Theater means ―place of seeing, but it is

more than the buildings where performance

take place. To produce theater, a playwright
writes the scripts, the director rehearses the
performers, the designer and technical crew
produce props to create the scenes, and
actors and actresses perform on stage. Then
it will only be a true theater act when an
audience witnesses it.
ARENA: Earliest
type of theater, the THRUST: The
PROSCENIUM:
audience surrounds audience in only in
all sides of the The audience is
three sides of the
stage. stage. only on one side.
It started at about 700 B.C., honoring their many gods with
festivals. The theater were large, open air structures constructed
on a slope of a hill.
The Theatron, it is
known as the
viewing place.
Skene, the stage in
the theater. Last is
the Parados or the
side entrance.
is a compound of two Greek words,
―trago or "goat" and ― (ode)
meaning "song, referring to goats
sacrificed to Dionysus before
performances, or to goat-skins worn
by the performers.
In Greece, tragedy was the most
admired type of play. It dealt with
tragic events and have an unhappy
ending, especially one concerning
the downfall of the main character.
Thespis was the earliest recorded
actor and he introduced the use of
masks and was called the "Father
of Tragedy” .
Comedy plays were derived from imitation;
there were no traces of their origin.
Aristophanes wrote most of the comedy
plays. Out of these 11 plays, Lysistrata
survived, a humorous tale about a strong
woman who led a female coalition to end
war in Greece.
Satyr Play contains comic elements to
lighten the overall mood or a serious
play with a happy ending. The satyr
play was a short, lighthearted tailpiece
performed after each trilogy of the
tragedies. It is an ancient Greek form of
tragic comedy. It featured choruses of
satyrs, based on Greek mythology, and
with pretended drunkenness, bold
sexuality (including phallic props), tricks,
and sight jokes.
The Ancient Theatre of Rome began in the 3rd century BC. Roman
Chariots – usual themes for Roman theater plays. The Triumvir Pompey
was one of the first permanent (non-wooden) theater in Rome.
The usual themes for Roman theater plays were chariots races, gladiators, and
public executions. The Romans loved a good spectacle. They loved to watch
combat, admired blood sports and gladiator competition. The more realistic the
violence, the more it pleased Roman audiences. The Christians however
opposed the barbaric themes of the plays and closed down all theaters.
During the Medieval era, theater
performances were not allowed
throughout Europe. To keep the
theater alive, minstrels, though
denounced by the Church,
performed in markets, public places
and festivals. They travelled from
one town to another as puppeteers,
jugglers, story tellers, dancers,
singers, and other theatrical acts.
These minstrels were viewed as
dangerous and pagan.
Churches in Europe started staging
Churches in Europe started staging
their own theater performances
their own theater performances
during Easter Sundays with biblical
during Easter Sundays with biblical
stories
storiesand
andevents. Eventually,
events. Eventually, some
some
plays
playswere
werebrought outsidethe
brought outside the
churchdue
church dueto
to their
their portrayal
portrayalofofthe
the
devil and hell. An example of this
devil and hell. An example of this kind
kind of play is the ―Mystére
of play is the ―Mystére d‟Adam” or
d‟Adam” or "The Mystery of Adam.
"The Mystery of Adam.‖ The
The story revolves around Adam
story
revolves around Adam and
and Eve and ends with the devil Eve and
ends with the
capturing anddevil capturing
bringing them toand
hell.
bringing them to hell.
Renaissance theater arts
were characterized by a
return of Classical Greek
and Roman arts and
culture. During Middle
Ages, mystery plays
formed a part of religious
festivals in England and
other parts of Europe
during the Renaissance
period.
One of the most prominent
supporters of this theater was
Queen Elizabeth I. The players
that performed on the Elizabeth
stage were called “ professionals”.
The theatre buildings were round,
square, or octagonal, with
attached roofs covering the
structure surrounding an open
courtyard.
The famous actor and poet who
emerged in this period was William
Shakespeare. He was baptized on April
26, 1564 and died on April 23, 1616. He was
an English poet, playwright and actor
and regarded as the greatest writer and
dramatist in the whole world.
Shakespeare was often called England's
national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His
works consist of about 38 plays. Some of
these plays were well-loved Romeo and
Juliet and Hamlet.
1. Proscenium was developed. This is the
area of a theater surrounding the stage
opening. Arches frame and divide the
stage from the audience.
2. Backdrops for scenery were
popularized by the art of painting
clothes.
3. Commedia dell‟arte or ―Comedy of
the Profession‖ was developed. It was
quick-witted performance of the
characters/players
The theater of the Baroque
period is marked by the
use of technology in
current Broadways or
commercial plays. The
theater crew uses
machines for special
effects and scene changes
which may be changed in a
matter of seconds with the
use of ropes and pulleys.
