History of Theatrical Forms Timeline.pdf

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1. History of
Theatrical Forms
Timeline

2. Introduction
In fact, the history of
theater can be traced back
to 6th Century B.C. where
the Ancient Greeks were
the first to present
dramatic presentations.
One of the most popular
forms of entertainment for
people is a visit to the
theater. For centuries
people have enjoyed
drama, comedy, music, and
other forms of
entertainment.
Greeks
The Ancient Greeks not only invented
theater itself, but they also created
multiple genres, including the comedy,
tragedy, and the satire genres. Each of
these entertained audiences at first in
Athens, and then the practice spread
throughout Greece. These plays were
performed in the ancient theaters that
were at first built in Athens, and then the
other ancient city-states began building
them, as well.

It is true that the Ancient Greeks invented
the theater as we know it today. In fact,
many of the plays that were written back
then have not only survived, but are still
being performed today, such as Oedipus
Rex, Medea, and Prometheus Bound.

Romans in terms of
Theater
Rome was founded as a monarchy under Etruscan rule, and
remained as such throughout the first two and a half
centuries of its existence. Following the expulsion of Rome's
last king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, or "Tarquin the
Proud," circa 509 BC, Rome became a republic and was
henceforth led by a group of magistrates elected by the
Roman people. It is believed that Roman theatre was born
during the first two centuries of the Roman Republic,
following the spread of Roman rule into a large area of the
Italian Peninsula, circa 364 BC.

Unlike Greek theatres, the Romans did not build their
theatres into the hillside. Instead, Roman theatres were
free-standing buildings. Constructed in 55 BCE, the
Theatre of Pompey was the first permanent theatre built
in Rome. The theatre likely held between 17,500 and
20,000 audience members
Medieval Theatre
(Western)
During the Middle Ages, theatre
began a new cycle of
development that paralleled the
emergence of the theatre from
ritual activity in the early Greek
period. Whereas the Greek theatre
had grown out of Dionysian
worship, the medieval theatre
originated as an expression of the
Christian religion. The two cycles
would eventually merge during the
Renaissance.

3. Renaissance
In the Renaissance (Re-nais-sance) period, from the
fourteenth to the seventeenth centuries, an interest in
classical Greek and Roman art, culture and theater
returned. Two major theater design traditions were
developed at this time in Italy: the proscenium (pro-scen-i-
um) arch that frames and divides the stage from the
audience and the art of painting cloths as backdrops for
scenery.
The establishment of large and profitable public theatres was an essential
enabling factor in the success of English Renaissance drama. Once they were in
operation, drama could become a fixed and permanent rather than a transitory
phenomenon. Their construction was prompted when the Mayor and
Corporation of London first banned plays in 1572 as a measure against the
plague, and then formally expelled all players from the city in 1575. This
prompted the construction of permanent playhouses outside the jurisdiction of
London, in the liberties of Halliwell/Holywell in Shoreditch and later the Clink,
and at Newington Butts near the established entertainment district of St.
George's Fields in rural Surrey. The Theatre was constructed in Shoreditch in
1576 by James Burbage with his brother-in-law John Brayne (the owner of the
unsuccessful Red Lion playhouse of 1567) and the Newington Butts playhouse
was set up, probably by Jerome Savage, some time between 1575 and 1577. The
Theatre was rapidly followed by the nearbyCurtain Theatre (1577), the Rose
(1587), the Swan (1595), the Globe (1599), the Fortune (1600), and the Red
Bull(1604).
Baroque
The Baroque period was an artistic movement dating
from approximately 1600 to 1750. The movement
began in Italy and expanded throughout Europe, which
was supported by the Catholic Church during the time
of the Counter-Reformation. Defined as complicated,
exaggerated, and ornate, Baroque style often created
motion, friction, and intensity by associating aspects of
contrast.

During the Baroque age, the theatre reflected the
growing complexity of ideas, comedic and dramatic
elements, plots, and characters. The dramatists of the
era explored the predominant themes of art imitating
life and the world as a stage. Some of these
playwrights, who hailed from England, France, and
Spain, included Shakespeare, Behn, Corneille, Racine,
Molière, Lopa De Vega, and Calderón. Let's look at
some of these different eras where Baroque theatre
developed.
Neoclassical
Neoclassical theatre — often spelled as theater —
refers to a movement in the mid-17th to early-18th
centuries in which the theatrical arts were defined by
the ideas and styles of ancient Greek and Roman
societies. People of the time placed a heavy focus on
decorum, or dignified behavior, and realism, and they
believed that the primary reasons for a play were to
provide entertainment and to teach a lesson. Grand,
intricate scenery, elaborate drama and strict concern
for the classics were earmarks of the movement, with
most productions also characterized through the use
of five acts, few performances and a high level of
improvisation. The movement began in France but
quickly spread throughout Europe and beyond.