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Asian Theatre
Asian Theatre
• 350 -1350 CE – no organized theatre in
West
– Theatre was developing in Asia. Totally separate from
development in the West
• some think there may have been Western influence through Alexander the
Great, though there is no proof.
– Theatre emerges except where it is forbidden by law or religion
• Early Christian Europe and Islamic ruled counties – not much
theatre
• India, China and Japan’s religion and culture embraced
theatre
• Unlike the West, religious roots of theatre are kept alive in
Asian theatre
• Asian theatre reached its high points when religion &
philosophy was central in the culture
General characteristics
• More reliance on dance and movement
– “dance dramas”
– Symbolism
• Movement of a hand can mean a great deal to the
audience
• Bharatanatyam –
– Hindu Dance by Devadasi, women married to a deity
(outlawed in 1988)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prQOdTmF8u0
• Total Theatre - Combination of dance,
music, mime, text, acting
Origins – India and Sanskrit
Drama
• Origins are uncertain
• Few references to drama in ancient
writings
• Few surviving buildings, though most
theatre was probably in temporary spaces
– Figurines of dancers from ancient Indus Valley
from 4000 years ago have been found
• First surviving plays written about 100 CE
• Plays and performances were highly
stylized
Sanskrit
• Classical language of nobility
• Language of sacred texts – Hindu and
Buddist
• Plays were written in this noble language
though some characters would speak a
mixture of Sanskrit and local dialect.
• Plays were not for the general public but
noble classes
• Based on themes of Indian epic literature
Indian / Sanskrit Theatre
• Costumes followed fixed standards
indicating caste or status
• Stock characters
• Several common themes (10)
– Erotic theme most popular
• Actors often of low caste, mainly men but
some women
• Natyasastra by Brarata Muni
– Guide to how to do theatre
According to Natyasastra
– Origins – creator god Brahma petitioned to
provide entertainment for all castes
– Brahma brought together song and dance in a
new way to instruct and entertain
– After gods had declined to organize it, the
Natyasastra was entrusted to Bharata who
started working on the first play about how the
gods were victorious over the demons
– Demons did not like it and tried to interfer with
rehearsal
– With divine assistance a sacred place was
created, a sanctified theatre
According to Natyasastra
• Each troupe had a leader – sudtradhara
– Chief actor and managed others
– Acting involved a combination of skills
• Voice, body, emotions, costume and makeup
According to Natyasastra
• Theatre was rectangular
– Equal division between audience and
performance space
– Audience space was only 214 sq. m.
– According to LT – theatre was 96 ft long by 48
ft wide.
– Seating 200 – 500
– Four pillars in auditorium: yellow, blue, red,
white – symbolized castes
• Curtain divided space into two, one for
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlowTuS
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• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaj1WO
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Shakuntala by Kalidasa (373 414 CE)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmNyx
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• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcYUuB
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• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQof2Cq
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• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmHMF
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Sanskrit Drama
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Declined by end of 9th century
12th century Arabs invaded
Under Islamic rule, theatre not encouraged
Old ways not maintained by the educated
Folk drama continued, used same epic
stories.
• Dance Dramas – Kathakali –(Kerala)
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl3UKV1z9l