What is Performance???

What is traditional theatre?

Is this Theatre?
Performance Art Richard Schechner
(editor of TDR: The Drama Review at NYUs
Tisch School of the Arts; first to define what
he was seeing; audience may or may not
know they are witnessing theatre; theatrical
in nature, but very free form
Allan Kaprows happenings (60s-70s)
movement in U.S., loosely organized
performance art, Doorway Behavior (tested
the publics innate response to 2 approaching
a door at same time, found gender politics
played large role in who goes first

Performance by definition
Choices made in Collaboration and
bound by Convention.

In Other Words
Choices: script is a blueprint for a
production
Collaboration: multiple contributors work
toward a common goal
Convention: tradition/custom audience
accepts--(Example: fourth wall or willing
suspension of disbelief)

Theatre vs. Other Arts

How is Theatre different from other
storytelling or performing arts?
It is a living art form
Ephemeral; transitory; an event in time

LIVE PRESENCE is key!!!

Ingredients
1. Space
2. Performers
3. Audience
A man walks across this empty space, whilst
someone else is watching him and this is all that
is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged."

Peter Brook (Wroe, Guardian Umlimited, May 12, 2007)

A Brief
Theatrical History lesson
in 7 slides.

Storytelling: Art & Function

All human societies
Early Theatrical artists compelled to act
them out

Script sources for Theatre

Ritual: A Root of Theatre

Storytelling fed into ritual
Symbolic in nature
Interactively engaging
According to Stephanie Arnold
Ceremonial observationrepeated in a specific
way.
Highly symbolic eventsdensely coded
meaning.

Societal Examples of Theatrical

Types of Gatherings

Weddings
Funerals
Graduations
Football Games
Political Debates
Religious Worship Services

Origins of Theatre
Quick Reference: chart on page 12 (audio says
page 12 but that was my goof! Sorry!)
TRAGEDY:
From Greek word tragoidia (goat song)
Stemmed from worship to Dionysus, Greek
god of wine and revelry

 ANCIENT TRAGEDY

3 sources for info:

31 plays
3 playwrights (Aeschylus,
Sophocles, Euripides)
1 Theorist -- Aristotle

Aristotles Ars Poetica

Tragedy is an (1.)imitation
of an action that is serious,
complete, and of a certain
magnitude; in(2.) language
embellished with each kind
of artistic ornament [](3.)
in the form of action, not of
narrative; through pity and
fear effecting the proper
(4.)purgation of these
emotions.

Translation
1.) mimesis, human actors
SHOW us the story
2.) poetry

3.) Stories acted out rather than

told
4.) Catharsis the purging of
pity and fear

Greek Theatrical Conventions

Violence offstage (ekklyklema)

Late point of attack; 24 hour time frame
Focused on ethical qualities
Historical and mythical subjects
Use of the mask
Chorus
Functioned as group, served various literary
purposes

Medieval Theatre
Purpose: for Catholic church to communicate
Christian teachings to the masses
Pageant Wagons: horse-drawn carts of
individual playlets parade
Community focused efforts
Episodic in structure