Theatre

Theatre is a collaborative form of performing art. It uses live performers, usually actors, to present experiences. These experiences can be real or imagined. They are presented to a live audience in a specific place. This place is often a stage. Performers communicate through speech, song, music, and dance. They also use gesture to express meaning. Elements of art like painted scenery help the experience. Stagecraft, such as lighting, adds to the physical presence of the show.

There are different ways to organize theatre. A theatre company is an organization that produces performances. This is different from a theatre troupe. A troupe is a group of performers working together. Many art forms fall under the umbrella of theatre. Musical theatre, ballet, and opera are all considered theatre. These forms use acting, costumes, and staging. They were very influential in the growth of musical theatre.

Modern Western theatre has deep roots in ancient Greece. The word theatre comes from the Greek word *theatron*. This means "a place for viewing." In the city-state of Athens, theatre was part of a large culture. This culture included festivals, politics, and religious rituals. Attending the City Dionysia festival was a duty for citizens. Participation in these festivals was an important part of citizenship.

Ancient Greek drama had three distinct types. The first was tragedy, a type of dance-drama. The second was comedy, which Aristotle defined as representing laughable people. Comedy involves blunders that do not cause disaster. The third was the satyr play. These were classified as tragicomedy. They often featured a chorus of Satyrs. Satyrs were the loyal, mischievous companions of Dionysus.

Greek theatres were massive architectural feats. They were often semi-circular auditoria cut into hillsides. These spaces could seat between 10,000 and 20,000 people. The stage included an *orchestra*, which was a dancing floor. There was also a *skene*, which served as a dressing room and scene area. Actors were usually men. They wore masks to represent their characters. This allowed one actor to play several different parts.

Tragedy and comedy had different histories in Greece. Athenian tragedy emerged in the 6th century BCE. It became very popular during the 5th century BCE. Famous playwrights include Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. Aeschylus won first prize in 472 BCE. His play *The Persians* is a notable example of historical drama. Comedy is divided into Old, Middle, and New Comedy. Aristophanes is the main source for Old Comedy. Menander is known for fragments of New Comedy.

Roman theatre expanded these traditions significantly. The Romans first experienced theatre in the 4th century BC. Roman theatre was very diverse. It included street theatre, acrobatics, and high-style tragedies. In 240 BC, regular Roman drama began to emerge. Writers like Livius Andronicus and Gnaeus Naevius wrote early works. Roman comedies often used musical accompaniment. In the plays of Terence, music accompanied two-thirds of the dialogue.

Roman playwrights often adapted Greek subjects. These are called *fabula palliata*. Titus Maccius Plautus was a very popular comic writer. He wrote between 205 and 184 BC. His comedies often took place on a street. They frequently involved characters eavesdropping on one another. Through the Roman Empire, theatre spread across Europe and the Mediterranean. It even reached England. Much of our modern theatrical vocabulary comes from these ancient traditions.