theatre history

Downstage

The area closer to the audience in a theatre.

Actors Right

The right side of the stage from the actor's perspective.

Improve

Unscripted storytelling in performance.

Theatron

The seating area in ancient Greek theatre.

Orchestra

The stage area in ancient Greek theatre.

Greek Chorus

A group that sings and dances collectively in Greek theatre.

Skene

The backstage area in ancient Greek theatre.

Dionysus

The Greek god of wine, associated with theatre.

Thespis

The first actor in Greek theatre.

Masks

Used in Greek theatre to represent different characters.

Miracle Plays

Religious plays depicting biblical stories.

Mystery Plays

Dramatizations of the life of Christ and other religious stories.

Medieval Theatre

The period of theatre (500-1500 AD) with a major theme of religion.

Proscenium Arch

A structure that frames the stage and separates it from the audience.

Renaissance

The period known as the rebirth in theatre, beginning in Italy.

Stock Actors

Archetypes or consistent character types used in plays.

Christopher Marlowe

A playwright known for his feud with Shakespeare.

Ben Jonson

A playwright who served in the army and was contemporary with Shakespeare.

Soliloquy

An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud in a play.

Inner Monologue

A narrative technique used to depict the inner thoughts of a character.

Globe Theater

The famous theatre associated with William Shakespeare.

Bunraku

A form of Japanese theatre featuring puppetry, developed in the 6th century AD.

Kabuki

A style of Japanese theatre known for its elaborate makeup and fantasy storytelling.

Peking Opera

An influential form of Chinese opera that includes music, song, and dance.

Facial Expressions

Key elements used in Peking Opera to convey emotion and narrative.

Color Costumes

Used in Peking Opera to signify the rank of characters.