The use of theatrical
technologies in the
Baroque period may be
seen in the films Vatel
(2000), Farinelli (1999)
and in the different
stage productions of
―Orpheu by Claudio
Monteverdi.
The
Neoclassical
period was a
movement
where the styles
of Roman and
Greek societies
influenced the
theater arts.
During the Neoclassical period, the theater was characterized by its grandiosity. Costumes and sceneries were
highly elaborate. The main concepts of the plays were to entertain and to teach lessons. Stages were restyled
with dramatic arches to highlight the scenes. Multiple entry points on the stage were evident in many plays.
Lighting and sound effects intensified the mood and message of each scene, enhancing the dramatic
experience. The idea of changing scenery and backdrops become more noticeable, particularly with the
invention of pulley systems that allowed parts to move more quickly across the stage.
The concept of
decorum
(meaning right
and proper
audience
behavior) was
applied in this
period which
means classical
concepts and
appropriate
social behavior
must be
observed.
This period officially established just two types of plays, tragedy and
comedy. They never mixed these together, and the restriction led to
the use of the now well-known pair of happy and sad masks that
symbolize the theatrical arts.
Pierre Cornielle (1606 –
1684) was often called the
father of the French
tragedy, writing scripts for
more than four decades.
One of these was “The
Cid”.
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin,
better known as Molière
(1622 – 1673) was known
for his comedies,
“Tartuffe and The
Missanthrope was one of
his works.
Jean Racine (1639 – 1699)
was a tragedian beloved for
his simple approach to
action and the linguistic
rhythms and effects he
achieved. ―Andromache and
Phaedra” was one of his
scripts.
1. The first
"spotlight" was used
in the U.S. during
this period and was
called the
"Limelight.
2. The Theatre Regulation Act
of 1843 banned drinking in
legitimate theaters. Many
tavern owners took advantage
of the situation and renovated
their establishments to
accommodate live
performances.
Romantic Playwrights:
During Romantic period,
melodrama and ―operas became
the most popular theatrical forms.
Melodrama originated from the
French word “melodrame”, which is
derived from Greek ―melos”, music,
and French drame”, which is
derived from Greek ―dran” to
peform.
Melodrama can be also be
described as a dramatic work that
puts characters in a lot of danger
in order to appeal to the emotions
and in which orchestral music or
song was used to accompany the
action.
Opera, in the other hand, is an art
form In which singers and musicians
perform a dramatic work combining text
(called a libretto) and musical score. Such
as acting, scenery, and costumes and
dance were important elements of theater.
It is usually performed in an opera house,
accompanied by an orchestra or smaller
musical ensemble
Victor Marie Hugo was born on February 26,
1802 and died on May 22, 1885. He is
considered one of the greatest and best
known French writers. He was a poet,
novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic
movement. Hugo's literary fame comes
from his poetry, novels and his dramatic
achievements. Among his works that stand
out all over the world are “Les
Contemplations , La Légende des siècles,
Les Misérables, and Notre-Dame de Paris”
which is known as the Hunchback of Notre-
Dame.
Charles Nodier Heinrich von Kleist
Ludwig Uhland

George Sand
This French composer was a pianist
and best known for his operas.
Carmen is the most popular among
his works. Bizet composed the title
role for a mezzo-soprano in the
character of Carmen. The opera
tells the story of the downfall of
Don José, a naïve soldier who is
seduced by the charms of the
sizzling Gypsy, Carmen.
When it was first performed, it
was immediately hailed as a
junior masterwork and became
one of the great performances
during the Romantic period. It
was an impressive work of a
seventeen-year-old boy. Bizet
made a name as a French
composer and pianist of the
Romantic era. He was famously
known for his opera Carmen.
Genre: Opéra-Comique (with musical numbers
separated by dialogue)
Main Characters:
• Carmen (soprano) • Frasquita (mezzo-soprano)
• Don Jose (tenor) • Mercedes (mezzo-soprano)
• El Dancairo (baritone) • Micaela (soprano)
• El Remendado (tenor) • Morales (bass)
• Escamillo (baritone) • Zuniga (bass
Brief History:
Carmen is one among the best Western operas of all
time. It was first performed in Paris in France on March 3,
1875. The opera is composed of four acts with music
written by the French composer Georges Bizet. Henri
Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy wrote the libretto part.
Carmen’s plot was based on a novel of the same name
by Prosper Mérimée.
Music: “Toréador Song” and “Habanera”
Staging:
The story is set in Seville, Spain and the surrounding hills, in 1820.
