In what year did the first theater appear? What is theater? History of theatrical art. Theater during the Enlightenment in England

The beginnings of theatrical art existed in primitive society, before the advent of early civilizations. Theatrical art as such arose in the East, and in Ancient Greece and Rome, and then continued to develop in medieval and Renaissance Western Europe and Russia.

Turning to the historical past of the theater, I would like to note that various shows and performances have existed since ancient times. This is due to various circumstances. Firstly, this is the need for rest, secondly - knowledge and discovery of oneself, the world, human soul, thirdly - manipulation public consciousness. The artistic reflection of reality was accomplished with the help of dramatic action. Interaction of characters, revelation of psychological or social conflicts, an attempt to attract the viewer to participate in the implementation of the plan - this is what underlies the theatrical action.

The historical prerequisites for the formation of theatrical performances appear in the primitive period. As a rule, these rituals were accompanied by spells, singing, dancing, and playing ancient musical instruments. The rituals also included various performances directly related to the life of the tribes. An important role was given to the attributes and attire of a sorcerer or shaman, who also created sound effects, increasing the impact on spectators and participants in the action. Holidays with theatrical elements were held in honor of the gods, who were identified with the forces of nature, natural phenomena and the elements. This is how the first performances of a theatrical nature appeared.

The whole performance was aimed at involving a large number of people, everyone became participants in what was happening. The mass scale of what was happening depended on the purpose of the action, i.e. these were rites and rituals addressed to the gods - it was assumed that the gods see everything and are included in what is happening. Primitive performances, as a rule, were performed by priests, who were believed to be endowed with magical powers and could ask for favors from the gods: successful hunting, rain during a drought, etc. Some priests “came into contact” with deities directly during the performance of a rite or ritual. This created a feeling of being chosen, which was reflected not only in the works of the theater, but also in rock paintings that captured everything that was happening. An understanding has emerged of a kind of “professionalization” of certain elements of theatrical performance. It seemed that it was possible to prove one’s recognition to the gods by improving dialogue or monologue. Thus, the first “professionals” of archaic theatrical forms were priests and shamans. Later they were replaced by mourners, singers, and dancers. They glorified the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Slavic gods: Osiris, Dionysus, Astarte, Baal, Saturn, Yarila, Kolyada and others.

Priests and shamans, realizing the impact of rites and rituals on society, polished their skills, gained power and authority, and ritual actions with theatricalization began to be used by priests as the most important means of control public opinion and maintaining order. Gradually, the functions of the theater begin to take shape: social, religious, ideological. This was achieved through large quantity participants in the ritual and the high degree of emotional involvement of each member of the team in it. There is a need for other types of art ( rock painting, small sculpture - figurines of Mother Earth, totem animals, etc., costumes or robes of those participating in the ritual), which enriched the theatrical performances and helped create the effect of a mass experience. Therefore, it has long been widely believed that theater is a powerful means of manipulating public consciousness, with the help of which political, legal, social and other ideas are instilled.

One cannot fail to mention the entertainment function of the theater, which most often takes priority. At the same time, entertainment, as a rule, has a hidden subtext and sometimes distracts from pressing problems in society. Suffice it to recall the slogan of the Roman mob during the era of imperial power: “Bread and circuses” (lat. Rapet et circenses). The theater was widely used by power structures to achieve their goals. In addition, the theater not only entertained, but also generated income. In Rome, tickets made from bone were sold. The construction of the Theater of Marcellus was completed (13 BC), which was very convenient for spectators. The audience reacted violently to what was happening on stage, expressing approval or indignation with exclamations and shouts. For bad acting could have hurt you.

It is important to note that rituals and ceremonies had a close connection with the artistic component of any performance. They acted as the basis of a cult, a holiday, and, as a result of all this, a theatrical performance. And although the relationship between ritual or rite and all types of art can be traced, it is theater as one of oldest species art was able to preserve that form of ritual construction of action that is characteristic only of it.

