Live Theatre Production: historical context

Ancient Theatre Traditions

Live theatre has a rich and varied history dating back thousands of years to Ancient Greece and Rome.
The Greek theatre tradition was divided into Tragedy and Comedy; significant playwrights included Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes.
Roman theatre added the genre of farce and satire, promoting plays by Plautus and Terence.

The Medieval period saw the rise of mystery and morality plays, often organised by guilds and performed in the community.
The Renaissance heralded a return to the classical conventions of Greek and Roman theatre, especially in the work of Shakespeare.

Elizabethan Theatre is a key era for drama, and understanding the socio-political climate of the time (e.g. attitudes towards monarchy, religion, and gender) can enhance interpretation of plays from this era.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, French neoclassicism, English restoration comedy, and Italian drama became predominant.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought innovations such as realism, naturalism, symbolism, and expressionism, revolutionising the way stories were told onstage.
20th Century theatre further innovated with absurdism, postmodernism, and physical theatre, pushing boundaries of what theatre can be.

Understanding the historical context of a play can help you appreciate the themes, characters, and structures inherent in the work.
In modern times, live theatre encompasses a wide range of styles and genres, and it is constantly evolving.
Note down key dates, innovations, playwrights and socio-political contexts for each major era - this information can provide unique insight into performance choices.
Consider that certain techniques and conventions have origins in particular historical periods; for instance, the use of a chorus originates from Ancient Greek theatre.
Always remember the audience for which a play was originally written; a play would not be the same without its original social and historical context.

Remember that live theatre is not just a text or a performance - it is also the social and cultural context in which it is created and performed.
The keys to successful revision are to understand the key concepts, remember the details, practice recalling them, and apply them actively to your understanding and interpretation of live theatre.