THEATER ARTS

ART APPRECIATION
What is Theater Arts?
• Theater as a form of art uniquely employs a
specific language that applies to visual and
auditory elements, media, techniques and
conventions which take place in both space
and time.
• Theater refers to performance based on a
dramatic text that is staged using techniques
of theater production and enacted and
interpreted by artist, directors, designers and
other personnel before audiences who are
situated in sites of performance.
 The Performance of a
Theater Actor
• In Theater, the performance refers
to acting that takes place within
the dynamics of space and time of
the theatrical setting.
• A performance requires many
special vocal and physical skills on
the part of the actor or actress.
 The Performance of a
Theater Actor
• In Theater, the demonstration of skill
or performance of the actor or actress
varies constantly as it depends on the
kind of audience to whom the actor or
actress responds.
• As a live event, a theatrical
performance would always have a
unique impact on the dynamic real-
time interplay between the actor and
the audience.
THE THEATER SPACE
• Theater has a designated space. It is
customarily assembled through visual and
acoustic signs such as properties,
performers, lighting and sound.
• The theater space is usually set up on stage,
which has four basic types- The
Proscenium or picture frame stage; arena or
circle stage; thrust stage and created or
found stage space.
THE AUDIENCE
• Besides the performer and his or her
performance, the audience is also
important in theater event.
• As spectator, the audience combines
what he sees and hears within the
theatrical set-up, and finally completes
the theatrical process through his or
her imagination and mind.
HOW THEATER IS DONE
• A theater performance comes from
many forces coming together.
• Its elements are varied and complex,
and may include the physical presence
of the actors, the colors and shapes of
the customes and scenery, sound and
music, drama and the ideas and
emotions expressed by the playwright.
ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN
CLASSICAL DRAMA
• PLOT- the most important element of drama
which is also called as “ soul of tragedy”.
• It refers to the arrangement of the incidents,
which has a beginning, middle and end.
• Its parts are unified such that if any of this
parts is displaced or removed, the whole
play will be disjointed or disturbed.
ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN
CLASSICAL DRAMA
• CHARACTER- it is the principal material
from which plots are developed.
• Characterization delineates a person from
other persons.
• It operates on physical, biological, societal
psychological or morals levels.
ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN
CLASSICAL DRAMA
• THOUGHT- it refers to the main idea or
abstract concept that characters make
concrete in the dramatic action.
• The meaning in drama is usually implied
rather than expressed directly.
• Meaning is suggested or revealed in a
variety of ways – through the relationship
among the characters, by the ideas of the
characters, by the conflicts and their
resolutions and by devices such as
spectacle, music and songs.
ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN
CLASSICAL DRAMA
• DICTION- it refers to language or the
“expression of meaning in words”.
• It is the primary tool of the playwright’s
expression,
• Language or diction is not only used to
impart information but also to characterize,
focus important elements in the plot, convey
meaning, establish a mood, tempo and
rhythm and internal logic.
ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN
CLASSICAL DRAMA
• SONG OR MUSIC- it refers to the singing of
the chorus, which is an integral part of
drama during Aristotle’s time.
• Music in drama extends to all patterned
sounds and may include the sound of actor’s
voices, incidental songs and background
music, and instrumental accompaniment.
• Music serve to establish variety, convey a
mood, characterized or suggest ideas.
ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN
CLASSICAL DRAMA
• SPECTACLE- It refers to all visual elements
in the production.
• It includes the character’s movement and
spatial relations, lighting, settings, costumes,
and properties or props.
• Spectacles serve as aid to visualize the
action in a play and convey the play’s full
power.
ELEMENTS OF THE WESTERN
CLASSICAL DRAMA
• All visual aspects of a production
are composed of basic elements
such as line, shape, space, color,
texture, and ornament.
• In applying this element, certain
principles are used such as
harmony, variety, balance,
proportion, emphasis and rhythm.