The close interaction of theater and ritual can be observed in all theatrical systems of antiquity, but the presence of magic was mandatory in those days. The ritual could be carried out without the help of theatrical spectacles, simply the effect of perception was enhanced when they harmoniously coexisted. Theatrical performance, depending on its purpose, had national significance, since failure to comply with obligatory ritual schemes threatened disaster for the people. Based on this, later they began to divide spectacles into ritual and entertainment.

The appearance of the first tragedies is also based on ritual actions. Human consciousness was closely connected with nature and its capabilities. Numerous cults provided food for thought in these ideas. They demonstrated the cruel fate of a hero who did not obey the laws of nature or went against them. All natural elements were inhabited by spirits and deities, who were present to one degree or another in theatrical performances. The involvement of the viewer in what is happening became, as it were, the forerunner of the development of the presentation of tragedies in Greece. Not a single production was complete without a ritual or magical rite.

Stage action that occurs in different eras, had common grounds. Magical and ritual forms were gaining scale even when the first states of the East arose. The earliest attempts to create professional performances were carried out on religious grounds and grew to include liturgical dramas, tragedies, comedies, farces, and mysteries. In antiquity, theaters developed with their own traditions, innovative ideas, and stage technology. Interesting forms of spectacles were formed in the states of the Ancient East, in India, China, and Japan. In Western Europe in the Middle Ages, theatrical creativity was spread by traveling actors, in France these were troubadours and trouvères, in Germany - minnesingers, in England - minstrels, in Russia - buffoons, but it should be said that from the 11th century. their performances were subject to bans by the Orthodox Church.

The theater of the Middle Ages most often covered religious issues. A striking example professional theater is rightfully considered an Italian folk comedy of masks - a comedy del arte (XVI-XVII centuries). Originating in Italy during the Renaissance, “scientific comedy” gave rise to a scientific and literary approach to stage work. During the Renaissance, the theater became stationary, and in large cultural centers special premises were built for dramatic performances. Since that time, the theater has been rapidly developing in all countries of the world. It becomes a place and means of entertainment, attracts the masses into its circle, playwrights and directors, actors and great works appear.

New time required new approaches to the presentation of dramatic action: the poetics of classicism and baroque are closely associated with the theater, an important aspect is the constant appeal to the theoretical works of Aristotle and Horace. The ideological aspect is directly reflected in the performances of that time. During the Enlightenment, theater audiences became democratic, and a new galaxy of playwrights and theater theorists appeared - Voltaire and Diderot in France and Lessing in Germany. A new ideological doctrine of theater is emerging. Until the advent of cinema, the theater will maintain a stable position.

Close attention to the theater would continue until World War II. But with the advent of cinema, the theater was forced to make room. Theater often becomes of interest to professionals and theater fans, in to a lesser extent- to the ordinary viewer. Currently, interest in the theater has been revived, and the reason for the new flourishing of theatrical art can be considered the innovative approach of directors and graphic designers to the classical repertoire, as well as the emergence of ultra-modern productions that attract the attention of young people. Numerous theater festivals attract a huge number of not only theater specialists and theorists, but also ordinary spectators.

The history of the theater is closely connected with the history of states, therefore the main sources of information about the theater are historical, theoretical works and memoirs, which reflect the milestones in the development of theatrical art. At all times the theater was integral part cultural, social and political life. Each stage in the history of theater is associated with names famous authors who created masterpieces that make us proud theatrical repertoire and to this day. But the art of theater is momentary, and descendants can only learn from literary sources about the resounding success of certain productions, about the performance of outstanding actors of the past.

We will trace the development of theater in a specific period of time and its place in world culture.