The opera tells the story of the downfall of Don José, a naïve
soldier who was captured by the charms of the flaming and
independent gypsy, Carmen. No man could resist Carmen’s
charms. The opera is a fascinating drama of love and jealousy,
filled with famously alluring melodies and captivating dancing. The
story has been the subject of many screen and stage adaptations.
Sophocles (sofəkliːz); c. 497/6 BC 406/5 BC)
is an ancient Greek tragedian. His
contemporary playwrights were Aeschylus,
and Euripides. Sophocles wrote 123 plays,
but only seven have survived in a complete
form:
• Ajax,
• Antigone,
• The Women of Trachis,
• Oedipus( Ee dih - pus) the King,
• Electra,
• Philoctetes and
• Oedipus at Colonus.
The most famous tragedies of Sophocles were Oedipus and Antigone: they were
known as the Theban plays, although each play was actually a part of a different
tetralogy. Sophocles influenced the development of the drama, most importantly by
adding a third actor. And he developed his characters to a greater importance than
the chorus in the presentation of the plot.
Main Characters:

Oedipus - the king of Thebes

Creon - Oedipus brother-in-law
Eurydice - Creon’s wife
Apollo - god or oracle of Delphi
King Laius - father of Oedipus
Jocasta - mother and wife of Oedipus
Polynices and Eteocles – sons of Oedipus
Tiresias - the blind prophet
Polybus - Oedipus foster father
Merope - Oedipus foster mother
Antigone and Ismene – the daughters of Oedipus
Haemon - Antigone’s lover
Sphinx- the half-human half lion that symbolizes
plague and misfortune
Genre: Tragedy
Number of Characters per Play: 1 to 3 characters
only, but they can portray other characters.
The Chorus: consists of twelve (12) members, all of
whom wore identical masks since they were
supposed to be of like mind and opinion
Masks:
The use of masks acts to advance the
universality of the themes and the dramatic
impact of the events and to keep the audience
from beingdistracted by the actual, physical
attributes of the actors.
Oedipus: a gold mask with exaggerated
deep empty eyesockets
Jocasta: was the wife of Laius and
mother of Oedipus, the expression of
her mask depends on the scene of the
play.
Antigone and Ismene : white face, dark
under the eyes and sad-
Creon : brother in-law of Oedipus, mad
or angry facial expression, with crown
Gestures and Movements:
Facial expression was
of no importance to
Greek actors, since
they were always
masked.
Music:
Sophocles also used the Chorus at the
beginning of the play to help tell the
audience the given circumstances of the
play. Choruses did a lot of lamenting of
terrible events.
Costumes:
Men wore loose floor
length poncho with
pleated shoulder while
Females wore draped
robes.
Staging:
The Parthenon’s facade, has
the design of Ionic order
columns with cornice and
moldings on the top, and
elevated by 5 step-risers at
the center, and has a
platform in front near the
audience.
Facial expression Cconventionalized, The musical
stylized or accompaniment
is not important
symbolic gestures for drama is
because of the like those in played on a flute.
masks they wear. mimetic dance
 Audience: the spectators standing or
Auditorium on the
seated on the slope of Acropolis; the
slope of Acropolis
audience could expresses their
which is
opinion noisily; The high points of
panoramic
each festival: the awarding of prizes.
landscape.
 Was born and baptized on April 26 1564 and
died on April 23 1616. Shakespeare was born and
brought up in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age
of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he
had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet
and Judith. He was an English poet and
playwright, widely known as the greatest writer
in the English language and the world's pre-
eminent dramatist. He’s been known also as the
"Bard of Avon". His existing works consist of
about:
• 38 plays,
• 154 sonnets,
• two long narrative poems
Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in
London as an actor, writer, and part-owner of a playing
company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later
known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to
Stratford around 1613 at age 49, where he died three
years later. With the exception of Romeo and Juliet,
Shakespeare's most famous tragedy and one of the
world's most enduring love stories, William
Shakespeare's early plays were mostly histories written
in the early 1590s.
Shakespeare also wrote several comedies during his early
period:
• A Midsummer Night's Dream Later Works:
• Merchant of Venice
Tragedies and
• Much Ado About Nothing
Tragicomedies
• As You Like It and
• Hamlet
• Twelfth Night
• Titus Andronicus • King Lear
• The Comedy of Errors • Othello
• The Taming of the Shrew and
• The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Staging for Romeo and Juliet:
The stage itself was divided into
three levels:
• a main stage area with doors at
the rear and a curtained area at
the back for "discovery scenes";
• an upper, canopied area called
"heaven", for balcony scenes;
and
• an area under the stage called
"hell," which could be accessed
through a trap door in the stage.
