The document provides an overview of what theatre is. It discusses that theatre can refer to a physical building, a company of players, an occupation, or a play. It is derived from the Greek words "theatron" meaning seeing place and "drama" meaning to do. The document then explores some paradoxes of theatre, such as how it is both spontaneous yet rehearsed, participatory yet presented, real yet simulated, and unique to the moment yet repeatable. It also discusses how actors are themselves but also characters and how the audience both believes and does not believe what they are watching.
The document provides an overview of what theatre is. It discusses that theatre can refer to a physical building, a company of players, an occupation, or a play. It is derived from the Greek words "theatron" meaning seeing place and "drama" meaning to do. The document then explores some paradoxes of theatre, such as how it is both spontaneous yet rehearsed, participatory yet presented, real yet simulated, and unique to the moment yet repeatable. It also discusses how actors are themselves but also characters and how the audience both believes and does not believe what they are watching.
The document provides an overview of what theatre is. It discusses that theatre can refer to a physical building, a company of players, an occupation, or a play. It is derived from the Greek words "theatron" meaning seeing place and "drama" meaning to do. The document then explores some paradoxes of theatre, such as how it is both spontaneous yet rehearsed, participatory yet presented, real yet simulated, and unique to the moment yet repeatable. It also discusses how actors are themselves but also characters and how the audience both believes and does not believe what they are watching.
The document provides an overview of what theatre is. It discusses that theatre can refer to a physical building, a company of players, an occupation, or a play. It is derived from the Greek words "theatron" meaning seeing place and "drama" meaning to do. The document then explores some paradoxes of theatre, such as how it is both spontaneous yet rehearsed, participatory yet presented, real yet simulated, and unique to the moment yet repeatable. It also discusses how actors are themselves but also characters and how the audience both believes and does not believe what they are watching.
What Is Theatre? When we say “Theatre” what do we mean?
Theatre Is…
-‐A
Physical
Building
-‐A
Company
Or
Troupe
Of
Players
-‐An
Occupa:on
-‐Play
-‐An
Art
Theatre
From Greek theatron -
“seeing place”
Drama
From Greek dran –
“to do” Theatre professionals working
The
table
in
the
audience
is
referred
to
as
a
“tech
table”
–
a
place
where
light
and
sound
technicians
and
designers
can
work
during
technical
rehearsals.
ACer
the
show
is
up
and
running,
the
people
running
the
show
sit
in
the
booth:
you
can
see
a
half-‐circle
window
in
the
background.
That’s
the
booth.
They
sit
there
so
they
can
observe
the
actors
and
the
progression
of
the
play
to
execute
sound
and
light
cues.
They
are
all
on
headset,
which
allows
them
to
communicate
with
crew
members
backstage.
Theatre is… A Spectator Sport Drama and sports entertainment both have…
-‐Amateur
players
who
seek
no
compensa:on
beyond
sheer
personal
sa:sfac:on
-‐Intense
physical
involvement
-‐Yes,
ac:ng
is
physically
exhaus:ng!
-‐Friendly
compe::on
-‐OCen
in
ac:ng
you
are
compe:ng
against
friends
for
a
great
job
-‐Emo:onal
engagement
-‐Ac:ng
can
be
emo:onally
draining
and
psychologically
demanding
-‐Both
require
audiences
-‐It’s
not
a
performance
if
there
are
no
witnesses
-‐Both
generate
an
audience
because
they
prove
engaging
to
non-‐par:cipa:ng
spectators
Paradoxes of Theatre
-‐Spontaneous
yet
Rehearsed
-‐Actors
rehearse
and
rehearse
to
get
a
play
exactly
right,
but
in
the
moment
a
flubbed
line
or
a
missed
entrance
can
en:rely
change
a
moment
or
a
scene.
A
play
is
completely
different
every
night
–
the
energy
of
the
actors
and
the
energy
of
the
audience
play
a
huge
role
in
each
show.
-‐Par:cipatory
yet
Presented
-‐The
vibe
of
the
audience
changes
a
performance.
An
engaged
audience
creates
a
different
mood
than
a
distant,
distracted
audience
and
the
actors
respond
to
that
energy.
Even
thought
the
audience
is
apart,
they
play
a
huge
role
in
a
play.
-‐Real
yet
Simulated
-‐It
can
explore
real
life
situa:ons
and
feel
true
to
life,
so
believable
that
you’re
crying
or
laughing
along
with
the
characters,
but
we
know
it
is
not
real
life.
-‐Understands
yet
is
Obscure
-‐It
discusses
many
of
the
great
ques:ons
about
life
and
love,
but
oCen
asks
more
ques:ons
than
it
answers.
Paradoxes of Theatre
-‐Unique
to
the
moment
yet
is
repeatable
-‐Each
moment
of
each
play
is
slightly
different,
but
it’s
the
same
story
every
night.
One
example:
I
was
working
Joseph
and
the
Amazing
Technicolor
Dreamcoat.
The
Narrator
sang,
“then
the
Butler
said…”
promp:ng
the
Butler
to
appear
and
say
his
line.
The
actor
missed
his
entrance,
but
his
mic
was
turned
on.
And
from
offstage,
his
voice
echoed
through
the
theatre:
“oh,
shit!”
That
didn’t
change
the
overall
story…but
was
a
truly
unique
(and
hysterical)
moment!
-‐Actors
are
themselves
but
are
also
characters
-‐Each
actor
is
s:ll
themselves,
and
their
portrayal
of
the
character
is
colored
by
their
personal
and
unique
experiences.
-‐The
audience
believes
yet
does
not
believe
-‐The
audience
knows
it
is
watching
an
entertainment,
but
oCen
they
are
gasping
with
shock
or
crying
with
sorrow
as
the
story
unfolds.
I
always
love
how
feverishly
the
audience
claps
to
save
Tinkerbelle
in
a
live
performance
of
Peter
Pan.
-‐The
audience
is
involved
yet
remains
apart
-‐I
can’t
underscore
how
much
of
an
impact
the
audience
has.
Yet,
they
are
not
an
official
part
of
the
produc:on.