3. Theater and theatrical performances in Ancient Greece.

4. Tragedies and comedies in ancient Greek theater.

5. Theater creators.

6. Conclusion.

The emergence of the theater.
Theater originated in Ancient Greece approximately two and a half thousand years ago.
The very word "theater" Greek origin and means "place for spectacles."
Theatrical performances were the favorite spectacles of the ancient Greeks.
The origin of theater was associated with the religion of the ancient Greeks, namely
festivities in honor of the god Dionysus, the patron saint of winemakers. In one of
myths say that Dionysus wanders throughout the earth along with a crowd
their companions. These are satyrs - forest gods, half-people, half-goats. At the satyrs
long tails, pointed ears and hooves. When to the sounds of flutes and pipes
Dionysus comes to Greece, then spring begins in this country, it is warmer
the sun warms, flowers bloom, all life is reborn.
At the end of March, Greece celebrated the main holiday of the god of wine - the Great
Dionysia. When portraying satyrs, the Greeks wore goat skins and tied
long beards made of oak leaves, painted faces or covered them
goat masks. A cheerful procession of mummers moved through the streets of the city and
stopped somewhere in the square. The singer came forward. He sings
talked about the wanderings of Dionysus, about his meeting with pirates and other
adventures, and the rest of the mummers sang along with him in chorus. I portrayed the lead singer
then one of the heroes of the myth, then Dionysus himself, then one of the satyrs. Scenes,
played out by the participants of the holiday, and were the first theatrical
spectacles: the singer and the mummers were actors, and the spectators were everything
population of the city.

Theater and theatrical performances in Ancient Greece.
In Greek cities from the end of the 6th century. BC e. built for theatrical performances
special buildings. In almost every Greek city, including the colonies
shores of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, there was its own theater, and sometimes several (so,
there were more than ten theaters in Attica). Each of the ancient theaters accommodated
several thousand spectators. For example, the Theater of Dionysus in Athens had about 17
thousand places.
The theater was a favorite spectacle in Ancient Greece, all residents sought
get to the festival of Dionysus, but these celebrations (of which they were part
theatrical performances) were not held daily, but only twice a year.
There were no evening performances in Ancient Greece. Performances in Greek theaters
began at about seven in the morning and continued until sunset: they placed in a row
several performances.
"Ancient Greek theater tickets": they charged a small fee to enter the theater
(in Athens power belonged to to the common people, demos, therefore
the state, taking care of the poorest citizens, gave them money to buy
tickets). The ticket was made of lead or baked clay. Letters are visible on the ticket
"beta" (B) and "epsilon" (E). The letter indicated one of the “wedges” to which
the theater was divided by staircases, radiating rays. As indicated on the ticket
The “wedge” could take any place, starting from the second row. So as not to
sit at the very top, the Greeks went to the theater before dawn. They took with them a bundle of
pies and a flask of wine, a warm cloak, a pillow that was placed under
yourself on a stone bench. The theater was rarely half empty.
Most of the spectators were men - citizens and visiting Greeks.
Women, constantly busy with household chores, attended the theater significantly

less often than men. Slaves entered the theater only as servants accompanying

their masters
The seats in the first row were not only marble, but also free, allocated
they are for honorary spectators (priests of Dionysus, winners of the Olympic Games,
strategists).
There was excellent audibility in the theater. If you throw a coin in the center of the orchestra,
its ringing will be heard in the very back benches. The theater building had the shape
a huge thicket, which, like a megaphone, amplified all the sounds of speech and music.
The Greek theater did not have a curtain. The action unfolded without intermission,
those. no breaks.
The theaters were located under open air on the slopes and accommodated thousands
spectators. The theater building consisted of three parts.
One part of the theater is seats for spectators. They were divided by passages into sections,
resembling wedges.
Another part of the theater is the orchestra - a round or semicircular platform on which
actors and choir performed. Not a single event took place without songs and dances.
performance. Choir members depending on the content of the performance
depicted either friends of the main character, or townspeople, or warriors, and
sometimes animals - birds, frogs and even clouds.
The third part of the theater was called skene. It was adjacent to the orchestra
construction Painted boards or panels were attached to its wall,
depicting the entrance to the palace, the portico of the temple, or the seashore. Inside the skene
costumes and masks of the actors were stored.
Only men took part in the performances. They performed in men's or
women's masks, wearing special shoes with thick soles to appear taller

