Live Theatre Production: genre
Live Theatre Production: genre
Understanding Theatrical Genre
- Genre in theatre refers to the category of a play, giving insights on the play’s structure, theme, and style.
- The theatrical genre guides production decisions, including designs, costumes, sound, music, stage movement, and acting style.
Key Genres in Theatre
- Understanding the four key genres is vital: tragedy, comedy, drama, and melodrama.
- Tragedy deals with serious topics, often leading to a sad or disastrous ending.
- Comedy focuses on humour and light-hearted narrative.
- Drama, while serious, doesn’t end in tragedy.
- Melodrama over-emphasises emotion and features stereotypical characters.
Sub-genres and Mixed Genres
- Some productions may belong to sub-genres like tragicomedy, musical theatre, or farce.
- A production could also be a combination of genres.
The Importance of Context
- Consider the genre in its original time period for better analysis of a live theatre production.
- From Shakespearean tragedy to modern drama, understanding the historical context can enhance comprehension.
Performance Style and Audience Reaction
- Genre influences performance style; for instance, tragedies may demand subdued, intense performances, comedies require timing, physicality, and projection, while melodramas usually entail exaggerated expressions.
- Genre also determines the audience’s expected responses, e.g., a comedy aims to provoke laughter.
The Purpose of Genre
- The purpose of theatrical genre is not just to categorise, but to provide a well-informed framework of expectations for both the creators and viewers of the play.