A Brief History of A Brief History of DramaDrama

Major DevelopmentsMajor Developments

Drama – To be, or not to Drama – To be, or not to be, that is the question be, that is the question

Drama – Drama – a literary composition involving a literary composition involving conflict, action crisis and atmosphere conflict, action crisis and atmosphere designed to be acted by players on a designed to be acted by players on a stage before an audiencestage before an audience.. This definition This definition may be applied to motion picture drama as may be applied to motion picture drama as well as to the traditional stage. well as to the traditional stage.

Drama had it’s origin in the country of Drama had it’s origin in the country of GreeceGreece around 500 B.C. around 500 B.C.

Drama, as a literary genre, is an art form Drama, as a literary genre, is an art form that is that is meant to be performed! meant to be performed!

Greek Theatre Greek Theatre The The Greek Theatre Greek Theatre or or Greek Drama Greek Drama is a is a

theatrical tradition that flourished in ancient theatrical tradition that flourished in ancient Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 B.C. in Athens. Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 B.C. in Athens. Athens was the centre of ancient Greek theatre. Athens was the centre of ancient Greek theatre. Tragedy (late 6Tragedy (late 6thth century B.C.), comedy (~486 century B.C.), comedy (~486 B.C.) and satyr plays were some of the theatrical B.C.) and satyr plays were some of the theatrical

forms to emerge in the worldforms to emerge in the world. Greek theatre . Greek theatre and plays have had a lasting impact and plays have had a lasting impact on Western drama and culture. on Western drama and culture.

Greek Theatre continued Greek Theatre continued

The earliest dramas were designed The earliest dramas were designed to to worship to gods and worship to gods and goddesses, specifically Bacchus goddesses, specifically Bacchus and Dionysusand Dionysus

The Greek tragedies of Aeschychus, The Greek tragedies of Aeschychus, Sophocles and Euripides were Sophocles and Euripides were performed annually at the spring performed annually at the spring festival of Dionysus, god of wine and festival of Dionysus, god of wine and inspiration. inspiration.

The The GreekGreek

ss

In In 534 B.C 534 B.C a contest was a contest was won by won by Thespis Thespis in Athensin Athens..

He is the first recorded winner He is the first recorded winner of this contest. Tragedy (the of this contest. Tragedy (the group word “tragoidia” began group word “tragoidia” began with the introduction of an with the introduction of an actor, who played various roles actor, who played various roles by changing by changing masks, masks, whose whose actions the chorus actions the chorus commented on in song. commented on in song.

Thespis according to Thespis according to Themistius’s account, was Themistius’s account, was the first “actor” the first “actor” and usually and usually credited with “inventing” credited with “inventing” drama as we know it (actors drama as we know it (actors speaking lines) –thus actors are speaking lines) –thus actors are know known as know known as ThespiansThespians

Decline of Drama Decline of Drama

Drama went into a period of decline Drama went into a period of decline around around A.D. 400 A.D. 400 (Roman Empire) (Roman Empire)

Due to the Due to the Power of ChristiansPower of Christians Acting has been deemed at times to be Acting has been deemed at times to be

unchristian, idolatrous and depraved or, worse, unchristian, idolatrous and depraved or, worse, boring. Actors themselves have frequently been boring. Actors themselves have frequently been seen to be one of the humbler classes, and only seen to be one of the humbler classes, and only towards the end of the 19towards the end of the 19thth century did their century did their status start to improvestatus start to improve

Revival of Drama Revival of Drama

A. D. 900-1500A. D. 900-1500 Medieval DramaMedieval Drama, when it emerged , when it emerged

hundreds of years later, was a new hundreds of years later, was a new creation rather than a rebirth. The creation rather than a rebirth. The drama of earlier times having almost drama of earlier times having almost no influence on it. The reason for this no influence on it. The reason for this creation came from a quarter that creation came from a quarter that had traditionally opposed any form of had traditionally opposed any form of theatre: theatre: The Christian church The Christian church

Medieval DramaMedieval Drama

Purpose: Teach religionPurpose: Teach religion Types of acceptable drama:Types of acceptable drama:

1. )Miracle plays – lives of saints.1. )Miracle plays – lives of saints.

2.) Morality plays – being good/ 2.) Morality plays – being good/ moralmoral

3.) Mystery plays – life of Christ 3.) Mystery plays – life of Christ

Middle Ages Theatre Middle Ages Theatre

During the Middle Ages, most plays During the Middle Ages, most plays were about were about the lives of saints the lives of saints and/or Bible storiesand/or Bible stories. .