height. Since the actors' facial features were poorly visible from the last rows

theater, the actors wore large painted masks that covered not only
face, but also the head. When looking at the actors it became clear who they were
depict. Old people have white hair and thin, sunken cheeks. If the hero
younger, their hair and beard became half-gray, young men were portrayed
beardless. The slave could be recognized immediately - his features betrayed the non-Greek
origin. Usually no more than three people took part in each performance.
actors. There could be a lot in the play characters, and then every actor
played several roles.
Tragedies and comedies in ancient Greek theater.
In Ancient Greece there were two main types of performances - tragedy and comedy.
Plays of serious content were called tragedies. Usually in tragedies
the heroes of myths acted, their exploits, suffering and often death were depicted.
Tragedy in Greek means “song of the goats.” From Greek tragedians to the world
three luminaries gained fame ancient drama: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides.
Comedies were funny plays or songs of cheerful villagers.
The characters of comedies - funny and mocking performances -
Along with the heroes of myths there were contemporaries of the audience. In democratic
Athens, with its widely developed political life, provides the richest material for
she gave comedies herself political life. An unsurpassed master
Aristophanes (450-388 BC), a native of Athens, was considered a political comedy,
the only writer of political comedy whose 11 plays have survived
our days. Distinctive properties the works of Aristophanes are:
artistic beauty of form, inexhaustible wit, combination
dramatic, comic and lyrical moods. In his comedies

Aristophanes expresses the interests of the Attic peasantry and middle strata

urban democracy.

Theater performances along with Olympic Games were loved
the spectacles of the Hellenes.

Sophocles (b. c. 497 - d. 406 BC) is a great ancient Greek playwright. Created
in the era of the highest flowering of Athenian slave-owning democracy and its
culture. Together with Pericles, Sophocles was elected strategos (440-439 BC), i.e.
military leaders. Along with Aeschylus and Euripides, Sophocles created and developed
classical ancient Attic tragedy; he increased the number of plays
actors from 2 to 3, reduced choral parts compared to dialogue and action,
introduced decorations and improved masks. Of those written by Sophocles, more than 120
plays, 7 tragedies and more than 90 excerpts have been preserved, including a fragment
satirical drama "Pathfinders". Popularity of Sophocles in Athens
confirmed by the fact that in dramatic competitions he received first place 18 times
reward and neverdid not take third place. Theme of Sophocles' tragedies, closely
associated with mythological subjects. Sophocles' dramas are characterized by
compositional harmony, proportionality of parts, strict subordination of the particular
general - artistic idea. Sophocles psychologically truthfully reveals
the inner world of their heroes. The work of Sophocles had a great influence on
world literature since the Renaissance.
Conclusion.
The most important stage in the development of the theater was theatrical culture antiquity,
In Ancient Greece, a theater was created based on folk traditions and new
humanistic ideology. The theater occupied an important place in public life
ancient Greek democratic cities-states. Its development was
inextricably linked with the rise of Greek drama. Greek theater performances
were part of public celebrations organized by the state,
reflected critical issues public life.

Theater arts in modern world is one of the most widespread branches of culture. There are a huge number of theater buildings built all over the world, in which productions are performed every day. With the development of innovative technologies, many people began to forget about true values art. First of all, theater gives a person the opportunity to improve and develop.

Theater in ancient times

Theatrical art is one of the oldest. Its origins go far from primitive society. It arose from agricultural and hunting games of a mysterious and magical nature. Primitive society believed that if, before starting a certain work, a scene was played out depicting a favorable completion of the process, the result would be positive. They also imitated animals, their habits and appearance. Ancient people believed that this could influence the outcome of the hunt, and they often held dances while wearing animal skins. And it was in these actions that the first elements of theater began to appear. Somewhat later, masks began to be used as the main attributes of the priest-actor entering the image.

Theater in Ancient Egypt

Theater in Egypt began its development from the very beginning of the Ancient World. This was towards the end of the third millennium BC. Every year, small theatrical performances of a dramatic and religious nature were staged at the temples.

