5 act play with prologue and epilogue about the trials in Job’s lifeepilogue about the trials in Job’s life

Modern version called Modern version called JBJB