WHAT IS?

  
S P E E C H A N D S T A G E A R T S 

▪​ Speech ​is how we say sounds and words. Speech includes:  

▪ ​Articulation  
How we make speech sounds using the mouth, lips, and tongue. For example, 
we ​need to be able to say the “r” sound to say "rabbit" instead of "wabbit.”  
 ▪​ Voice  
How we use our vocal folds and breath to make sounds. Our voice can be loud or 
soft or high- or low-pitched. We can hurt our voice by talking too much, yelling, 
or coughing a lot.  
▪ ​Fluency  
This is the rhythm of our speech. We sometimes repeat sounds or pause 

WHATstageIS? 
while talking. People who do this a lot may stutter. 

▪​ In a theatre, the ​ ​is an area where actors 

or ​other entertains perform.  
▪ ​To represent, produce, or exhibit on or as if on 
a ​stage  
▪​ Adeliberately
rt ​is often considered the process or product of 
arranging elements in a way that appeals 
 to the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse 
range of human activities, creations and ways of 
expression, including music, literature, film, sculpture 
and paintings.  
▪ ​Art is something we do. Art is an expression of our 
thoughts, emotions, intuitions, and desires, but it is even 
more personal than that: it’s about sharing the way we 
experience the world, which for many is an extension of 
personality. It is the communication of intimate concepts 
that cannot be faithfully portrayed by words alone. And 
because words alone are not enough, we must find 

THEATRE? 
some other vehicle to carry our intent.  

WHY STUDY 
 the world and our place in it .  
Theatre reflects and possibly affects its society's 
view ​of the world.  
2) Theatre as a social force:  
Theatre is perhaps the world's 2nd oldest profession 
and has been praised and damned throughout 
history.   

 
• ​Theatre as EDUCATION  
- "​Didactic​" = to teach.
- Theatre has often been used primarily as a
teaching mechanism
- When theatre is used as a "weapon" for social
Reasons to Study Theatre   / political change, as propaganda, is can be
called "​agit-prop​"
1) Theatre as a Humanity / Liberal Art:  

WHY STUDY THEATRE?  

Humanities / liberal arts can help us understand 
 Theatre as influencer and reflector of social values  
•​

- Does not need to have social purpose or effect, but has caused 
riots ​- To reflect social values, some plays have actually been 
changed.  
3. Theatre as a personal force:  
- personal commitment to preparing a show.  
- teamwork.  
- concern feeling of community in endeavoring to do a job 
well. - personal satisfaction.  
- build and develop character interpersonal skills.  
- creativity / critical thinking.  
- self-direction.  

WHY STUDY 
- a part of life-long learning. 
THEATRE? 
4. Theatre as an art form - an object  
Theatre could be looked as simply a ​bauble 
-- a pretty object -- and we can look at ​what 
the elements of that object are.  
Theatre is a combination of many art 

THE AUDIENCE  
forms.  

▪​ The audience is most important -- a group of individuals gathered together at a 

certain time and place for no purpose other than to see the performance  
▪ ​Audience for theatre performance has artistic self-awareness.  
 ▪​The audience gives its "permission" to the art.  
A social phenomenon --  
"conventions​" -- "agreements" about what audiences will accept -- how 
"story" will be told.  
Different permissions given at different times.  

E  
A "contract" to pretend to see what is not seen 
❑​ sanctity of time and place 
(how, for instance, do we 
behave as   
Audiences differ in their: ​❑ • ​Audience sees:  
audience  
members in a theatre?)  

THE 
group self-image   ❑ ​innovation   ❑ ​preparation for the event 
(understanding and sympathy), 
❑ ​interaction with each other 

AUDIENC and ​with the performance  

❑ ​can actively prepare and be 
• ​Tools of theatre: ​❑ ​illusion  willing to use imagination and 
of reality   remain open  
 abstraction ​❑​social class   Flashbacks ​❑ ​Anachronisms 
❑​
❑​Style   Symbols  
❑​given circumstances  
❑​
❑​historical period ​❑​level of  ❑ ​Fantasy  
metaphors 

THE AUDIENCE 
❑​

▪​How does theatre appeal to audiences?  

1. Sensory stimulation (light and sound)  
2. Human values -- story and character inherent in the text of any 
play.  
3. Artistic excellence.What potentials are fulfilled in production?  
4. Intellectual value. The idea, or theme ("the me") usually takes 
care of itself, if presented well -- becomes more acute over 

ELEMENTS OF THEATRICAL 
time.  
 PRODUCTION 
▪​The performer  
The work of the ​actor​ ​falls into five main areas:   
(1) ​the exhibition of particular physical, including vocal, skills;   
(2) ​the exhibition of mimetic skills, in which physical states and activities are 
simulated;   
(3) ​the imaginative exploration of fictitious situations;   
(4) ​the exhibition of patterns of ​human behaviour ​that are not natural to the actor; 
and   
(5) ​interaction, while engaging in these activities, with other actor-characters and 
with members of the audience.  
 ELEMENTS OF THEATRICAL 
PRODUCTION 
▪​ The actor as character  
Another aspect of the dramatic performer’s work has to do with the portrayal of 
characters, both as individuals and as types. In portraying an individual 
character, ​the performer adopts a fictional framework and acts according to the 
text’s ​demands.  
▪ ​Space and time  
The distinction between actor as performer and actor as character is matched by a 
distinction between the presentational and representational nature of space and time 
in theatrical production.  
▪ ​The Process  
This is the coordination of the creative efforts usually headed up in theatre by the 

ELEMENTS OF THEATRICAL 
director.  

PRODUCTION 
The Product  
▪​

This is the end result of the process of work involved.  

The Audience  
▪​

Theatre requires an audience. For all of the arts public is essential. The physical 
presence of an audience can change a performance, inspire actors, and create 
expectations.