Theater in Ancient Greece

In Ancient Greece, theaters were mainly built in the open air and were designed for tens of thousands of spectators. The audience sat on high stone benches facing a wide circular stage located in the center, it was called an “orchestra”. The cult of the great god of fertility Dionysus played a major role in the development of Greek theater. The repertoire consisted of three tragedies and comedies. The actors were only men, who sometimes played women. In comedy, they had to make the audience laugh, for this they used homemade masks, which depicted flattened noses, protruding lips and bulging eyes. The masks were made from dry wood and then from cloth, after which they were covered with plaster and painted with a variety of paints. The masks allowed spectators seated away from the ancient stage to see facial expressions corresponding to the action. The wide open mouth carved into the mask allowed the actors to increase the volume of their voices; one could even say that it served as a mouthpiece.

The performances were very popular in Greece folk theater, which the ancient Greeks called mimes. A mime was considered a small scene of an everyday or satirical nature, in which actors portrayed mythological heroes, brave warriors or simple market thieves. Women could also perform in mimes; masks were not used during the performance.

Theater in Ancient Rome

IN Ancient Rome the theater was primarily for the entertainment of crowds of spectators. And actors were considered one of the lower classes of the population; few Roman actors achieved respect in the theatrical art. Most often, freedmen and slaves became actors. In the Roman theater, as in the Greek, seats for spectators were located depending on the main circle. In addition to tragedies and comedies, Roman actors played antonyms, pyrrhicians, mimes and attelans. Attendance at the theater was free for both women and men, but not for slaves. To attract spectators and surprise them with luxury, the organizers of the games decorated the hall with gold, sprinkled the most fragrant liquids in it and strewn the floor with flowers.

Theater in Italy

In the Italian theater of the Renaissance, the performances were very different; they were more cheerful, full of humor and satire. The theatrical performance was staged on specially made wooden stages, around which a huge crowd of spectators always gathered. Ancient theaters began to concentrate in large cultural and industrial cities. It was the theatrical art of antiquity that revolutionized the theater as a whole and divided theater into varieties. Since those very times, no fundamental changes and revolutionary innovations have been observed to this day.

Theater in the 17th-18th century

The theatrical art of the 17th and 18th centuries was increasingly filled with romanticism, fantasy and imagination. During these years, theater was most often created by troupes, which included united traveling actors and musicians. In the 1580s, it was visited by commoners, but starting in 1610, the wealthier and more elegant residents of France began to become interested in this art. Later theater was already considered as a moral cultural institution, most often it was visited by aristocrats. French theater He mainly played costume plays, comedies and ballet. The scenery took on a more similar appearance to the real situation. The theatrical art of the 17th and 18th centuries became the basis for the development of all future world art. Many theaters from those times have survived to this day.

In England

English theatrical art of the 18th century played a significant role in the history and development of everything European theater. It became the founder of Enlightenment dramaturgy. Also at that time a new dramatic genre, which was called a bourgeois drama, or, as the audience called it, a bourgeois tragedy. For the first time, performances arose in England bourgeois drama, later they penetrated into Germany, Italy and France.

Transition from Renaissance to Enlightenment

The transition from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment was very turbulent, long and quite painful for both actors and spectators. The Renaissance Theater gradually died from year to year, but such a miracle of human thought as musical and theatrical art did not succeed in dying just like that. The last and one of the strongest blows was dealt to him by the Puritan Revolution. England, which just recently was full of life and joy, bright and colorful, suddenly became pious, dressed in dark clothes and overly pious. There was no place for theater in such a gray life. They were all closed, and a little later the buildings were burned. In 1688, the long-awaited revolution took place in England, after which the transition from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment occurred.

Returning to power, the Stuarts completely restored the theaters, but now they were significantly different from those of the previous era. In the 18th century, musical and theatrical art blossomed with a lush bouquet of new genres. Ballad opera, pantomime and rehearsal are beginning to enjoy enormous popularity. From that moment on, the English theater was more concerned about profits than problems. In 1737, the English government approved an act of control over theatrical life, and from that moment on, all written plays were subject to strict censorship.