 There is no curtain in the front of the stage, which meant
that scenes had to flow into each other, and "dead bodies"
had to be dragged off. There are dressing rooms located
behind the stage.
The performances during the renaissance period took
place during the day, and the open plan theater allowed for
the use of natural light. Since there could be no dramatic
lighting and there was art direction (scenery and props),
audiences relied on the actors' lines, dialogue, movements,
and stage directions to tell the time of day and year, same as
the location, mood and weather.
But today, new media technology/gadgets like the laptop,
computer, mixer, sensitive microphones, fogs machine, loud
speakers and the like are available. These new technology
are used in many performances, to make the play more
realistic, creative, and spectacular. Backdrops for every
scene can be seen through the use of computers. Props are
created much more easily and are more colorful. There is a
greater impact and satisfaction not only to the audience
but also to the performers in using the innovations in the
plays.
Props:
Props in this play
may vary depend
on the scene/act
the learners are
going to perform.
Here are lists of
props one may use
for the play.
• Dagger • Drums
• Shovel • Champagne Glasses/Champagne
• Laundry Basket with Clothing • Scarves(Shawls)
Small Tree w/ Bulb • Champagne Glass
• Garbage • Fireworks/Poppers/Bubbles
• Montague Sword • Handkerchief
• Capulet Broadsword • Basket/collecting device
• Grocery Bags w • Scarf
• Vendor Cart/Tray • Small Bouquet of Flowers
• Items for Cart/Tray • Sheet for Lovers to wrap themselves in
• Women's Handbag • Vial of Potion
• Broom, Shovel • Invitation
• Garbage Can • Party Invitation
• Sheets, Pillow for bed. • Torches/Lamps (Flashlights)
• Mirror or Mirror Frame • Banners
Characters:
Montague’s Family:
Romeo — sole heir to the Montague fortune
Lord Montague — Romeo’s father
Lady Montague — Romeo’s mother
Benvolio — Romeo’s cousin
Balthasar — Romeo’s faithful servant
Abraham — Montague servant
Characters:
Capulet’s Family
Juliet — sole heir to the Capulet fortune
Lord Capulet — Juliet’s father
Lady Capulet — Juliet’s mother
Tybalt — Juliet’s cousin
The Nurse — Juliet’s faithful Nurse
Peter — Capulet servant
Sampson — Capulet servant
Gregory — Capulet servant
Other Characters:
Friar Lawrence — friend and advisor to Romeo and Juliet
Mercutio — Romeo’s best friend; Prince’s kinsman
Prince Escalus — Prince of Verona; kinsman to Mercutio and Paris
Paris — Loves Juliet
Rosaline — Romeo’s first love who never actually appears in the
play
Friar John — Friar Lawrence’s friend
Apothecary — Romeo’s acquaintance in Mantua
Costumes:
The costumes are based on the style and design of dresses worn
during the renaissance period.
PRINCESS
PRINCE
KING
QUEEN
Costumes: Knight
Friar
Peasant/ Peasant/
Servant Servant
Man Girl
 FRANCISCO BALAGTAS Y DE LA
CRUZ also known as Francisco
Baltazar. “Florante at Laura” is
one of his best-known work. He
learned how to write poetry
from Jose de la Cruz also known
as Huseng Sisiw.
• Also known as the Father of Tagalog
Zarzuela. One of the giants of Tagalog
Literature.
• In 1923, he co-founded the Liwayway, it is a
Tagalog literary that published a series of
fairy tales titled “Mga kwento ni lola
Basyang”.
• “WALANG SUGAT” is one of my masterpieces,
the story is about the cruel fate love of
Tenyong and Julia mixed with humor and
song. Tenyong was forced to join the
Katipunan meanwhile Julia’s mother
pressures her into marrying Miguel.
An actor/director in over 120 productions. He also
directed and acted for professional companies like
Teatro Pilipino and Tanghalang Pilipino of the CCP
as well as the Metropolitan Theater.
Many of his theater works were based on the
classics of western drama. But he added a Filipino
and Asian taste of emotions in his works.He won the
Aliw Award for Best Director in a nonmusical
production in 2008 for his work the “The Death of
Memory”. And another award in 2013 for his
landmark “Sintang Dalisay” and his third award in
2016 for a production of Rolando Tinio’s “It’s April,
What Are We Doing Here”.
The father of theater design in the
Philippines. He was the first to develop
theater design as a profession. He
design more than 250 productions in
ballet, theater, and film.
He also received the highest award
given in the country,the National Artist
award for theater design.
 I you will become a famous
playright in the Philippines,
what current issue in the
country would you like to
write and why?

Activity: Q & A
Directions: Answer the given question above. Use a
separate paper for this activity