Greece and Rome
Greece
- theatre emerges in 6th bce, by 5th bce designated places for theatre to take place were built
- theatron: seating place often carved out of hillside, orchestra - circular acting area at bottom of seating
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skene: wall at back of orchestra that had opening to be used as entrances by actors
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Proskenion: area in front of skene
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Theatre of Dionysus: ritualistic approach to the building, can see other audience members, surrounding landscape and acting
Rome
Romans copied greek ancestors in 3 distinct ways:
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amphitheatre design
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reinterpretation of greek skene
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raised stage in front of skene known as proskenion
some developments from greek
- romans prepared to build walls and terraces
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using arches to build upwards (not relying on surrounding landscape)
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roof could be pulled across top to protect from rain
London
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red lion theatre 1st permanent structure for theatre, unsuccessful
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the theatre 1576 becomes the 1st successful theatre
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many theatres built after located just outside the city (theatre banned within london at the time)
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british victorian theatres not funded by government so have less of an impact within city > often built on cheaper land away from street >> shakespeare memorial theatre, stratford upon avon an exception to this (built on waterfront)
red lion theatre 1st permanent structure for theatre, unsuccessful
the theatre 1576 becomes the 1st successful theatre
many theatres built after located just outside the city (theatre banned within london at the time)
british victorian theatres not funded by government so have less of an impact within city > often built on cheaper land away from street >> shakespeare memorial theatre, stratford upon avon an exception to this (built on waterfront)
Elizebethan Theatres
- galleried structure
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structure responds to social structure of society & social segregation between classes
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separate seating for different classes
Blackfriars Theatre
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theatre inside converted monastery
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main difference is that its an indoor theatre - need lighting and better acoustics
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seeing introduction of music into theatre
General Theatre
C12
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proscenium arch layout begins to be seen as outdated, see it as something that separated actor and audience
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Festspielhaus: result of C12 debates, stage with stepped scenery > no proscenium arch (actors and audience all occupying single space), stage stepping creates abstract backdrop
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in countries where music/performing arts funded by central administration, theatres could become large monuments
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in the round/arena theatre: audience sitting around theatre on all 4 sides, emphasises the live and 3d nature of theatre
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Walter Gropius: produces a design for theatre that can be rotated and moved to create different arrangements (never built, but seen as an influential idea)
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Derngate theatre, northampton: flexible theatre where parts of auditorium move around on hoverpads
National Theatre
London
Initial Design
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design shaped by panel of actors and theatre experts
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denis lasdun gives theatre sense of civic importance, set of pure forms, modest building but uses rich finishes e.g. board-marked concrete
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three-auditorium building was opened in 1976 and comprised one of the major theatre landmarks of its age
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It was the largest of all the new theatres built in Britain between the 1950s and the 1980s
Criticism
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Theatre director Michael Elliott, 1973: ‘as one leans on the parapet of Waterloo Bridge pondering the huge mushrooming concrete of the new National Theatre, all one’s doubts centre round one question – was this the right theatre to build now?’
Royal Exchange,
Fun Palace
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Manchester Royal Exchange: a former cotton trading hall, which had become redundant by the end of the 1960s
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Original tented theatre, manchester royal exchange, 1972: The tent allowed the design to be refined and tested by the company, working with Michael Elliott, the designer Richard Negri, and others.
Manchester Royal Exchange: a former cotton trading hall, which had become redundant by the end of the 1960s
Original tented theatre, manchester royal exchange, 1972: The tent allowed the design to be refined and tested by the company, working with Michael Elliott, the designer Richard Negri, and others.