Theater in Ancient Rus'

In the territories that once were Kievan Rus, theatrical art appeared in the 17th century. It began with school and court performances. The first theatrical art studios were founded at fraternal schools and the courts of wealthy people. Plays were written by teachers and students. They mainly used both everyday legends and gospel stories. The emergence of the court theater was caused by the great interest of the court nobility in art and Western culture. The nobles liked the performances of the students produced by the first theatrical art studio so much that they could watch them more than 10 times. Initially, the court theater did not have permanent place, all costumes, decorations and decorations were transferred from one place to another. Over time, closer to the 18th century, theatrical performances began to be distinguished by great pomp and were accompanied by dancing and playing musical instruments.

In the 19th century Russian theater first divided into musical troupes, drama groups, and they were also divided into opera and ballet groups. It was during these years that one of the first dramatic stages opened, which in the future would be called the Maly Theater. Although the division occurred between the troupes, they still for a long time remained inseparable. Soon such institutions as the Academy of Theater Arts began to appear, and not the poor, but rather wealthy and wealthy people became actors. educated people. Over time, the number of theaters began to grow rapidly; they were managed by the emperor's theater office. As for the actors and workers, they began to refer to all theaters, and not specifically to any troupe. In the 20th century there was an improvement in art in a form that we can see to this day.

One of the brightest representatives that developed at that time was the Bolshoi Theater.

Role in the modern world

The theater occupies a vital place in the modern art world, and therefore it is intended for a wide audience and attracts more and more new spectators every day. Very often in modern theaters there are plays dedicated to the works famous classics, this allows you to gain new knowledge and become better acquainted with history. Today there are many academies and schools where you can become an actor.

But besides big academy, where future actors are trained, there are also small institutions, for example, a theater arts studio, which anyone can get into talented person who wants to prove himself and learn all the subtleties acting. Some modern theaters amaze us with their beauty and plasticity of architectural forms.

Modern cultural society in its present form, it owes a lot to theatrical art, which arose long before the advent of etiquette and familiar moral norms. Let's dive into the ancient times of history. During this you will be able to find out Interesting Facts about theatrical art, when the first theater was created and everything connected with the first acting performances.

The creation of the first theater in the world cannot be known for sure, because it was back in the 5th century BC in ancient Greece, when the Theater of Dionysus appeared. It was made of wood. Twice a year, solemn performances of actors took place on stage, during which the most talented authors of those times competed for the right to be called the best in different genres. The person who sold tickets and controlled the performances was called an archon. VIPs were seated in luxurious marble chairs (installed over time), from which there was an excellent view. The Theater of Dionysus still exists today. Its last reconstruction should be completed in 2015.

The very first stone theater appeared in 52 BC in Rome. The stage was a raised platform with a screen in the background. There were seats in front of the stage (in the stalls). Over time, Roman theatrical art ceased to develop due to the influence of Christianity on culture.

Who invented theater in Russia?

The first domestic theater is an academic one Theatre of Drama named after F.G. Volkov, founded in Yaroslavl. The year of its creation is 1750. On one of the warm summer days young temperamental Fyodor Volkov together with his comrades performed in front of the public. The performance consisted of works by Lomonosov, Sumarokov, Rostovsky and his own plays by the young genius Volkov. By the way, F. Volkov was part-time decorator, translator, performance director and architect. The actors even visited Empress Elizabeth (according to a special decree issued by her) during a tour in St. Petersburg. It is noteworthy that at that time there were other acting troupes. But the performances were closed and were not available to the general public.

What was the first modern theater?

In 1618 Italian city Parma gave the world the first modern theater - the Farnesi. The stage was designed quite unusually - along one of the walls. The actors and spectators were separated by a wide curtain, which also helped to change the scenery unnoticed by the guests of the performance.

Did you know? The longest theatrical performance (about 10 hours) took place in 1672 in the Moscow region.