Renaissance DramaRenaissance Drama

Ruler: Elizabeth IRuler: Elizabeth I Renaissance Drama Renaissance Drama is English drama written is English drama written

before the Reformation and the closure of before the Reformation and the closure of theatres in 1642. It may also be called theatres in 1642. It may also be called early early modern English theatre modern English theatre or (misaccurately) or (misaccurately) Elizabethan theatreElizabethan theatre. It includes the drama of . It includes the drama of William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare, the most notable the most notable playwright during this period. playwright during this period.

One distinctive feature of the companies that One distinctive feature of the companies that put on Elizabethan plays was that they put on Elizabethan plays was that they included only included only malesmales. .

Elizabethan DramaElizabethan Drama

ShakespeareShakespeare Christopher MarloweChristopher Marlowe Thomas KydThomas Kyd John LylyJohn Lyly

Victorian/Modern Victorian/Modern English dramaEnglish drama

Oscar WildeOscar Wilde George Bernard George Bernard

ShawShaw The Abbey Theatre: The Abbey Theatre:

key figures were key figures were W.B. Yeats and Lady W.B. Yeats and Lady Augusta Gregory; Augusta Gregory; opened in Dublin in opened in Dublin in 1903 and helped to 1903 and helped to produce new Irish produce new Irish plays (J.M. Synge)plays (J.M. Synge)

Modern Drama Modern Drama Primary characteristic – Primary characteristic – realismrealism Some of the major forms of drama are:Some of the major forms of drama are: TragedyTragedy ComedyComedy Melodrama Melodrama

Most importantly, drama, as a literary Most importantly, drama, as a literary genre, is an art form that is genre, is an art form that is meant to be meant to be performedperformed. .

Dramatic Dramatic Terminology Terminology

Literary Terms Literary Terms

Acts and ScenesActs and Scenes

Subdivisions in the play when the Subdivisions in the play when the time or place usually changes time or place usually changes

Acts – big breaks (in Shakespeare Acts – big breaks (in Shakespeare plays usually 5 Acts)plays usually 5 Acts)

Scenes – smaller breaks within acts Scenes – smaller breaks within acts (usually one or two per act) (usually one or two per act)

Act I

Act II

Act III

Act IV

Act V

Aside Aside

A dramatic device in which a private A dramatic device in which a private thought is spoken aloud. It is thought is spoken aloud. It is intended for the audience alone – intended for the audience alone – not other characters in the play not other characters in the play

Contributes to dramatic irony –Contributes to dramatic irony –

(the audience knows something (the audience knows something

other characters in the playother characters in the play

do not)do not)

Comedy Comedy

A type of drama in which the A type of drama in which the characters experience reversals of characters experience reversals of fortune, usually for the better. In fortune, usually for the better. In comedy, things work out happily in comedy, things work out happily in the end, usually in marriage. the end, usually in marriage.

Comedy Mask

TragedyTragedy

A type of drama in which the A type of drama in which the characters experience reversals of characters experience reversals of fortune, usually for the worsefortune, usually for the worse

Tragedy

Dialogue Dialogue

Conversations among characters Conversations among characters

Drama Drama

One of the three main types of One of the three main types of literature; it tells a story through the literature; it tells a story through the words and actions of a character . words and actions of a character .

Additional Additional

Information Information

Intermission Intermission

A break in the performance of the A break in the performance of the play play

Monologue Monologue

A speech delivered by one person A speech delivered by one person

PlaywrightPlaywright

The author of a drama The author of a drama

PropsProps

Articles or objects that appear on Articles or objects that appear on stage during a play stage during a play

Script Script

The written version of the play The written version of the play

Stage directions Stage directions

Instructions to the performer and Instructions to the performer and the director; usually written in italics the director; usually written in italics or parentheses or parentheses

Staging Staging

The effect the play has on its The effect the play has on its audience – including the position of audience – including the position of actors, the scenic background, the actors, the scenic background, the props and costumes, and the lighting props and costumes, and the lighting and sound effects and sound effects

Subplot Subplot

An additional or minor or parallel An additional or minor or parallel plot in a play or story that coexists plot in a play or story that coexists with the main plot with the main plot

Thespians Thespians

Actors and actresses Actors and actresses