Theatrical Styles
Little tests on a wide range of theatrical styles, all in chronological order. (Sorry the first one's really short!)
Word
Definition
Ancient GreeceWhere did drama originate?
Classical StyleOrigins lie in Roman and Greek Theatre
Limited use of Props and SetKey feature
EuripidesTragic playwright (E)
SophoclesTragic playwright (S)
AeschylusTragic playwright (A)
AristophanesComic playwright (A)
PlautusComic playwright (P)
SenecaComic Playwright (S)
First theatres developed in inn yards; Inn YardsWhere did the first theatres develop?
First purpose built theatre opened in London in 1576; 1576 London; London 1576When did the first purpose built theatre open and where?
Large, outdoor theatre and later more intimate venuesKey features of the theatres
Shakespeare; ShakespearKey playwright (wrote Romeo and Juliet)
MarloweKey playwright (wrote Dr Faustus)
JohnsonKey playwright (wrote Every Man in His Humour)
KydKey playwright (wrote The Spanish Tragedy)
MiddletonKey playwright (wrote The Changeling)
WebsterKey playwright (wrote The White Devil)
BehnKey female playwright (wrote Oroonoko)
Restoration of Charles II 1661; 1661; RestorationWhen was it created?
New indoor theatres (Drury Lane); indoors; indoor theatres; indoorKey feature of theatres
First female actors; female actorsRestoration theatre used the first … in England (fill in the blank)
Stock characters; stockThere was the creation of … characters
Fop/Rake/Cuckold/Breeches part; fop; rake; cuckold; BreechesExample of Stock Characters
Made fun of falseness and follies of society; made fun of societyKey feature of the plays
Stage lit by candles with painted backdrop and wingsLighting and set used
WycherleyKey playwright (wrote The Country Wife)
CongreveKey playwright (wrote Love for Love)
SheridanKey playwright (wrote The Rivals)
Originated in Italy in the 1560s; 1560s; 1560When was it created?
There were no sets and very few props; no set no props; no set few props; minimal props no set; mimedKey feature of the set and props
Improvised, they had situations where they would improvise aroundKey feature of the performance
Stock Characters; stockThere were … characters
Lovers/ Masters/ Servants/ Old Men; lovers; servants; masters; old menExample of Stock Characters
SlapstickType of Comedy
Popular in 19th century; 19th Century; C19th; 1800sIt became popular when?
Originally a play with musical accompaniment; a play with music; play with musical accompanimentWhat was it originally
Extravagant drama with sensational plot elements, heightened emotions; sensational elements; heightened emotions; extravagantKey features of the plots
Makes use of music, lighting and stage machinery to arouse the emotions of the audience; music, lighting, stage machinery; stage machineryKey features of the technical stuff…
6 stock charactersthere were … stock characters
Hero/ Villain/ Heroine/ Aged Parents/ Sidekick/ Servant of aged parents; hero; heroine; villain; aged parents; old parents; sidekick; servant of old parents; servant of aged parentsExample of stock characters
Love and murder; love, murderKey themes
ArtaudThe key playwright and the guy who kind of made it...
1930s originated from the surrealist movementWhen was it created?
Dance, sounds and gestureKey features which create a deeper meaning than words
Extreme emotions and actions result as a lack of controlTheatre of Cruelty is sort of all about…
Infinity!How many ways are there to stimulate an emotion for this type of theatre (apparently…)
Audience to be moved, shocked and involved in the performanceAudience reaction
Collection of imagesThe acting used a …
19th Century; 1800s; C19thWhen was it created?
France and Belgium; France; Belgium; BelguimWhere was it created?
naturalism and realism; Naturalism; Realism; StanisvlaskiIt was a movement against…
eternal life of dreams/fantasies/spirituality; dreams; fantasy; spirituality; Eternity of dreams/fantasies/spiritualityIt emphasized…
Highly metaphoricalKey feature of the plots
imagery and ideas (in their truest form)The audience are meant to interpret…
LightingWhat key technical aspect was very important?
Auguste VilliersKey playwright (wrote La Révolt)
ChekhovKey playwright (wrote The Cherry Orchard)
1800s; C17th; 17th CenturyWhen did it originate?
StanivslaskiWho made it famous?
realistic settingsTexts were performed in…
real lifeWhat did the plays show?