In the life of the ancient Greeks, theatrical art was given first place as a way to have fun. Performances were organized at the state level to pay tribute to the god Dionysus during the holidays.

Structure of performances

Ancient Greek dramatic performances were different from modern ones. They consisted of several performances by rival poets working in tragic and comic directions. Each participant presented one funny story. During the production, a chorus of satyrs and three tragedies, united by a storyline, were necessarily used. The performances ended only on the fourth day. They lasted from morning until late evening. The action began with tragic performances, followed by satyr drama. At the end of the evening, a comedy was performed.

Musical accompaniment

The choir was provided by the state, since it was impossible to prepare it independently. Over time quantitative composition speakers changed from 6 to 15 people. And the singers were trained by wealthy citizens. The person who prepared the choir for theatrical competitions and provided it with costumes was called a choreg. Along with actors and singers, choregs were exempted from military service for the time necessary for preparation and performance.

Scene structure

Ancient Greek theater consisted of several parts, among which are the orchestra (a place for performing artists and singers), the theater ( auditorium) and skene (a kind of props necessary to achieve greater believability). In order for the audience to better hear the words of the actors, special vessels were used to help amplify the spoken sounds.

Distinctive features

Ancient Greek performing arts 90% were men. In addition to the simple performance of their roles, the artists demonstrated vocal abilities, perfect diction, flexibility, and plasticity. The faces of the people performing on stage were hidden under masks. Their widespread use is associated with the veneration of Dionysus, the absence of female actresses, and the enormous size of the arena. The masks could be tragic or comic, which accurately conveyed the author's intention to the viewer.

Special clothing for performance participants, she helped portray diverse characters. Being long and spacious, it hid the necessary pillows or pads used to change the natural proportions of the body. If the performance interested the audience, they vigorously expressed positive emotions. Disapproval was expressed no less animatedly. Often such negative reactions were provoked by people specially hired by competitors.

Ancient Roman Arena

The origin of theater in Ancient Rome is associated with magnificent harvest celebrations, which were first organized as playful competitions of small choirs. The jokes they exchanged were sometimes caustic, ridiculing the vices of society, especially the elite.

The origins of theatrical art

The earliest representations of ancient Roman theatrical art include Atellani, which received the name of the city of the south of modern Italy. These were light comedy productions. Many young Romans took part.

Literary drama came to the ancient Roman theater from Greece. Here similar creations were placed on Latin.

The Greek Livius Andronicus ended up in Rome as a prisoner of war. The Greek was appointed chief for staging the first dramatic performance. This is what gave the impetus further development theatrical art. It could not, like in Greece, point out problems in the life of society, so the storylines became more complicated and the entertainment value of the Greek originals increased. Despite this, the Romans found it difficult to accept traditional dramatic plots.

Gladiatorial spectacles

The performances were on time public holidays. They were accompanied by circus and gladiatorial performances, which attracted attention to themselves, being popular among the people.

Initially there was no space allocated for staging plays, there was only a miserable platform with a ladder. The actors became more professional and played without masks. The performances were arranged by agreement of the manager of the ancient Roman theater. In other words, simply a troupe of actors, with ruling circles. The costumes of the characters were no different from Greek ones. Only certain accents, such as the height of the platform in shoes, the size of wigs, create a majestic impression.

The first permanent Roman theater was built by Pompey. Spectators huddled on semicircular benches arranged in several rows. There were separate seats for senators. Roof, intricately decorated facades and curtain.

The origins of theatrical art in ancient India

Ancient Indian theatrical art was divided into two directions - folk and literary. There are several versions of the origin, the most popular of which attributes this fact to Emperor Bharata. Through him, the fifth Veda was transmitted to people, connecting the Word, Action, and Harmony. The more probable version remains the combination of funny performances with the traditional mystery that existed during major holidays.

On this occasion, accompanying strongman competitions, programs of magicians, musicians, and dancers were organized. The production began with dance numbers. The dancers decorated the performance with pantomimic introductions and recitation of the Vedas. Gradually the dance was replaced by the performance of the artists.

