Theatre

Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, typically actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music, and dance. Elements of art, such as painted scenery and stagecraft such as lighting are used to enhance the physicality, presence and immediacy of the experience.

History

The history of theatre charts the development of theatre over the past 2,500 years. While performative elements are present in every society, it is customary to acknowledge a distinction between theatre as an art form and entertainment and theatrical or performative elements in other activities. The history of theatre is primarily concerned with the origin and subsequent development of the theatre as an autonomous activity.

Types of theatre

There are many types of theatre, including drama, musical theatre, tragedy, comedy, and tragicomedy.

Elements of theatre

Theatre combines the craft of acting, the art of dramatic literature, and the spectacle of scenic design. Other elements include costume, lighting, and sound.

Theatre around the world

Theatre practices vary widely across the world, from the Kabuki theatre of Japan to the Commedia dell'arte of Italy, and from the elaborate musical theatre productions on Broadway and in the West End to more intimate one-person shows.

See also

• Drama
• Play
• Musical theatre
• Opera
• Ballet
• Pantomime
• Mime
• Improvisation

Theatre Resources
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