Natural speech and physical expression; natural speech and expressionWhat are 2 key aspects of the performance?
Given circumstancesThe actor attemps to idenity fully with the role using what?
4th wall; fourth wallA key feature of the plays
StrindbergA key playwright (wrote Miss Julie)
IbsenA key playwright (wrote Hedda Gabler)
naturalismWhat did it originate from and superseed?
real life with realistic settings/stagingWhat are the characters close to?
physical and philosophical problems of social and psychological existenceWhat does it explore?
realm of the psychologicalWhere are the plots located?
forces larger than themselvesWhat are the characters victims of?
present characters as ordinaryIt is unafraid to do what?
ShawKey playwright (wrote Pygmalion)
Revolutionised 20th Century theatreWhat did he revolutionize?
19th Century ideasWhat did he revolutionize C20th theatre with?
naturalistic conventionsWhat did he see the need to break?
work in harmonyHe wanted all the elements of drama to …?
sound, lighting and movement coming together to form a unified stage pictureWhat kind of theatre did he try to create?
Total theatreWhat is the the unified picture, with all the aspects are linked called?
Theatre should contrast with realityWhat did he believe?
SymbolismWhat was a key feature of the set designs?
start of the 1900sWhen did it start?
GermanyWhere did it start?
A cultural movement (in poetry and painting)What was it originally?
what’s going on insideWhat is it the out-ward expression of?
Anti-realistic (seeing truth lying within man)A key feature of the movement?
appearance on stage can be distortedA key feature of the set and stage?
the creation of usually unseen emotionsWhat's it all about?
Making the audience think; thinkingBrecht didn't think theatre was for entertainment he thought it was for…
Be emotionally involved; emotionalWhat must the audience and actors not do (so they can be objective)?
Real lifeWhat did Brecht NOT try to show?
RepresentIn Brechtian performace the actors do not become, they...
VerfrumdungseffektWhat is the alienation technique called?
Broke itBrech did what with the 4th wall?
Gestus, narration and songName 3 key characteristics of Brechtian theatre
40s-60s; 40s; 60sWhen did it originate?
human existence has no meaning/purposeWhat belief does it express?
LogicallyHow does it start?
Irrational and illogical speechThe plays usually have what in them?
SilenceHow do they conclude?
Broad comedy, mixed with horrific and tragic images; comedy, horrific images; comedy with tragic imagesKey features of the writing style
clichés/wordplay/nonsenseKey features of the dialogue
cyclical, absurdly expansive, a parody or dismissal of realismKey features of the plots
BeckettKey playwright (wrote Waiting for Godot)
LonescoKey playwright (wrote Rhinoceros)
PinterKey playwright, only his early work is absurd (wrote The Caretaker)
early 20th CenturyWhen did it originate?
as pure, detached from life and able to reflect on life criticallyHow does it see art (and theatre)?
an emerging fully industrialised world had new economic, social and political conditionsWhy did it reject the 'traditional' form of art (literature, drama, religious faith etc.)?
certainty of enlightenmentWhat did it reject?
PicassoKey modernist painter (painted Guernica)
MonetKey modernist painter (painted impression, Sunrise)
JoyceKey modernist writer (wrote Ulysses)
ModernismWhat was it a counter to?
use of multiple art and media formsName two features of postmodernism
broken, paradoxical and imagisticWhat are 3 key features of the narrative?
fragmentationName a key feature of the characters
intent or motivationWhat do the performances lack?
StoppardKey playwright (wrote Arcadia)
MametKey playwright (wrote Glengary Glen Ross)
ShepardKey playwright (wrote Buried Child)
20th century; C20th; 1900sWhen was it made prominent?
classical theatre and commediaWhat is it influenced by?
devisedHow is the work often created?
dance, music, visual art and theatreWhat 4 things does it cross?
a non-passive audienceWhat does it celebrate?
20th Century; C20th; 1900sWhen was it developed?
Documentary theatreWhat style could we also call it?
words that have been spoken in real lifeWhat is the script taken from?
It is pieced togetherVerbatim is not writen, so how is it made?
recordingsWhat may actors use?
degree of authority (akin to that represented by the news)What does it seek to achieve?
challenging situationsWhat does it seek to give meaning to?
C21st; 2000s; 21st CenturyWhen was it made?
they are ‘immersed’What happens to the audience?
take part and explore the actionWhat are the audience meant to do?