Social system

Complex social system ancient india placed the actors at the lowest level.

They were considered people of a disrespected caste, since they ridiculed the gods in their speeches. Despite this circumstance, most of them were educated and respectable people.

The performances were staged as dance performances. Sign language, rooted in special rituals of clergy, was freely used. Indian dance theater borrowed key features from ancient mystery plays. Therefore, the artists were required to have special plasticity and the ability to use a rich arsenal of pantomime.

Rise in popularity

By the end of the second half of the first millennium BC. e. Indian theatrical art gained its highest popularity. Despite the coincidence of the performance of the plays with the main religious holidays, their entertainment essence came to the fore, displacing the ritual component.

Acting groups are becoming more professional. Each participant takes on a creative role. The gender composition of the troupes varied - it is known that there were same-sex and opposite-sex groups. Most of them were nomadic. When they met on joint territory, spectacular competitions were organized. In addition to monetary rewards, the winners received a number of honors.

The Indian dance arena was sometimes located in a specific building - small but relatively tall, capable of accommodating 300 people. The length of the performances varied from two to three hours to a couple of days.

Shadow theaters

Indian shadow theater often depicted scenes from the legendary and revered myths of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The audience knew the stories of the characters, so they could figure out the missing elements on their own. The action took place behind a transparent screen big size, where actors and puppets were located. For greater realism, the dolls were cut into pieces, and then even complex movements could be easily imitated. They were made from cardboard, leather or papier-mâché.

In Indian beliefs, the god Shiva was given the role of the patron of dolls, so plays were staged near his temple. According to legend, the Indian shadow theater arose as a result of the fact that Shiva himself and his wife Parvati once looked into the shop of a master puppeteer who carved figures from wood.

She was so impressed by the skill of the artisan that soon, at her request, Shiva allowed the toys to come to life so that they could dance on their own. Soon after the departure of the divine couple, this magic ceased to work, but the master restored the wonderful gift, controlling the characters with the help of threads. This gave rise to the Indian shadow theater, interest in which is currently fading due to the development modern technologies.

The beginning of theatrical life in ancient China

Chinese theater originated at the beginning of the 12th century. Initially, these were spectacles in squares dedicated to religious festivals. The performances were based on circus elements, unusual dances with animal figures, acrobatic performances, and fencing.

Gradually, unique roles appear that were used in each play, acquiring new character traits and details of the biography. The most popular were tsan-jun and tsangu. Artists of Chinese theaters are no longer self-taught, but trained special schools, operating at the court of the emperor. Freely used bright suits, decorated with traditional paintings and numerous props.

First poster

Plays are staged in booths - venues under a canopy, equipped with seats for spectators. Or on protruding platforms adjacent to the central temples. This is where the concept of a poster comes from - a special sheet listing the actors involved and the characters performed by them. The genres of Chinese theater are expanding and becoming more complex. They describe the details of important events in the life of the state and individuals, giving viewers examples to follow.

Musical accompaniment theatrical productions transformed from folk melodies. The performances were damn colorful, contained elements of dance, circus acts. The interpretation of some actions was given by the artists themselves or by playwrights. Most of the roles were played by women, including men. The acting troupe included members of the same family; outsiders were rare.

Puppet shows

Traditional Chinese stages developed in parallel with the equally popular puppet theater. He lived in many varieties. To date, information about them has been lost, so studying presents some difficulties.

The popularity of this type of art is associated with the custom of placing special figurines in the grave, designed to help the deceased in the afterlife. Scenes with the participation of such characters were played out during funerals, gradually turning into an attribute Everyday life. Information has been preserved about a wonderful multi-tiered specimen puppet theater, whose characters moved using water.

Chinese puppet theater has developed in many directions. It is worth highlighting the performances with flat paper figures, in which actors and the characters they controlled participated. Gunpowder, floating scenes and others, about which only fragmentary information has been preserved.